A Perfect Union of Contrary Things

I’ve been listening to Maynard’s music for 30 years this year. The first time I heard Tool, I was 13 years old and I remember it very vividly. A friend of mine had leant me a cassette tape they thought I’d enjoy. As I was walking my junior high track during PE, I began playing Undertow through to my Walkman. ‘Sober’ came on and it was as if it rang through my entire being. I slowed my walking just to hear it more clearly. There was something there that I couldn’t quite grasp that resonated, I was captivated! Something in the music told me one thing I could understand and that was there was so much truth hiding in that song that I may come to know with time. Since then, I have listened to most of Maynard’s songs in each of his bands and been to 3 of his concerts… each time experiencing that same mystery and beauty resonating through me… never fully knowing what it was that had me spellbound. This is the first real glimpse I’ve ever had of Maynard outside of his artistry and so many puzzles pieces have fallen into place, but more than that I am left with a much deeper appreciation for him as an artist. It brings me a tremendous amount of joy as my son’s initials were strategically chosen to match those of Maynard’s… a little Easter egg I hope my son will one day be curious enough to dive deeper into knowing its origins. When he does, I hope he finds the copy of ‘A Perfect Union of Contrary Things’ that I have inscribed to him. By then, if he hasn’t already discovered it in his life path, then maybe he too will find himself inspired and knowing that kind of strength, genuineness, creativity, and ultimately an open vulnerability to life is also within him.

If you’d like to learn more about Maynard, this is the book for you. It’s A quick read but very good. Arrived in a timely fashion, and a well packaged box.

Maynard is waiting for you to purchase this book! I highly recommend it for all Tool fans.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Like most others who have read it, I've been a fan of MJK's creations for many years. His lyrics resonate with me in a complex and unique way. It seems that quite a few fans have subscribed to some level of idol worship for him, which I completely understand. His voice is amazing, he's a fantastic poet, and he has that mysterious jerk vibe that is so alluring. However, we should keep in mind that MJK, like all other rock stars, is just a human person. He is not an enlightened being; he's a highly creative human with many talents, but a human all the same. Remember that as you read this book.The writing style is a little overtly flowery for my taste, but it's not insufferable. I think the main author, Sarah Jensen, is probably a great poet, but that level of description is sometimes a bit much in long prose. I believe that she wrote the vast majority of the book, with Maynard's input and direct quotes scattered here and there. The story itself is quite interesting, and will provide details that you probably didn't know--some that you might not have wanted to know. There is a short section of pictures at the end, which was also nice.As someone who has been in a creative slump for the better part of 5 years, I found this to be an inspiring push to try to regain that side of myself. The moral of the story, if there is one, is to create and work with every breath, even if just for yourself. And also to not take rock stars so seriously, because they, too, are fallible beings trying to illuminate meaning within the world. Or just have fun.

As a long-time Tool tool fan, I was very interested in reading this book. I am moderately interested in APC and Puscifer. I think that Jensen goes a long way into explaining Maynard's varied interests. He is a polymath. He is an athlete. He's a vintner and a good friend to people he let's into his world. But, many years ago, I had read a review of 10,000 days Tool's last album and the reviewer said that if Maynard had concentrated his efforts into Tool he could have released a masterpiece up there with the great Led Zeppelin albums. Jensen makes an effort to explain Maynard's interests and why he did not want to solely focus on Tool. But, think of the great rock bands and frontmen. They all put their efforts into their bands and built from there. Mick Jagger's solo work would never compare to his Rolling Stones work. The band is where the heavy work gets done, the lead singer has to compromise and the band stays together for maximum artistic impact.My complaint about this book is that it is written as a hagiography. Maynard's sole flaw has been that he seems to have a womanizing history, until he met and married his wife. He has no other flaws?It doesn't go into any explanation of albums themes or songs. There is a lot of time spent in general on Maynards interests but no specific emphasis on album storytelling. I also just finished the Bruce Springsteen autobiography and I think this book would have been better if it were written by Maynard instead of using quotes from him with the author using second person narrative voice. That would have been a more interesting approach.

Beautifully written and so inspiring! I've always been a fan of Tool APC and learning about how he got started and all the other artists involved was incredible. It's an eye opening and we'll written book and I highly recommend it!

I have read alot of books, fiction and nonfiction. This book is up there. I recommend it.

This is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. Throughout there are so many golden nuggets I extracted that have made a profound impact on the way I approach life. If you're looking for a way to connect and reconnect with the deepest parts of your creative self, this is the read for you.Maynard is an arbiter of light. He is the physical manifestation of creative possibility. People like him are a rare bird.

It’s good to here about the man behind the voice giving an inside view of this man’s life, inspirations and insights

Bin begeistert von dieser (Auto-)Biografie über Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer...), die ihn mir in vielerlei Hinsicht "erfassbarer" gemacht hat. Wie der Titel schon sagt, scheinen sich viele Aspekte seines Lebens konträr zueinander zu verhalten... Hier wird es nachvollziehbar...Humor fehlt trotzdem nicht und ein paar Bilder aus Kinder- und Jugendtagen sind auch dabei...Grundsätzlich sollte man aber wissen, dass das Buch in englischer Sprache geschrieben ist und normales Schul-Englisch für ein Verständnis ggf. nicht ausreicht. Die Sprache ist schon deutlich "filigraner", als viele andere englischsprachige Romane und Biografien, die ich sonst so gelesen habe. Da geht vielleicht gerne mal die eine oder andere Graustufe verloren, wenn man bestimmten Redewendungen und (lokalern) Begrifflichkeiten nicht vertraut ist...Aber unbedingte Empfehlung für alle, die den Menschen hinter der "Kunst-Figur" erahnen wollen...

Regalo per mio marito. Erroneamente l'ho preso in inglese ma da grande fan, l'ha tenuto lo stesso.

You read, you analyse, you apply, you improve.