A must read - and before you see all the entirely false media snippets in the press.
The Prince of Hearts speaks - a raw, honest, and tender account. So heartbreaking, devastatingly shocking and sad at times, but with so much humour - it’s really hilarious and funny in places. It also is a beautiful love story and a story of hope. I was somewhat surprised by how self-reflective he has become, and really enjoyed the way he describes his experiences. I was deeply touched in many places - laughed, cried, was angry, surprised, confused - all the emotions.
I loved what he says about being in Africa and in the bush, to which I can relate to so much and have experienced this strange depth (‘the world before it developed into the world’). It shows him as a lot more sensitive, philosophical and also a lot more spiritual (in between the lines and in different chapters) than I thought, and it's so beautiful to see the raw, sensitive and tender part of his person come through. He comes through so relatable and down to earth. This story is so human - with all its ups and downs.
The book gives us a view behind the curtain of a life that some condemn for its fullness of riches. Yet it is so clearly a life ‘bred in captivity’, in a “gilded cage”, that shows money and riches are not equal to ‘real’ freedom (or love). There are squashing rules and painful consequences that come with their enjoyment. What if one is born into it and unable to chose? Now he has chosen. What courage.
It was a gripping, and highly engaging story. The audiobook version that Prince Harry narrates himself, is so well read that it felt like you were experiencing the moments in real time, I couldn’t stop putting it down (or turning it off). The meaning and feeling of his words comes across, the heart of the story, in a powerful way when hearing his own words.
I highly recommend the book and to read it yourself or listen to the audio version first.
Before you see the atrocious and slanderous total dismantling of mere snippets of the pieces shared in the book. It is astonishing what the press has done right now with this book and its words for all to see. So much misconstrued excerpts - don’t be put off and read it yourself first. Then compare, then make up your own mind. The press has shown itself in its most poisonous light I have ever witnessed in these last few days of the publication of the book.
With that, what irony that the mission of this book was successful!
The main mission this book is to make us more aware of what the media is doing and how it is doing it. Most of us may already know this. But here we are right now witnessing it live - right in front of our eyes. Will we notice? Will we ‘spare’ the time to read it for ourselves, to really see?
The story of the book, highlights that this could be any of us, you, me, not just any one from the royal family or someone who happens to fall out of the press' and media’s good graces or is scrutinised. (It reminds me of the book “Becoming” by Michelle Obama, where she describes a similar experience when becoming the First Lady.) For Prince Harry, it has been like this since birth.
I really wanted to make sure to read it/hear it all first, before looking at the news, but noticed how hard it is at times. Things seeped through. Even friends and colleagues in my field (of psychology) made throw-away comments based on some terribly dangerous headlines (e.g. in relation to the Taliban, when he recounts his honest experiences in the Army). It was so clearly taken out of context, which you would notice if you had read it and gotten to that part 2 of the book already. A couple of words taken out of an entire account and then an emotive word slapped onto it to make title to change its entire meaning. We don’t have time – and are all so willing to take in just disjointed bits from the media every day.
I could not believe the article published in the Guardian by journalist John Grace, only three days after the book’s publication, falsifying artistically the entire book for us. It doesn’t even mention that it is under the guise of satire, but claims at the beginning: “To busy to read it? All the love, rancour, drugs and petty fights are here.”
What follows is a confusing write-up, looking like a compilation of excerpts taken straight from the book, but you don’t quite know which part is added by the journalist and is false – that is, unless you read it for yourself! Snippets taken from the book, something else slapped on to it at the end, that wasn’t even in the book. How on earth can the Guardian get away with this? Publishing something so incorrect and defamatory? But the damage has already been done for many I suspect, who as a result roll their eyes, and don’t want to read the book. But ironically, this is the whole point that the book is trying to share. And if you read these claims, you cannot ‘unread it’. It makes you think, it can poison you and anyone who reads it without noticing. Words have power.
So here we are and have the most powerful evidence of what this book is actually about.
The most ironic thing in itself is happening for us to see in bright daylight under our noses. The power of the media – and so much falseness and untruths which we read about every single day. The mainstream press and media, most of us even ‘trust’.
This book is not just about Prince Harry or setting his record straight, or share stories of his family, though this is the tool of the book. It seems to be about something so much bigger than that.
What is of course fascinating as part of the story and in this whole unfolding drama is that we can all resonate personally so much with the family dynamics and the family story in so many ways (no matter what backgrounds we come from).
All the family archetypes - all the roles we play in our families and the roles we feel trapped in or are assigned to hold, are represented in this book. May it range from the ‘golden child’, ‘black sheep’, ‘baby brother’, ‘big brother’, ‘rival brother’,’longed for sister’, ‘wicked stepmother’, ‘loving mother’, ‘absent father’, ‘the newcomer’, ‘the wicked daughter-in-law’, or so many other classics. These archetypes all represent our collective experience of family. We may recognise all these roles here in the book represented in some form or other. And this can really connect us to the family story in general, through our own lived experiences.
But most of us will find it extremely hard to ever exit our assigned roles, or our family itself, however troubled and dysfunctional it is. It must be a hundred times harder for a member of a royal family who is controlled by and locked into ‘the Institution’ by blood.
Harry has attempted the unthinkable and unspeakable, and in front of everyone to see. Good for him - and also how embarrassing… for ‘the Institution’.
This may be the true core ‘danger’ of the book - for the media and press as well as the ‘Institution’ and the monarchy. It is clear with this book they were not successful at silencing him enough. The day before the launch, Prince Harry aptly comments in the ITV interview with Tom Bradby that “silence only allows the abuser to continue to abuse”. He also said “peace can only happen where there is truth”. This is an apt explanation of the purpose of this book, and it comes across in every chapter.
It is bigger than just the story about Prince Harry because the book raises so many questions (and esp. with this vicious media and press reaction): How can we possibly discern right from wrong? And what role, what power does the media play out in this? One thing is for sure, you don’t want to be on the bad side of them.
Prince Harry is standing up, speaking out and speaking his truth, which most of us are not courageous and brave enough to do at this level.
If you check each, his words in the book account and the current media messages, it is like witnessing a modern crucifixion.
We are watching it and it raises even deeper questions like: Would I speak out like this? How has the power completely shifted to controlled media? What means “freedom” and freedom of speech?
The book raises in fact many questions on deeper issues about privacy, freedom of speech, human rights, but also unwittingly and indirectly - but to no surprise may question the entire existence of the monarchy. Of the validity and usefulness of an antiquated, backwards “Institution” behind the Monarchy itself - far too powerful for its own family members. Is it really still necessary to exist in this day and age? Many current members would of course not want to see it dismantled and as a result lose their existence. The war on Harry and any dissidents has to happen by default (as we are witness to) - to ensure its own survival. And since there is the existing long standing enmeshed relationship between the media and the Institution (“in bed with the Devil”- comment from the ITV interview, but not so direct in the book), both depend on each other for their survival. The book describes how – some of it in the subtext and in between the lines, but it also becomes clear in the story.
If “it” (the Institution) wants to survive, it raises also the question if it could not show us a better example, be more of a role model? It doesn’t have to be this way – one or the other can only exist. Esp. in matters of the heart, family, unity, truthfulness, rather than the outdated stuffy rules, and control driven dynamics based on power and not losing face or pride? (But this will probably never happen.)
In this book, the evoking of the deeper questions is done skilfully through the story of the heart, Prince Harry’s own story of his experiences and words. As such through metaphor it is a powerful tool to reach us deeper, to shake us up, especially with laughter and humour along the way that makes the reading (or listening) gripping, enjoyable and deeply engaging.
Prince Harry shows tremendous bravery and courage here and he could be applauded for daring this. And I can’t help but fear for him at the same time. This must be the toughest times of their lives right now, and I really wish them all the safety, love and protection they need around this time of transition - “post-book”.
I really hope that with this book he is able to achieve what he is hoping for.
For one, to make an in-road for all of us to hold world-wide and British Press and media, its coverage and its employees more accountable for the suffering they cause to so many people every day.
Because of this it is a must read / or listen to.
It seems clear on more than the obvious level, that he is Diana’s son. How incredibly proud she must be - that he managed to ‘get out’. Though it is a hard road. If feels as though he is continuing the work that his mother had started. She still lives in so many peoples’ hearts across the globe and was able to touch so many – and even so many decades after. And with Prince Harry in his own right as Harry, what he is actually daring to do here is shining his own light, not being ashamed to have a voice and speaking and owning his truth - and with that leading by example.
Not to be silenced. But good grief, we can see here in the book and the after effects, what a mammoth and difficult task it is and it comes with so much pain and consequences for him.
My heart goes out to him and Meghan. And any other family member, I feel so much compassion for them. At the state of everything in our world right now. But there is also so much gratitude, love, joy and light in this book, peppered with tender mischievous humour which was so uplifting and able to create space for hope.
Hope for change.
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Truth, itself, is always entirely subjective
In Spare, Prince Harry has shared his personal accounts of pain and trauma, with bits of humour and descriptions of cherished memories along the way. The book is well written and draws you into each instance as though you're watching a posh soap opera. However, Harry divulges so many intimate details, I’m left pondering how this whole endeavour can bring healing for him or build a bridge to 'unite' his family or indeed the kingdom. I simply can’t help but wonder how Harry’s family will be able to trust him after all these ‘revelations’? Perhaps, I'm such a protector of family and privacy that I would never go so public with our frailties but instead would work to find ways to heal from a quiet and helpful place. And, yet, I clearly get that Harry feels his considerable pain was brushed aside by a family well versed in the art of 'getting on with it' and protecting the Crown.If Spare led us to understand how to turn pain into power; explored how to address unconscious bias as a way to expose racism; gave us lessons learned on how the monarchy, the British press, we all, could be better, then I could totally see the point of it. Sadly, the book does none of those things – it's like tattle tailing without offering solutions. The Sussexes’ continued rhetoric has centred on their understandably deeply held fear and resentment of the British tabloid press and, yet, the Duke has now delivered mounds of information to fuel that fire and further exacerbate the newspapers’ indignation.As a cleric, I paused to pray that Harry will find peace and reconciliation. I even pray that the royal family will find a way address its problems without the with the entire world seeing its undergarments on display. As a son, brother, and cousin, I'd be outraged by the much of the content of Spare. As a resident of the U.K., my heart goes out to HM The King, The Prince of Wales, and all the members of the royal family, who must now grapple with whether to stand or remain in silence in their truths. Whatever that really means, for in circumstances such as these, truth, itself, is always entirely subjective.
Top reviews from other countries
Kailyn
Sad, Whimsical, Dark, Comedic, Introspective…words cannot describe you just have to read it
Reviewed in the United States on 11 January 2023Reviews
"...a secret about truth that many people are unwilling to accept: it's usually painful"
Reviewed in Canada on 10 January 2023
