I have both books - and enjoy them both.
U2 By U2 is a marathon to read - it's such a huge and heavy book, and it's quite long - but it's so worth it. I'm not yet finished, but I'm so enjoying it. It's very revealing about the history of U2, and glimpses into the way they saw the world at certain points of their lives. It's always very funny - I have laughed out loud alot during this book. They've had such an incredible journey, interesting, dynamic, dramatic, funny, blessed. It's been such a journey - and I've thoroughly enjoyed climbing aboard for the voyeuristic ride, so to speak.
Bono by Bono is also good. It does get quite in depth at points - and sometimes Bono runs away on a tangent, but it also is touching.. funny... dramatic. Parts of his life are almost a movie - he's such a character, and some of his history is so compelling. I feel more empathy with/for him now - not only that, but I found some of what he said challenged me to look at myself and at my own life and see some of my own self-destructive tendancies, and look at my own destructive parental relationships.
Sometimes I think he has pulled himself in a little- or Michka has missed something he's said and let him get away without fully explaining himself and it irks me - because I think "Oh I would've jumped in there and made him explain it!'.
I wish it was released in an audio format - because he does a few sing-song bits, impressions etc, and I think the tone of his voice would reveal even more than his words.
There is a great moment when Bono starts singing "Ignition" by R Kelly - which would be a treat to hear.
I think perhaps U2 by U2 would be the better buy in that you'll learn more about more of them - and there are also passages in U2 by U2 that are in Bono on Bono.
I mean Bono still gets to let loose in U2 by U2 - there are some pages where there is like
Edge: (two lines)
Adam: (two-three lines)
Larry : (one line)
Bono (rest of the page, plus whole of the next page) HAHA