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Read other letters about this article
He mentions Enoch in one sentence, alluding to it as if we all knew what it was about, and with vague regret. That's why the review says nothing about it.
What I found interesting about Clapton is that he really was happier being a sideman. And given his recitation of his childhood and his personality as shaped by it, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he was a shy, awkward guy who let drugs steer his emotional life. I think we forget in our "Oprah" age that many people did not self-examine their emotions and decisions, and/or did not have the language to do so. Ithink that is why 12 step was such a revelation to him. He mentions that only in America is alcoholism considered a disease, whereas in England/Europe he says it is considered more of a moral failing.
Overall, Clapton strikes me as a nice enough bloke, kinda like the collegiate professor he looks like now. What I did also find fascinating in the book was his explanation of how he met and married his much younger, non-famous/supermodelish wife. I think it says alot about who the man is.
I would also highly recommend reading Pattie Boyd's book "Wonderful Tonight" which came out a few weeks ago. It was fascinating to see how these two remembered themselves and each other. We forget, given time and the legend status applied to Clapton and Boyd (as an irrestible siren to rock stars) that these are just two awkward people with f'ed up upbringings whose existance for many years revolved around drug use. Unlike now, there wasn't a DARE movement or TV promos about drugs being bad. This generation pioneered popular drug use in many ways, informing wide swathes of mass culture.
