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  • Working Class Boy

  • By: Jimmy Barnes
  • Narrated by: Jimmy Barnes
  • Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (81 ratings)

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Working Class Boy cover art

Working Class Boy

By: Jimmy Barnes
Narrated by: Jimmy Barnes
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Publisher's Summary

Raw, gritty, compassionate, surprising and darkly funny - Australian legend Jimmy Barnes' unforgettable childhood memoir.

Long before Cold Chisel and Barnesy, long before the success and excess, there was the true story of James Dixon Swan - a working-class boy whose family made the journey from Scotland to Australia in search of a better life.

Working Class Boy is a powerful reflection on a traumatic and violent childhood, which fuelled the excess and recklessness that would define, but almost destroy, the rock’n’roll legend. This is the story of how James Swan became Jimmy Barnes. It is a memoir burning with the frustration and frenetic energy of teenage sex, drugs, violence and ambition for more than what you have.

Please note: there is strong violence, themes and coarse language.

©2016 Freight Train Music Pty Limited (P)2017 Freight Train Music Pty Limited

Critic Reviews

"A stunning piece of work - relentless, earnest, shockingly vivid." (The Australian)

"You know you’ve been to a pretty good gig when the songs of your youth are redefined. That is just what this old Cold Chisel fan is feeling right now after spending a wonderful 150 minutes listening to Australian rock great Jimmy Barnes tell his life story with yarns and song." (The West Australian)

"A powerful, deeply emotional and transformative production." (The Daily Telegraph)

What listeners say about Working Class Boy

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raw and honest

love your honesty, very raw and sad in places, greatest respect for an amazing artist.

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So good!

Listened to this and had to listen to the next two as well and they're all amazing. What a legend

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Eva
  • 13-07-2023

Working class boy fantastic

The story was heartbreaking, funny, insightful and mind blowing. The voiceover was great hearing the story from the man himself. Definitely recommend. I’m about to order Working class man now. Thanks Jimmy for sharing a small piece of your life with us mere mortals 💝

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1 person found this helpful

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Wow! Barnsey!!

What a story!
I felt every fight, tasted every drink and danced to every song! What an amazing man to be able to tell his story! Brought back many, many memories of my childhood and also i learnt alsot about the northern part of Adelaide.
Thanks for sharing your story…
It was an enjoyable listen, just the right amount of serious with a whole lot of fun…

Definitely download this book!!

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Destiny wins over tragedy

Holy crap what a story! It’s raw. It’s honest. It makes you cry. It makes you laugh, sometimes because you’re uncomfortable. And it stops you in your tracks. But it shows that true talent can win against the odds. And l just loved Reg. What an amazing man. I’m looking forward to listening to Working Class Man next.

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Raw, Honest, and Chilling.

Sit down, get comfortable, get ready for a real, chilling story of Jimmy Barnes's youth..
it's shocking, it's real, it's funny, it will keep you glued to your chair, what a story. I now have a new onlook to Jimmy Barnes.

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AN UNFILTERED JOURNEY OF A YOUNG LIFE

Reduced to the biological primal essence of existence, the narrative follows the life of a gritty working-class boy whose every step is choreographed by the symphony of the four F's: feeding, fighting, fleeing, and mating. While the book effectively captures the raw essence of Jimmy's nature, I hope for a more profound exploration of Cold Chisel in the sequel.

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Wow!!

What a story! I’m looking forward to listening to the next instalment. Jimmy you have survived and better still you aren’t plagued with bitterness. What a life. Well read and the raw honesty is brave and healing. I’m so had that Reg was there for u.

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1 person found this helpful

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I LOVE Jimmy Barnes

I loved enjoy listening to jimmy Barnes voice narrating his own story. Have been a fan since I was a teenager and still am, great story awesome singer, entertainer, survivor xxxxx

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Loved it

It was great to have Jimmy narrate it as well. Lots of info that I didn’t know about Jimmy.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.