Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll and... religion? Former record executive Mansfield (The White Book
) looks back on his life during a road trip from the vantage point of one who has seen it all and then found God. The open road is an apt and common metaphor for the spiritual life, but this travelogue never really connects the dots. Why does the author take the trip? What does he hope to find? Is he attempting to exorcise past demons, or beg forgiveness for enjoying the excesses of life in the music business? All of these are themes the author flirts with but never embraces. Mansfield's prayerful musings, however, are quite extraordinary. These spirituality-infused moments are the most poignant of the book, although they make strange bedfellows with accounts of hanging out with Ringo Starr, Dolly Parton and Lou Rawls. While the book is a bit disjointed, the brief forays into prayer along with the exciting stories of the music business in the '60s and '70s make this a welcome addition to the spirituality shelf. (June 9)
