What Does This Button Do?: An Autobiography

I'm not normally big on autobiographies, but What Does This Button Do? came highly recommended. It did not disappoint. Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, fencer, airline pilot, and a few other things, takes us on a tour of his life. And what an adventure! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. He's not what one might expect of a rock star, but he sure sounds like someone I'd like to sit down and chat with over a beer or two.

First things first. I love Iron Maiden, and I think Bruce is a talented, cool guy. However, while this book is entertaining enough it doesn't function all that well as an autobiography. The main problem is that you learn very little about his life. Which, I would suggest, is the subject that people would purchase an autobiography for.

We get a decent amount on his passions for fencing and flying. These sections could have been condensed, in my opinion. What I wanted to hear about is Bruce! His relationships inside and outside of Maiden. His beliefs, political and spiritual beliefs, how he coped with major life events, marriages, divorces, deaths and everything in between. He does explain in the afterward message that he deliberately left these out. Maybe this should have been moved to the front of the book? The book would also have benefited from more rock and roll lifestyle anecdotes. And more details about how each album was written. He could have also included details on his legendary dodgy performances during the Somewhere In Time tour. Plus the bad blood between the band after their split. All of this is skimmed over.

Its polished, superficial and like a huge version of one of his online interviews. Sure it's easy to read but the lack of jucy Maiden details and omission of his personal life means this is “thin” in terms of an autobiography.