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My Effin' Life

Written by: Geddy Lee
Narrated by: Geddy Lee,Alex Lifeson,Cliff Burnstein
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Publisher's Summary

The long-awaited memoir from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and bestselling author of Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass.

Includes two new songs by Geddy Lee, available exclusively in the My Effin’ Life audiobook.

Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll's most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.

Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, after his grandfather murdered in the Holocaust.

As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.

He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.

He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.

He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart—deeply mourning Peart’s recent passing—and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.

This rich brew of honesty, humor, and loss makes for a uniquely poignant memoir.

©2023 Geddy Lee (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about My Effin' Life

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You move me, you move me

I feel like i’ve just spent 2 days with Geddy, one-to-one in my living room. I’ve been waiting for this book seemingly my whole life. And having Ged narrate made it all the more amazing. Thank You Geddy, Alex and Neil! You’ve had such a profound impact on my life…

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Rush fans will love it, and others will too

Phenomenal reading voice which always seem to be a requirement for many. Story is interesting all the way through. It isn’t just solely rush either, even though that is obviously a huge part of his life. Enjoy the ride while you have any remaining! It was long but not long enough.

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Candid, Heartfelt and full of love, wisdom and gratitude.

I was surprised to hear all the goings on about Geddys life in and outside the band. Never got the impression they were into drugs. That was a surprise. I especially appreciated about hearing his family history during WW2. Great book.

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Incredibly Insightful.

Just like their music, this most insightful look at what makes one of Canada’s greatest frontman of one of Canada’s greatest bands of all time tick.

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What a treat!

Thanks for this Geddy; I feel very connected now. Great job on the reading; I’m sure narrating your own words is real work and I appreciate the effort. Take care of you and yours. Fly high and rock on!

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A Rock and Roll Life accounted for

No holds barred. Incredible storytelling of this living legends life in and out of the spotlight. Very well done! Inspirational will definitely revisit.

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Perfect

Even with the lack of drugs and sex, this is a perfect rockstar biography. Very engrossing and a must for Rush fans. Geddy is a great reader too, which is surprising, considering he pronounces Tom Sawyer “Tom Soyee”.

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  • Nanooka
  • 2023-11-14

Lee's Narration Will Captivate You.

As I type this It says I'm the first to review this on Audible so it should come as no surprise that I'm a Rush fan, but I already want to recommend this book to non Rush fans. I knew from the opening prologue this would be a great listen and exceed even my own expectations. Somehow Lee and his co-writer have made a fascinating saga just out of how his name came to be, and in just 6 minutes I was hooked. From there Lee delivers with a soothing voice and plenty of hilarious impressions of family members his childhood: both the good times and bad. It's injected with so much humor and candor that you forget you're listening to a book and it begins to feels almost like an impromptu, intimate retelling of his life. I'm no author but this seems to be the goal of any memoir and Lee nails it. Just before chapter 3 Lee kindly offers the listener a chance to skip forward in case the harrowing tales of his parents experience in the Holocaust is too sensitize a subject or you just prefer to hear the story of Rush, but I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice to miss this part of the story as these experiences are integral to what makes the spirit of Rush and it's members so genuine. Rush is a band that embodies triumph and perseverance and this memoir will make it obvious why.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2023-11-14

Thank you, Geddy (and Alex and Neil!)

Certainly, the book is the story we Rush fans have all been waiting for but it is so much more than that.

The depiction of Geddy’s family through the horrors of the Holocaust was deeply moving and made me appreciate even more the dedication, persistence and devotion to his music and little old fans like me!

The narration is impeccable and Geddy, your voice, as always, SOUNDS GREAT!

Thank you, Geddy, for sharing this great effin’ story of your amazing effin’ life with us!

ps, I will always be grateful for that day in 1984, at the Univerity Mall in Provo, Utah, when my late grandmother took me into the Sam Goody music store and just by chance, I noticed the cover of the Signals album, thought it looked cool and perused other titles by this band, Rush. My mother is an actress and I immediately recognized the meaning of "Stage Left". I selected "Exit, Stage...Left", went to Grandma's house, turned on the music and heard Spirit of Radio. 40 years later, dozens of concerts (always in the front and center)! with now 3 Rush-fan daughers (one who named her Prius the "Geddy Lee"), I am left only with greater admiration by this incredible effin' story.


James Samuel Gulbrandsen (twitter: @jamesgbrasil)

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-11-20

Heartwarming, Humorous, Heartbreaking. Well written.

Loved hearing Geddy tell his story. Also enjoyed the two hauntingly beautiful demo songs at the end.

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  • "cstyles118"
  • 2023-11-19

learning that We're only immortal for a limited time

Excellent narration, even better story. Geddy held nothing back and it was funny, thought provoking, funny, and heartbreaking all at once. He made me love this band even more and I didn't even know that was possible.

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  • Karin
  • 2023-11-19

Beautiful and authentic

Just thank you. That is all I have ever wanted to say to Geddy Lee and the Guys at Work. Thank you

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  • JDA
  • 2023-11-18

Wonderful

Discover everything you wanted to know about Geddy Lee in a manner akin to having a very personal conversation. What an incredible individual, with the clarity to recognize his aspirations from a young age and, through a combination of luck and very hard work, turn them into reality. He must be aware of how extraordinary his life has been. His music is a true gift, reminding us that one day the music will stop, but it has all been for the best!





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  • Robert Begley
  • 2023-11-15

Living in the Limelight

Fabulous story by Geddy, who puts you right there with him. Direct, honest, and heartfelt.
So much life and so much death. I’m grateful to have been around since 1977 admiring his work.

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  • Paul Csicsila
  • 2023-11-14

The most humble man on earth!

Such a comfort to finally hear the story of one of my childhood rock star hero's. Thank you Geddy for influencing my life and millions of other Rush fans. You are among a small group of the finest humans on this Earth.

Good Day Eh!!

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  • Trista
  • 2023-11-30

Effin’ Good Book

I’m a long time Rush fan, but now an even bigger Geddy Lee fan. This book is everything a biography and musical memoir should be. Geddy is a terrific narrator which makes his life story, family story, and Rush story even more personal hearing it straight from him. I did not want his story to end and I can’t wait to listen again. Through all of his triumphs and tragedies I was able to keep it together until his song Gone played. This is an effin’ good book.

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  • william a sands
  • 2023-11-30

A Masterpiece

Geddy Lee is a great writer and this is not because I loke millions am a Rush Fan to the Grave , but whe a writer takes you there physically and emotionally you know you are reading a great book. Geddy thank you for sharing 🙏 and dedicating a chapter to your parents ,very moving with so much feelings. You Sir are a good man in and out. thanks again for being part of our lives. It's a Beuty Eh??

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