What a Fool Believes: A Memoir

by Paul Reiser, Michael McDonald

Overview

A sweeping and evocative memoir from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Grammy Award–winning, platinum selling singer-songwriter Michael McDonald, written with his friend, Emmy Award–nominated actor, comedian, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Paul Reiser.

Doobie Brothers. Steely Dan. Chart topping soloist. Across a half-century of American music, Michael McDonald’s unmistakably smooth baritone voice defined an era of rock and R&B with hit records like “What A Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “I Keep Forgettin’,” “Peg,” “It Keeps You Running,” “You Belong to Me,” and “Yah Mo B There.”

In his candid, freewheeling memoir, written with his friend, the Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian Paul Reiser, Michael tells the story of his life and music. A high school dropout from Ferguson, Missouri, Michael chased his dreams in 1970’s California, a heady moment of rock opportunity and excess. As a rising session musician and backing vocalist, a series of encounters would send him on a wild ride around the world and to the heights of rock stardom—from joining Steely Dan and becoming a defining member of The Doobie Brothers to forging a path as a breakout solo R&B artist.

Interwoven with the unforgettable tales of the music, Michael tells a deeply affecting story of losing and finding himself as a man. He reckons with the unshakeable insecurities that drove him, the drug and alcohol addictions that plagued him, and the highs and lows of popularity. Along the way he relays the lessons he’s learned, and that if he’s learned anything at all it’s that there’s often little correlation between what you get and what you deserve.

Filled with unbelievable stories and a matchless cast of music greats including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Carly Simon, and Quincy Jones, What a Fool Believes is a moving and entertaining memoir that is sure to be a classic. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798874624750
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	05/21/2024
Sales rank:	838,779
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Paul Reiser is a comedian, actor, television writer, and #1 New York Times bestselling author. Reiser has recently appeared in Netflix’s Stranger Things and The Kominsky Method as well as Hulu’s critically-acclaimed comedy Rebbot. Reiser was the costar with Helen Hunt of the long-running hit 90s comedy Mad About You and has appeared in countless classic films, among them Diner, Bye Bye Love, Aliens, One Night At McCool’s, and Beverly Hills Cop I/II. As an author, Reiser’s New York Times Bestselling books Couplehood, Babyhood, and Familyhood have sold millions of copies. Voted by Comedy Central as one of the Top 100 Comedians of All Time, Reiser regularly performs sold-out standup at venues nationwide.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Michael McDonald’s career encompasses five Grammys, countless platinum hits, and chart successes. After being an integral part of Steely Dan, McDonald was invited to join the Doobie Brothers as the band redefined their sound with McDonald serving as singer, keyboardist, and songwriter on numerous Top 40 singles. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s McDonald’s solo career took off with a string of hits including “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” “Sweet Freedom,” “On My Own” (with Patti LaBelle), and the Grammy-winning James Ingram duet “Yah Mo B There.” McDonald has performed with a who’s-who of critically acclaimed artists, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, Grizzly Bear, Thundercat, and Solange Knowles.

Editorial Reviews

"Like its namesake song, McDonald’s memoir is refreshingly self-deprecating and, at its core, an underdog’s triumph."  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Singer and songwriter Michael McDonald debuts with an affecting account of his early life, career trajectory, and struggles with addiction. . . . McDonald’s down-to-earth approach gives this rock and roll tell-all more weight than others of its kind.” — Publishers Weekly

“Michael McDonald is one of the most gifted musicians of our time. Over the last half century, his incredible talents have placed him in the eye of the musical hurricane and this vivid memoir brings it all to life. What a Fool Believes is essential reading for every music fan.” — Don Was

“Michael is the type of artist you are lucky to have in your lifetime. His voice has been one of the biggest inspirations in my development as a songwriter and singer. A very sweet and awesome person—the most Doobiest of brothers. It makes my day better knowing that somewhere in the world Michael McDonald is pondering what comes next.” — Thundercat

“Working with Michael on my first album, “Be Here Soon” was a dream come true. Not only did he bring his talent, creativity, and soul to our project, but his love and generosity of spirit was limitless. He’s a wonderful friend, an incredible musician, and a beautiful human being.” — Jeff Bridges

From the Publisher

★ 2024-02-16
The veteran singer and keyboardist covers much of the same ground that many of his contemporaries traveled, but his memoir is filled with charming surprises.

A lot of the surprises have to do with his co-writer. Reiser, best known as the star and co-creator of the sitcom Mad About You, gives McDonald’s stories the structure and pacing of a TV show. The resulting chapters—especially those about McDonald’s family and how his love for his father shaped his life as a teenage performer—fly by early on, even though they cover the lesser-known years of the acclaimed musician’s life. McDonald doesn’t offer many salacious details about his split with the Doobie Brothers following the success of the chart-topping hit “What a Fool Believes,” which won record and song of the year honors at the Grammy Awards in 1980. He is gracious about the band’s internal battles and forthcoming about his substance abuse without discussing the drug use of others. “My attitude was: coke should be reserved for a special occasion,” he writes. “But as time went on, I managed to christen more and more occasions as ‘special.’” The emotional heart of the narrative is his exploration of how he realized his addiction made it impossible for him to help his wife, the singer Amy Holland, battle her own problems. McDonald offers insights into the creation of some of his most famous songs, including “You Belong to Me” with Carly Simon, as well as his worries about tackling the Motown catalog for his career-boosting Motown album series. McDonald writes from a solid, self-aware place, able to joke about his position as one of yacht rock’s most famous voices, alongside Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, and others.

Like its namesake song, McDonald’s memoir is refreshingly self-deprecating and, at its core, an underdog’s triumph.

Kirkus Reviews