Yanni in Words

The platinum-selling electronic--don't call him New Age--instrumentalist Yanni tends to inspire strong opinions, and this ambitious autobiography, which Yanni calls""a book about a life of challenges, lessons, dreams, and obstacles,"" is unlikely to change any of them. Yanni, with the help of Rensin (who similarly aided Tim Allen and Chris Rock with their memoirs), adopts a conversational, occasionally almost condescending tone, full of tics like""Mind you"" and""Can you imagine?"". He recounts his""idyllic"" childhood in a Greek village; his high school years as a champion swimmer; his time in rock bands (complete with groupies and cocaine); his nine-year love affair with Linda Evans; his near-breakdown; and his determination to make and market his music. Throughout, his plainspokenness is jarringly juxtaposed with show-offy references to the likes of Socrates and Schopenhauer. His claims that anyone could match his success if only he or she tried hard enough, perhaps meant to be inspirational, come off instead as preachy. In his acknowledgments, Yanni writes that""words have never been my medium""; fortunately, his fans love him for his music.