My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire

In this powerful and substantial memoir, White (who died in February 2016), the creative force behind Earth, Wind & Fire, shares the belief—in God, in himself, in the power of music—that helped him overcome an underprivileged childhood and institutional racism to create phenomenal, self-driven success. White keeps his personal life closely guarded, but he addresses his failures with self-deprecating honesty. The book is more than a chronological tale of a career; it’s a quest for meaning. White does stray into some repetitive territory during the second half, but this reflects his dogged, focused personality. It is only through pushing himself to work hard in the face of disappointment and to remain positive and avoid the pitfalls of drugs that White can steer Earth, Wind & Fire to become the musical force it remains to this day. White’s life and music orbit themes of social justice, spirituality, and self-reliance. White writes strongly about the nature of black masculinity during and after the civil rights movement, and what it means to be a good man. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 1990s, White showed dramatic grace in his acceptance of decline and loss. The memoir captures a life of determination, positivity, and success tempered by depth and humility. Agent: Faith Childs, Faith Childs Literary. (Sept.)