--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't want just a squeaky-clean book…" description: "\"I didn't want just a squeaky-clean book that just illuminated my stardom. For me, that would just be such a waste of time. I wanted my book to reflect ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/philip-bailey-4862_book_i-didn-t-want-just-a-squeaky-clean-book_2954104.jpg" --- # I didn't want just a squeaky-clean book that just… ![“I didn't want just a squeaky-clean book that just illuminated my stardom. For me, that would just be such a waste of time. I wanted my book to reflect real life - the highs and lows.” quote by Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/philip-bailey-4862_book_i-didn-t-want-just-a-squeaky-clean-book_2954104.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/philip-bailey-4862_book_i-didn-t-want-just-a-squeaky-clean-book_2954104.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/philip-bailey-4862_book_i-didn-t-want-just-a-squeaky-clean-book_2954104.jpg) > “I didn't want just a squeaky-clean book that just illuminated my stardom. For me, that would just be such a waste of time. I wanted my book to reflect real life - the highs and lows.” [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author wants a book that captures life's full spectrum, not just a polished, superficial image. **In simple terms:** Seek authenticity over perfection. Key Takeaway Prioritize truth in storytelling. Themes authenticity artistry realism Mood introspective determined Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - writing memoirs - documenting personal journeys - producing films - journalism Key Concepts creative integrity life balance Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you avoiding? - How does vulnerability affect audience connection? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating audiences seeking escapism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-just-257658/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Highs and lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highs-and-lows/) [Illuminated Stardom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illuminated-stardom-4466658/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Reflect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflect/) [Stardom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stardom/) [Stardom Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stardom-just-2827763/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Waste time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-time/) ## Related quotes > [I don't mind the high price of stardom. I just don't like the high price of mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-veeck/i-don-t-mind-the-high-price-of-stardom-i-just-don-t-like-the-high/) [Bill Veeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-veeck/) > [I have no status or stardom. I was just willing to die for my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/i-have-no-status-or-stardom-i-was-just-willing-to-die-for-my-dream/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [There's an argument that celebrities stop growing mentally the moment they reach stardom and then they just - everything goes away. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/there-s-an-argument-that-celebrities-stop-growing-mentally-the-moment/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Stardom is just an uneasy seat on top of a tricky toboggan. Being a star is merely perching at the head of the downgrade.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredric-march/stardom-is-just-an-uneasy-seat-on-top-of-a-tricky-toboggan-being-a/) [Fredric March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredric-march/) > [“Your call to power is to slow down and reflect within. Gather the peace within yourself before you go out and act among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/your-call-to-power-is-to-slow-down-and-reflect-within-gather-the/) [Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/) > [“There is no such thing as a bad book, I just like some books more than others…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-geiger/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-bad-book-i-just-like-some-books-more-than/) [Chris Geiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-geiger/) > [There's so much more to a book than just the reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/there-s-so-much-more-to-a-book-than-just-the-reading/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [“There's so much more to book than just reading”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/there-s-so-much-more-to-book-than-just-reading/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I read everything! I would have read the phone book if you put it in front of me. I just read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/i-read-everything-i-would-have-read-the-phone-book-if-you-put-it-in/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [“There's nothing quite like reading a good book that just might become your favorite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joscelyn-gleave/there-s-nothing-quite-like-reading-a-good-book-that-just-might-become/) [Joscelyn Gleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joscelyn-gleave/) > [Move On. It's Just A Chapter In the past. But Don't Close the book, JUST THE PAGE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-dale-fuentebella/move-on-it-s-just-a-chapter-in-the-past-but-don-t-close-the-book-just/) [Ronald Dale Fuentebella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-dale-fuentebella/) > [When I get lost in a book, it's just, like, magical!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marley-dias/when-i-get-lost-in-a-book-it-s-just-like-magical/) [Marley Dias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marley-dias/) > [“But it would be far more effective—and considerably more inventive—to enact that same process with a text that has no preexisting meaning. A book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/but-it-would-be-far-more-effective-and-considerably-more-inventive-to/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [When you meet someone for the first time, that's not the whole book. That's just the first page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-meet-someone-for-the-first-time-that-s-not-the-whole-book/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Evil or manipulative people don't need a book, they just do it anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/evil-or-manipulative-people-don-t-need-a-book-they-just-do-it-anyway/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## More by Philip Bailey > [When we came up, groups and bands and performers were interested in being their own thing. They wanted to make sure that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/when-we-came-up-groups-and-bands-and-performers-were-interested-in/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [Interestingly enough, I'm an earth sign, and my personality is pretty much in keeping with that, and Verdine is definitely a fire sign. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/interestingly-enough-i-m-an-earth-sign-and-my-personality-is-pretty/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [I love the clothes, I love the discipline. It's all encompassing. You play golf for two hours and you feel like you went on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/i-love-the-clothes-i-love-the-discipline-it-s-all-encompassing-you/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [We all have things in which we look back and say, 'If I had a chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/we-all-have-things-in-which-we-look-back-and-say-if-i-had-a-chance-to/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [I call Earth, Wind & Fire my day job and my solo career my night gig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/i-call-earth-wind-fire-my-day-job-and-my-solo-career-my-night-gig/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [I'm a strong believer in God. Always have been. I've always believed that he directed my path from the time I was a kid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/i-m-a-strong-believer-in-god-always-have-been-i-ve-always-believed/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [We weren't that big fans of Disco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/we-weren-t-that-big-fans-of-disco/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [If you get the basics right, you can freshen things up, you don't want to just regurgitate the past. But we gotta stay true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/if-you-get-the-basics-right-you-can-freshen-things-up-you-don-t-want/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [The seeds of Illumination's origin sprang from an idea lead singer Philip Bailey had of collaborating with new generation of soul artists for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/the-seeds-of-illumination-s-origin-sprang-from-an-idea-lead-singer/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [I can't lie: We have made some dogs over the years. Every album we did wasn't great, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/i-can-t-lie-we-have-made-some-dogs-over-the-years-every-album-we-did/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [For me, it's always been about doing different things... If you're still jazzed about the possibilities, the chances of you coming up with stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/for-me-it-s-always-been-about-doing-different-things-if-you-re-still/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [Many times, periods of struggle are more blessed times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/many-times-periods-of-struggle-are-more-blessed-times/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [I don't want to give up pop music. It's how I earn my living. I've got a family to take care of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/i-don-t-want-to-give-up-pop-music-it-s-how-i-earn-my-living-i-ve-got/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [For me, I listened to a lot of female jazz artists. And of course, the Motown and Philly sounds, all that stuff was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/for-me-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-female-jazz-artists-and-of-course-the/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [God had always been beckoning me. Early on as a kid, I just felt a strange and close connection with the Divine and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/god-had-always-been-beckoning-me-early-on-as-a-kid-i-just-felt-a/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) [Explore all 105 Philip Bailey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't want just a squeaky-clean book that just illuminated my stardom. 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