Lionel Richie’s Truly is an opus in every sense of the word, 460 pages of pure, unfiltered bliss from a man who has sold over 125 million albums and still writes like he’s just getting started.

What strikes you immediately is the generosity of the storytelling. Richie doesn’t hold back. He invites you in, sits you down, and says, “Let me tell you how it really was.” And you lean in, because this is Lionel Richie songwriter, architect of global pop culture, and a man who has lived more musical lives than most artists could dream of.

One of the joys of the book is its structure. You can drop into any of the 23 chapters and be swept away.

I began at Chapter 14 page 259 back to my first year at UCT, and instantly I was gone, carried by Richie’s voice, warm and wise, playful and piercing.

And then there’s the Spotify playlist. Genius. You read a chapter, hit play, and suddenly the memories, the melodies, the cultural impact it all lands. You know every song. You feel the magnitude of the man.

If you love uber-talent, great storytelling, and a life lived at full throttle, get this book. It does not disappoint.