Books: "Spare" by Prince Harry vs. "King: A Life" by Jonathan Eig
Quick Verdict
Spare offers a personal and often controversial perspective, while King: A Life provides a more balanced and historically grounded account.
- Spare is a personal memoir offering a subjective viewpoint, while King: A Life is a meticulously researched biography.
- Spare focuses on the author's personal experiences, while King: A Life contextualizes its subject within a broader historical movement.
- Spare's writing style is described as inconsistent, while King: A Life is praised for its journalistic and analytical approach.
Key features – Side-by-Side
| Attribute | "Spare" by Prince Harry | "King: A Life" by Jonathan Eig |
|---|---|---|
| Author | — | — |
| Publisher | — | — |
| Publication Date | — | — |
| Genre | — | — |
| Format | — | — |
| Number of Pages | — | — |
| Narrator (for Audiobook) | — | — |
| Subject Matter | — | — |
| Writing Style | — | — |
| Target Audience | — | — |
| Historical Accuracy | — | — |
| Overall Tone | — | — |
Overall Comparison
Spare: Personal Memoir; King: A Life: Researched Biography
Pros and Cons
Spare
Pros:
- Raw, honest, and intimate writing style
- Provides a personal and direct connection with the reader
- Delves into Prince Harry's emotional and psychological struggles
- Hearing Prince Harry tell his own story in his own voice enhances the emotional impact
- Provides a more sympathetic understanding of his experiences
Cons:
- Writing style described as inconsistent
- Presents events and relationships from Prince Harry's subjective viewpoint, leading to a one-sided portrayal
- Inclusion of too many personal details
- Concerns about the impact on the Royal Family
- Some found Prince Harry to be 'bratty'
- Controversy for revelations such as the physical altercation with Prince William and Prince Harry's admission of killing 25 people in Afghanistan
King: A Life
Pros:
- Provides an intimate view of King, revealing his vulnerabilities, doubts, and dark moods.
- Contextualizes King's life within the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the contributions and tensions among other leaders and activists.
- Explores King's evolving strategies and critiques of racism, capitalism, and militarism.
- Dion Graham's narration is praised for emulating King's cadence and capturing his deep, resonant tone.
- Based on newly released documents, including FBI files, and interviews with over 200 people from King's inner circle.
Cons:
- Some reviewers note that while detailed, the writing can sometimes get bogged down in minutiae.
- One review suggests that Eig's treatment of King's alleged plagiarism seems inconsistent with the book's empathetic tone.
- One review criticizes Eig's faith in the FBI and DOJ reports on King's assassination.
User Experiences and Feedback
Spare
What Users Love
- Many reviewers recommend the audiobook
- Hearing Prince Harry tell his own story enhances the emotional impact
- Provides a more sympathetic understanding of his experiences
Common Complaints
- Some found his narration to be bizarre
- Some mocked certain excerpts
Value Perception
- No value feedback reported.
User Recommendations
- anguished, searching, and occasionally vindictive memoir
King: A Life
What Users Love
- No highlights reported.
Common Complaints
- No major complaints reported.
Value Perception
- No value feedback reported.