Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
Details
Initially published: 2022-11-01
Author: Bono
Description
Bono’s autobiography was in the works for seven years. It was officially announced on May 10, 2022, with a release date of November 1 the same year in many countries. Bono is the author of the book, which was released in hard cover and soft cover formats depending on country. Bono also narrated the English version of the audiobook, although foreign language editions are narrated by others.
The back cover of the book reads “A book of how, who & a bit of why. A MEmoir WEmoir, luminous times with some luminous lives. Confessions of an artist, activist, arsehole, actualist”. In all languages the book is titled Surrender, with the subtitle 40 songs, one story being translated. The book includes forty chapters, each named after a U2 song. Like the main title, these song titles are not translated into foreign languages. Forty illustrations by Bono are also included in the book, as are a collection of photos of Bono and family through the years.
The cover is a close up photo of Bono’s face taken in 1985 by Anton Corbijn. The yellow text on the book cover is in Bono’s handwriting, like other ‘doodles’ he’s done over the years.
Physical copies include hard and soft cover versions of the book in different countries. In Canada, the US, Ireland and the UK, a special fan offer through U2.com saw the book offered with a limited photographic print (5×7-inch) if ordered through the offer. UK and Irish book shops also gave out printed bookmarks. Although advertised for pre-order, a physical copy of the audiobook was not produced in English. In the Czech Republic and Germany, physical copies of the audiobook (not narrated by Bono) were produced in mp3 CD format. (Not only was an English audiobook on CD cancelled, the large print softcover version aimed at those with poor vision was also cancelled.)
Digital versions of the book were produced in most regions listed below. As well, although not physically produced, the audiobook was available in French, English and Spanish. Only the English version has Bono narrating the book. The English version also contained a sneak preview of the tracks U2 had recorded for Songs of Surrender. Bono’s Surrender audiobook in English took home the prize for Audiobook of the Year at the Audie Awards, given by the Audio Publishers Association.
Surrender debuted at number 2 on The New York Times non-fiction best seller list. In Canada it likewise debuted at number 2 on the Globe and Mail Bestsellers, Non-Fiction list. In Ireland, the book was the top selling book on Eason’s Non-Fiction list.
Promotion of Book
Throughout the month of November, Bono made a number of appearances at bookshops around the world to promote the book. These appearances were not announced in advance, and often there was little warning of his appearance. At these appearances Bono would meet with those buying his book, and sign books, including copies still for sale in the bookstore, making for a rush after an appearance. The following is a list of known shops where Bono did signings:
- 2022-10-31 Uncle Bobbie’s (5445 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA)
- 2022-11-01 Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway at 12th Street, New York, NY)
- 2022-11-01 McNally Jackson (52 Prince St., New York, NY)
- 2022-11-10 Parnassas Books (3900 Hillsboro Pike #14, Nashville, TN)
- 2022-11-12 City Light Booksellers (261 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA)
- 2022-11-17 Waterstones (153-157 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2022-11-18 Rough Trade East (Old Truman Brewery 91, Brick Ln, London, England)
- 2022-11-19 Chorlton Bookstore (506 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester, England)
- 2022-11-23 Gutter Books (20 Railway Rd, Dalkey, Ireland)
- 2022-11-24 Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus (Friedrichstraße 90, Berlin, Germany)
- 2022-11-26 Ici Librarie (25 boulevard Poissonnière, Paris)
- 2022-11-29 Tipos Infames (C. de San Joaquín, 3, 28004 Madrid)
Bono also made many appearances on television, radio and podcasts to promote the book, from appearances on NPR Morning Edition, The Graham Norton Show (BBC), CBS Sunday Morning, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Desert Island Discs and Che Tempo Che Fa. Excerpts of the book were shared via The Star, Entertainment Weekly, Axios, CBS News, The Irish Times and The Guardian. A series of animated videos were produced to promote the book as well, launched through the website for the book, surrendermemoir.com.
Bono also appeared at the Dalkey Book Festival, the New Yorker Festival, and the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Just prior to Christmas Bono held a conversation with author Jon Meacham at the Washington National Cathedral, in Washington DC. Larry Mullen was in attendance for this conversation.
A book tour was organized with Bono telling stories from his book on stage, as well as singing songs from the book. This initial tour ran from November 2 until November 28 and was organized by the publisher. Seven shows were done in North America (six in the US, one in Canada) and seven shows were done in Europe (three in the UK, one in Ireland, and appearances in Germany, France and Spain.) This tour was called “Stories of Surrender” and more information can be found in our show archive. In April and May of 2023, Bono took up residency at the Beacon Theater in New York for an additional 12 shows of “Stories of Surrender”, and returned to Europe for one date at Teatro San Carlo in Naples in May.
During this run of shows in May at the Beacon, Bono worked with director Andrew Dominick to document the show on film. Portions of many of the shows at the Beacon were filmed as were activities in and around the theatre. More information on what was filmed can be found in our “Filming Surrender“ article. The final night at the Beacon on May 8 was fully filmed. Additionally a closed session for filming was done on May 9, with fans being invited. The final night at Teatro San Carlo was also filmed. The film will be released later this year on Apple TV.
Additionally U2 put together an album of 40 reimagined U2 songs called Songs of Surrender. Originally planned for release in November 2022, the release was shifted back to March 17, 2023 as plans for the book tour came together. Although the 40 songs chosen for the album do not match up exactly with the 40 used for chapter titles, many are represented. The image of Bono used on the cover matches the book cover.
Known Physical Editions
- Argentina: Surrender: 40 canciones, una historia
- Translation: Ana Mata Buil, Miguel Temprano Garcia
- Publisher: Reservoir Books
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-987-3818-90-5 (2022-11-02)
- Australia: Surrender: 40 songs, one story
- Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann Books
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-1-529-15178-7 (2022-11-01)
- Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann Books
- Brazil: Surrender: 40 músicas, uma história
- Translation: Rogerio W. Galindo
- Publisher: Intrinseca
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-65-5560-357-6 (2022-11-01)
- Canada: Surrender: 40 songs, one story
- Publisher: Doubleday Canada
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-0-385-69535-0
- Format: Hard Cover with Print (U2.com Offer) ISBN: 978-0-385-69535-0
- Publisher: Doubleday Canada
- Chile: Surrender: 40 canciones, una historia
- Translation: Ana Mata Buil, Miguel Temprano Garcia
- Publisher: Reservoir Books
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-956-6206-08-8 (2022-11-03)
- Croatia: Surrender: 40 pjesama, jedna prica
- Translation: Lada Furlan Zaborac, Mihaela Velina
- Publisher: Profil knjiga d.o.o.
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-953-313-974-6 (2023)
- Czech Republic: Surrender: 40 písní, jeden príbeh
- Translation: Michala Marková
- Publisher: Pangaea
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-80-277-2055-2 (2023-10-18)
- Format: MP3 on CD ISBN: 8594169486000 (Narrator: Jan Kolařík) (2023-12-11)
- Denmark: Surrender: 40 sange, én historie
- Translation: Jakob Levinsen
- Publisher: Kristeligt Dagblads Forlag
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-87-7467-408-5 (2022-11-01)
- Finland: Surrender: 40 laulua, yksi elämä
- Translation: Tero Valkonen
- Publisher: Tammi Publishers
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-952-04-0998-2 (2022-11-01)
- France: Surrender: 40 chansons, une histoire
- Translation: Julie Sibony
- Publisher: Fayard
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-2-213-71295-6 (2022-11-02)
- Publisher: LGF
- Format: Pocket Book ISBN: 978-2-253-24776-0 (2023-10-04)
- Germany: Surrender: 40 songs, eine geschichte
- Translation: Charlotte Breuer and Norbert Möllemann
- Publisher: Droemer HC
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-3-426-27805-5 (2022-11-01)
- Publisher: Argon Horbuch
- Format: MP3 on 3xCD UPC: 9 783839 820230 (Narrator: Mark Bremer) (2022-11-01)
- Greece: Surrender: 40 τραγούδια, μια ιστορία
- Translation: Γιώργος-Ίκαρος Μπαμπασάκης
- Publisher: Psichogios Publications
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-618-01-5194-7 (2023-10-19)
- Hungary: Surrender: 40 dal, egy történet
- Translation: Dési András György
- Publisher: On the Spot Books
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 9 789635 722396 (2022-12-06)
- Italy: Surrender. 40 canzoni, una storia
- Translation: Michele Piumini
- Publisher: Mondadori
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-88-04-71341-8 (2022-11-01)
- Mexico: Surrender: 40 canciones, una historia
- Translation: Ana Mata Buil, Miguel Temprano Garcia
- Publisher: Vintage Espanol
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 9781644737194 (2022-12-20)
- Norway: Surrender: 40 låter, én historie
- Translation: Gunnar Nyquist
- Publisher: Cappelen Damm
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-82-02-63219-9 (2022-11-01)
- Poland: Surrender: 40 piosenek, jedna opowieść
- Translation: Paweł Lipszyc
- Publisher: Agora
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-83-268-4061-6 (2022-11-23)
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-83-268-4057-9 (2022-11-23)
- Portugal: Surrender: 40 músicas, uma história
- Translation: Joana Jacinto
- Publisher: Objectiva
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 9789897846267 (2022-11-01)
- Romania: Surrender. 40 de piese, o singură poveste
- Translation: Diana Popescu
- Publisher: Litera
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-630-319-051-8 (2023-05-22)
- Slovakia: Surrender: 40 skladieb, jeden príbeh
- Translation: Tomáš Hučko
- Publisher: Lindeni
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-80-566-3352-6 (2023-10-13)
- Spain: Surrender: 40 canciones, una historia
- Translation: Ana Mata Buil, Miguel Temprano Garcia
- Publisher: Reservoir Books
- Format: Soft Cover ISBN: 978-84-18897-60-3 (2022-11-04)
- Sweden: Surrender: 40 låtar, en berättelse
- Translation: Cecilia Berglund Barklem
- Publisher: Bokforlaget Polaris AB
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-91-7795-158-2
- The Netherlands: Surrender: 40 songs, één verhaal
- Translation: Robert Neugarten
- Publisher: A.W. Buna Uitgevers (VIP)
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978 94 005 1096 8 (2022-11-01)
- United Kingdom (and Ireland): Surrender: 40 songs, one story
- Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-1-529-15178-7 (2022-11-01)
- Format: Hard Cover with Print (U2.com Offer) ISBN: 978-1-529-15178-7 (2022-11-01)
- Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann
- United States: Surrender: 40 songs, one story
- Publisher: Knopf
- Format: Hard Cover ISBN: 978-0-525-52104-4 (2022-11-01)
- Format: Hard Cover with Print (U2.com Offer) ISBN: 978-0-525-52104-4 (2022-11-01)
- Publisher: Knopf