"Like its namesake song, McDonald's memoir is refreshingly self-deprecating and, at its core, an underdog's triumph." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "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 "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 "Yacht rock has many big names, but none have made their presence felt across the genre more than McDonald. As a solo artist, member of the Doobie Brothers and backing vocalist on dozens of classics, McDonald's uniquely soulful voice is practically a signature on a song.[What A Fool Believes] is an engaging story that readers of music bios will enjoy. McDonald's musical journey as a backing singer, a side musician, and a front man is fascinating because it is different from that of many other pop/rock stars."--Library Journal - Library Journal "What do you get when you combine a 1970s music legend, a 1990s sitcom star and a global pandemic? Michael McDonald's memoir, obviously.What a Fool Believes is oddly difficult to classify, standing out somewhat from the deluge of celebrity memoirs.
It's a little bit of everything: an addiction memoir, a career retrospective, a series of funny rock-and-roll vignettes, a rumination on family.vulnerable and honest." - Washington Post "For all its surface smoothness, yacht rock -- and the artists who created it over the last few decades -- can be turbulent below deck.As he reveals in his new memoir, no one encompasses that dichotomy quite like Michael McDonald. That gently huffing mellow voice and electric piano often hid a wild lifestyle, at least during his early, pre-sober days in the music business when he was a member of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers." - Rolling Stone "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 "An honest, revealing telling of [McDonald's] life, career and journey to sobriety." - WGN "A living link to a lost era of pop . the best sections in the book see the singer wrestling with his demons . Here he adds new depth to his avuncular public image." - The New York Times, audiobook review "These eloquent words reflect the spirit of the work . lively, engaging . What a Fool Believes vividly depicts the eras in which [McDonald] grew up and then became part of the musical firmament" - Relix "A memoir as silky smooth as his legendary voice." - Yahoo.