Taron Egerton's performance in Rocketman was deliriously good, and after Sir Elton delivers the introduction to this book, Egerton takes it from there, capably and gamely. There are a lot of great scenes and rejoinders (between and toward George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Leon Russell, Rod Stewart and others), with the gossip you'd expect from such a queen as Lady Elton. I lapped up those passages, then was jolted by him having an affair in Atlanta with a John Scott (far too close to home, that) and enjoyed his behind-the-curtain stories about working with U.S. and world leaders on not-for-profit and societal goals.

My favorite sections were often the ones about his music-making with Russell and others, and his ridiculous experiences with Mercury and/or Jackson and/or Stewart. Some of the toughest to listen to were those involving his mother and family. Poor little Reggie thankfully rose above all that.

Sometimes Elton can be self-involved to the point of -aggrandizing. This comes as no shock, though it can be grating at times, tho blunted deftly as well by Egerton's vocal performance. I did this one entirely by audio, the way to go given the topics and the navel-gazing quotient.

Elton's survive-to-thrive experience with his substance use disorder(s), losing and finding loves, familial traumas, and navigating being gay/queer in entertainment (not the same in the 2020s as it was when he started) is truly captivating and to be heralded. He deserves his flowers, and yes, deserves to look – and loiter – in the mirror as he so likes.