Point of View

Rod: The Autobiography is told from a first person perspective. Every interaction and thought comes from the author, Rod Stewart. As a result of Stewart authoring the book, rather than an independent biographer, Stewart decides what stories are retold and included in his narrative and what is left out or censored in some fashion. With a few exceptions of personal guilt or drug addiction, Stewart largely portrays himself in a favorable light. At the end of the book, the reader is left with the impression that Rod Stewart is a charming, talented musician and a doting father. In Stewart's relationship with Jeff Beck, for example, the two enter into conflicts often, yet Beck is usually the one who is unflatteringly characterized. Beck is headstrong and rude, making cooperation for future projects nearly impossible. An independent biographer may have taken a more balanced approach. On the other...