Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
What a Fool Believes  By  cover art

What a Fool Believes

By: Michael McDonald, Paul Reiser
Narrated by: Michael McDonald, Paul Reiser
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.29

Buy for $24.29

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A sweeping and evocative memoir from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Grammy Award-winning, platinum selling singer-songwriter Michael McDonald, written with his friend, Emmy Award-nominated actor, comedian, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Paul Reiser.

Doobie Brothers. Steely Dan. Chart topping soloist. Across a half-century of American music, Michael McDonald’s unmistakably smooth baritone voice defined an era of rock and R&B with hit records like “What A Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “I Keep Forgettin’,” “Peg,” “It Keeps You Running,” “You Belong to Me,” and “Yah Mo B There.”

In his candid, freewheeling memoir, written with his friend, the Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian Paul Reiser, Michael tells the story of his life and music. A high school dropout from Ferguson, Missouri, Michael chased his dreams in 1970’s California, a heady moment of rock opportunity and excess. As a rising session musician and backing vocalist, a series of encounters would send him on a wild ride around the world and to the heights of rock stardom—from joining Steely Dan and becoming a defining member of The Doobie Brothers to forging a path as a breakout solo R&B artist.

Interwoven with the unforgettable tales of the music, Michael tells a deeply affecting story of losing and finding himself as a man. He reckons with the unshakeable insecurities that drove him, the drug and alcohol addictions that plagued him, and the highs and lows of popularity. Along the way he relays the lessons he’s learned, and that if he’s learned anything at all it’s that there’s often little correlation between what you get and what you deserve.

Filled with unbelievable stories and a matchless cast of music greats including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Carly Simon, and Quincy Jones, What a Fool Believes is a moving and entertaining memoir that is sure to be a classic.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Michael McDonald and Paul Reiser (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

More from the same

Love Books? You'll Love Audible.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Transform your day

Replace endless scrolling with endless listening. Chores can be fun.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Listen everywhere

Download titles to listen offline, wherever you are in the world.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Carry your entire Library

Your stories go where you go. Audiobooks don’t weigh a thing.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Listen and learn

Discover stories that can change your mind, your well-being, and your life.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Reach your reading goals

You can’t turn pages while you drive—but you can press play.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Find your niche

WIth thousands of titles to explore, there’s something for everyone.

Try for $0.00 $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

What listeners say about What a Fool Believes

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    53
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    52
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    49
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

McD fan for years

I have been a Michael McDonald fan since he joined the Doobs. Although I learned to play guitar along with The Captain & Me, my interest in the Doobies became supercharged when Mike’s voice and piano playing showed up on Living On The Fault Line. The rhythms and chord changes became so much more interesting to me. I’ve modeled my own piano playing on Mike’s playing. But as I’ve grown older, I have become a student of the LA recording scene and all the players that circulated there around the time Mike was there. So, I enjoyed hearing more stories from Mike’s prospective. He really opened himself up more than I ever would have imagined. The honesty and openness really surprised me in fact because I knew he was a pretty private guy after meeting him some 10 years ago. Anyway…great book, learned a lot and I appreciate his journey thru life, warts and all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I’m sad the audiobook is over.

I’m sad I came to the end of the book. It is a beautiful journey through his life. I thought PR did a great job putting the book together. Michael is open concerning events and choices, good and bad, which occurred in his life. I’m glad I share the planet with Michael McDonald.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderfully told autobiography

Like many, I thought I had an idea about his story. It turns out that I was too young to really know and understand. Such an amazing career

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Real Love

Listening to this book will make you even more of a fan of Michael McDonald than you were before--- if that's even possible.

Having Michael in the car with you, telling you his story is an absolute gift. His honesty and sense of humor shine through. The anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes look at his career and family is heartwarming and inspiring. Michael we love you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Minute By Minute…I couldn’t stop listening

What a musical talent. Down to earth, yet comes across as humble. Can you imagine not having Michael’s music with Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers or his solo career? An awesome read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

That amazing voice

Loved the entire book..thank you for bringing us along. Brought back great memories of good times!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Honest and True

Having experienced a similarly dysfunctional mother-father relationship in the context of being Catholic, I now understand better my reaction after hearing Mike’s experience. Loved hearing about Jeff Porcaro and the backstories of how the first solo album was made. This was a really interesting book that I listened to completely in less than 2 days.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A world-class classic!

So great to hear this directly from Michael’s voice. Full of wisdom, humility, and heart. This was a soulful performance!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the narrator

what more could you want? a musical audiobook read by the author! wonderful story and reading

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • CR
  • 05-24-24

LOVED IT!

Delightful listen! Funny, self depreciating and ADORABLE man!! And he narrates the book! 👌. The last 1/2 hour is a conversation between Michael and Paul Reiser which is also great! Highly recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!