In terms of rock star memoirs, Bono could very well take the prize for perhaps being the most anticipated ever, though that lifelong wait finally came to an end following the recent release of “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story” (Penguin Random House).

Getting the chance to see the U2 front man in an environment as intimate as the Chicago Theatre for “an evening of words, music and some mischief” ranked right up there in terms of red hot tickets, resulting in a split second sell out that’s also been the case for the 14 other cities on a book tour dubbed “Stories Of Surrender.”

For two enthralling, electronic device-free hours, Bono lived up to exactly that as fans hung on every word in a format featuring slices of specific chapters, further illustrated with drawings on the screens above, while either portions or complete versions of many classics were performed.

Though the rest of U2 wasn’t actually on hand, its spirit certainly appeared in a significant amount of the soundtrack, such as the life-changing likes of “With Or Without You,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” and “Where The Streets Have No Name,” all bookended by two takes on “City Of Blinding Lights.”

They were accompanied by producer Jacknife Lee on keyboards and percussion, Gemma Doherty juggling harp, keys and vocals, plus cellist Kate Ellis, who helped frame every anthem in an even more reflective light.

As for the tales themselves, they ranged from Bono’s near-death experience, to losing his mother as a mere teenager, a complicated relationship with his father, meeting his wife, getting the group off the ground, finding an unlikely friend in Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti and an endless appetite for activism, all told with wit, candor and cleverness.

Locally speaking, he gave a shout-out to the Park West, the site of U2’s inaugural visit, along with Oprah Winfrey, a fellow Magnificent Mile shopper in support of the AIDS-themed (RED) campaign (partner to the poverty-fighting ONE organization).

Of course, more extensive accounts can be found within the actual pages, and without giving too much away to future readers of what was revealed throughout this “Unforgettable Fire” of an experience, just know it’s a must-read, especially for those whose ticket already came with a copy.

For those who prefer listening in an audio edition, none other than the Irishman himself serves as the narrator, which if his live enthusiasm, inflections and poetic interpretations were any indication, could be “Even Better Than The Real Thing.”

And just when it seemed like the Chicago Theatre learned everything about the man behind this galvanizing body of music, there were still room for a surprise as the artist turned author offered a magnificent glimpse into his operatic alter ego to bid adieu to a “Beautiful Day” indeed.

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For additional information on Bono, visit U2.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Chicago Theatre include Paramore (Nov. 9); Trey Songz (Nov. 19); Dave Koz And Friends (Dec. 8); A Day To Remember (Dec. 12); Zoé (Dec. 14); Brett Eldredge (Dec. 15-16); The Beach Boys (Dec. 18) and Straight No Chaser (Dec. 23). For additional details, visit TheChicagoTheatre.com.