The Meaning of Mariah Carey

Though I've been a fan of Mariah Carey since 2005's "The Emancipation of Mimi", I was surprised by the harrowing details of her childhood vividly told in her new book "The Meaning of Mariah Carey".  She survived abject poverty, racism, physical and emotional abuse from her own siblings and a tumultuous first marriage where she lived as a prisoner in her own house.    

The book is a stunning revelation that behind the smiling, successful media persona created for Carey, there is actually a vulnerable and self-doubting individual that is still haunted by the horrific events of her childhood.  For the long-time fans, the book provides sumptuous details of the dark events and whirlwind romances that inspired classic Carey songs including "My All", "Always be my baby" and "All I want for Christmas is you"; there's an especially surprising reveal about the standard "Hero" which became a 9/11 anthem.  

The book accomplishes a lot to reveal a new dimension to the global superstar. Still, most importantly, it highlights that Mariah's life mimics her legendary vocal range - the highs are incredibly high, and the lows are shockingly low.  She infuses hefty amounts of humour even in the dark patches of her life, creating an overall hopeful and inspiring message.  Even non-fans will find much to enjoy as the book reads like a Cinderella story that quickly becomes a dramatic rollercoaster ride worthy of its own operetta. 

For Carey, the book is a triumph as it finally allows her to tell her story on her own terms and provides the vindication that she is one of the greatest songwriters of our time.  Despite being a 2020 Inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, few know that Carey wrote 18 of her 19 Billboard 200 number 1 hits including the universally beloved "All I want for Christmas is you".  Whether you're a fan or just searching for a satisfying read, Mariah does not disappoint, delivering the best non-fiction book of 2020. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Review by Timothy Austin 

Read on Amazon Kindle 

Buy here.