Blog post

Bono Passively Answers Accusations Made Harry in Browne's Critical Biography

Matthew Schantz 6 June 2013

Bono, while never entirely acknowledging the accusations leveled against him in Harry Browne's new critical biography of the U2 frontman, has been on the defense.

On CounterPunch, Dave Marsh praises The Frontman as "both an effective cautionary tale and an excellent how-to-book on avoiding the traps of neo-liberalism. On top of that, it offers the tale of a mannish boy who’s genuinely incapable of grasping why some folks just plain don’t like his act." Marsh concludes: "Maybe Bono himself will read it. It might be painful but even that couldn’t hurt."

Marsh's question of whether Bono has read the book is a poignant one considering all of Bono's recent media activity.



Just eight days after Marsh published his review, Bono turned up on CBS This Morning sporting his signature leather jacket and forlorn look to discuss his own importance. Though Bono never addresses Browne's book directly during the hour-long segment, we aren't the only ones noticing the eerily opportune timing of the interview.

Adam Sherwin, in his review of Browne's book for The Independent, noticed a similar pattern of recent praise for Bono from prominent places. Shortly after reviews of Browne's book came out, Bill Clinton publicly declared that "we are all in [Bono's] debt" for his humanitarian endeavors. An ironic turn of phrase considering the critiques of Browne and others who are not fans of neoliberal financial intervention.

Browne himself has not been so silent. He joinedJohn Hockenberry on The Takeaway this past Monday to discuss his book. You can listen to the interview below:

<iframe width="474" height="54" frameborder="0" src="//www.thetakeaway.org/widgets/ondemand_player/#file=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetakeaway.org%2Faudio%2Fxspf%2F296458%2F;containerClass=takeaway"></iframe>


Filed under: interviews, reviews