Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Backstage Pass by Harvey Lee is a captivating memoir about the author's remarkable experiences in the worlds of business and music. From a school leaver to a music manager, Harvey's story is an intriguing mix of challenges, wins, losses, and humor. He was the type of child to fight back when bullied in school and get fired for having long hair that made him look like a rock star. Though he failed and left some of the jobs he got in his rebel phase, the lessons he learned from this period contributed to his impressive accomplishments later in life. Harvey, who loved music growing up and even joined a band, found himself managing a music band and making crucial decisions in the challenging music industry. The book also highlights Harvey's role in the success of Xbox during its early stages.

The smart blend of amusing stories and profound lessons is one of the many reasons I loved Backstage Pass. For example, Harvey shares a lesson about using the toilet before an interview after narrating the time he broke wind during an important interview. Such honest acknowledgments made me love the book even more. His story is an amazing behind-the-scenes experience for those interested in the inner workings of business, the music industry, and gaming giants like Xbox and GTA. It was interesting to see that the Xbox 360 makers were, at a point, "making more money than PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii combined," as well as the moves they made to achieve success. Fans of books about the intricacies of the music business and gaming will love Backstage Pass. It's exciting, highly informative, and refreshingly honest. I would read another book by Harvey Lee without hesitation!