“Vogel briskly collates his evidence (songs, interviews, other critics) meticulously tracing patterns in Prince's evolution ... Illuminating though it is, his book can't quite crack Prince's mysterious code. That, for fans, might well be its greatest strength.” —The Sunday Times
“Vogel lets Prince's legacy shine in all its vague and erratic splendor. 9/10 stars.” —PopMatters
“A meticulously researched tribute to its subject, this incisive book will lull its readers into revisiting Prince's prolific catalogue with renewed eyes and ears.” —Classic Pop Magazine
“Tackling a notoriously private musician of hieroglyphic complexity, Vogel deconstructs Prince's astounding body of work with refreshing clarity and remarkable insight. Meticulous and thoughtful, Vogel brings a scholarly richness to the study of an icon who deserves the royal treatment.” —Jason King, Director of Global Studies at The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, New York University, USA
“I wrote a book about Prince, so I know how hard it is. This Thing Called Life is a great one. Smart, thorough, and illuminating, Vogel's book is a must-have for fans of Prince.” —Touré, author of I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon (2013)
“What a welcome and inspiring addition to the pages devoted to Prince's life! A rare and complex artist is better understood when viewed through his art, and not just his personal history. Vogel chooses this route to explore the extramusical dialectic that Prince helped to shape, including gender, race, sex, and religious views. This Thing Called Life is erudite, accurate, and, above all, entrancing.” —Susan Rogers, Professor of Music Production and Engineering, Berklee College of Music, USA, and Prince's recording engineer
