Never Look at the Empty Seats|Book Review

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.

Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads

Published by Thomas Nelson Incorporated on October 24th 2017
Source: BookLook Bloggers
Genres: Biography & Autobiography, Composers & Musicians
Pages: 288

The Incredible Story of a Country Music Legend

Few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels.

Readers will experience a soft, personal side of Charlie Daniels that has never before been documented. In his own words, he presents the path from his post-depression childhood to performing for millions as one of the most successful country acts of all time and what he has learned along the way. The book also includes insights into the many musicians that orbited Charlie’s world, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette and many more.

Charlie was officially inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016, shortly before his 80th birthday. He now shares the inside stories, reflections, and rare personal photographs from his earliest days in the 1940s to his self-taught guitar and fiddle playing high school days of the fifties through his rise to music stardom in the seventies, eighties and beyond.

Charlie Daniels presents a life lesson for all of us regardless of profession:

“Walk on stage with a positive attitude. Your troubles are your own and are not included in the ticket price. Some nights you have more to give than others, but put it all out there every show. You're concerned with the people who showed up, not the ones who didn't. So give them a show and…Never look at the empty seats!”

I’m going to admit, I didn’t know much about Charlie Daniels. I’ve heard about him my whole life. My dad is a big fan but I’ve never much liked the kind of music that my Dad likes. So, I pretty much assumed I probably wouldn’t care for Charlie Daniels. Silly, huh?

Well, I saw this book and I’ve discovered a recent love for memoirs. I figured that whether or not I liked his music—I might like his book. Plus, my daughters play classical violin and fiddle tunes so I thought this book would be a good choice as any.

I didn’t quite know what to expect but  I was blown away by Charlie’s eloquence and way with words. In addition to being a fine musician, he is a natural storyteller.  From start to finish, this book kept my attention. I’m very impressed.

Now, let’s talk about a few “negative” things that some Christians may throw out there. I know some that would object the use of any foul language in a book. Most of the time I agree but when it comes to memoir, I think they follow a different set of rules. I urge people to please remember that we all come from different walks of life and no one is perfect. God’s still working on us—all of us. If you put this book down because you’re offended, you may miss something profound.

One only needs to read to Charlie’s testimony to see how God touched his heart. God is explored as a loving father who wants each of us to come to Him as we are.  This is something my daughter grapples with. She thinks that she has to do something while really she just has to let go and let God.  I really think she would benefit from reading Charlie’s testimony—as would anyone struggling with this. This is one of the best discussions about salvation that I’ve ever read in a memoir. Charlie presents a simple and easy-to-understand plan of salvation.

Politically, Charlie makes no apologies for what he believes—yes, he is conservative and some will take offense.  I warn about this because some people just don’t handle political discussion well. So, take caution that this book does delve into the political arena.

This book has so many facts about Charlie’s life, his journey, and his tenacity. I felt inspired by his determination and his will to make life what he wanted.  Such a powerful story of triumph!

Oh, and I have listened to his music since reading this book. Daddy wasn’t wrong, Charlie is a doggone good fiddler. Just don’t tell my daddy I said so. He’ll never stop with the, “I told you so.”

Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.

Content Review:
Christian or Secular: Christian
Profanity: Some (S-O-B and Damn)
Sex&Violence: None
Trigger Warnings: None
Disclosure: As mentioned, this book does have two curse words—once each.  Having said that, all of us are at different points. Most importantly, Charlie Daniels gave one of the best salvation testimonies that I’ve read in a memoir.  Some people struggle with grasping the simplicity but Charlie does a good job explaining that you come to Christ as you are. Some will take offense with conservative political views that Charlie is very vocal about. Bars and drinking is also mentioned throughout the book as well as alcoholism.

Posted By: Kristin Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Charlie Daniels