Christopher Howell – How to Squander Your Potential (Paperback)

Product Description

This is my book. I wrote it in 2011, and its the story of the Smart Es and Kniteforce Records as seen by me. It covers everything from when I got into the rave scene in 1991, right up to the birth of the Kniteforce Revolution website.

This is the second edition of the book. The first edition was available in very limited numbers and sold only to those who pre-ordered it via the Kniteforce mailing list. The second edition is much better because:

1. Those who bought the first edition helpfully pointed out all the many many mistakes I made, and most of these mistakes have been corrected to this version.

2. I have added some content to the second version – perhaps an extra 7000 words or so, none of which are about unicorns. And finally…

3. The cover of the book is much less embarrassing.

Here is a link to chapter 9 of the book if you would like a sample. In the final draft it became chapter 8! This chapter is from the first version, so there are some mistakes in it. Still, it adds to the authenticity, right?

Download the Sample Chapter

This book is available as an ebook for both Kindle and other eReaders.

Additional Information

Weight	1 lbs
Dimensions	8 × 6 × 1 in
Size	Small, Medium, Large, X Large,

5.00 out of 5

3 reviews for Christopher Howell – How to Squander Your Potential (Paperback)

5 out of 5

DJ Entropy – May 7th 2012:

I had the pleasure of reading this book before it was published (on promo, so to speak), as well getting a chance to submit suggested edits to the final version. It’s quite an intriguing read, with some great storytelling about the early 90s UK Rave Scene, from someone who didn’t only see it, but was heavily involved in it. Lots of early Suburban Base and hardcore history here, all laid out in an informal quick read. I’ve personally known Chris since 2001, and as someone who loves Rave History, I flew through this thing. My only wish is that it was longer! Chris’s self-deprecating and occasionally outlandish humor also comes through on paper, and for anyone interested in some of the seedy underbelly on early Rave, you’ll appreciate this.
5 out of 5

Olly Clapp – May 7th 2012:

This book isn’t just a story of one label or one person, but its holds valuable lessons in both life in general and in the music scene. If you’re into Hardcore or D&B or any EDM genre, this is well worth a read as it follows the path of one person negotiating the genre’s and adapting to the styles quickly changing and becoming more defined. What I found fascinating was that Luna-C was able to describe and explain what went right and what went wrong when he reached the height of success, to the lows of bankruptcy. Very inspiring, well written and entertaining. 5 star’s from me, and 100% recommended.
5 out of 5

Shane Saiyan – May 14th 2012:

Having known Chris since early 2004, I have been well aware of the fact that he is articulate, funny, and extremely witty for some time. So when I had first heard about this project I had no doubts it would turn out great.

I am happy to say not only was I not wrong, but he exceeded all my expectations.

The book itself is extremely well written, making extremely good use of a very Douglas Adams-esque writing style. It’s funny, witty, and reads much more like the words of a person speaking, which I find very enjoyable, especially for a biographical type of book.

The content itself is extremely informative, shedding light on years of electronic music history that unless you found someone who was actually around then and picked their brain, most people would never even hear about. But that’s not all. Some of the intricacies (and foibles) of writing music during that time period are discussed, what it takes to start up a record label (hint: A LOT OF WORK), all manner of topics that electronic music fans will find infinitely interesting.

But this is not just a book for the EDM aficionado. Oh no. When I first received my copy, my mother (whose exposure to electronic music pretty much extends to what I’ve played when she’s around and that’s it) picked it up, read the first few pages, and then stole the book and wouldn’t give it back until she was finished.

And loved every word of it. In fact, she’s currently reading it again right now.

This is most certainly not just a book for fans of hardcore music, or electronic music in general. Anyone can pick it up and enjoy it. Just ask my mom. Shouldn’t be too hard, there’s a quote from her on the book. =)