Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation
by Philip Norman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Philip NormanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-12-04
ISBN: 0743235657
Number of pages: 608
Publisher: Touchstone
Book Reviews of Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation
Book Review: Great band, great book!
Summary: 5 Stars
The New York Times Review is quoted on the cover as calling this Beatles narrative "The definitive biography." It's easy to see why.
Philip Norman was assigned to cover The Beatles and their company, Apple Corps. From his inside knowledge and obviously extensive research, he has created a masterful biography of the Beatles which proves to be a fascinating read.
Norman begins with the childhood of John Lennon and weaves the other members into the picture effortlessly. The book covers the lives of the Beatles before meeting, the creation of the band, their time in Hamburg, Germany, their rise to fame in both Great Britain and the U.S., and their lives as superstars right up to their breakup. Norman also has great photographs, including a fantastic collage of the Beatles' appearance during the 60s.
What makes the book so great is Norman's ability to describe the story almost as if it were a fictional novel. Each bit of sourced material is seamlessly woven with Norman's wonderfully illustrative prose. He is able to fit the documentary evidence within the context of his narrative in an artful manner.
While I am a Beatles fan and knew a lot about them already, I was surprised to find numerous aspects of them in this book which I had not known about before. I found it interesting that even though I prefer the Beatles' later music, I liked them less as people than when they had been younger--more innocent, playful, and, dare I say it, responsible.
There were several drawbacks to the book, but none were too substantial. I would have loved it if Norman had cited his sources along the way, or at least provided a bibliography list. This would have been a more scholarly approach--on the other hand, however, this IS a book about four rock stars.
I also found the book to be a little heavy with regards to Brian Epstein. Brian was certainly a close friend to the Beatles, but he gets more words about him than Ringo (perhaps George, too).
Are these negatives really important? NO! This is a marvelous book for either a Beatles fan or a novice. I think all would like it.
Summary of Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation
Philip Norman's biography of the Beatles is the definitive work on the world's most influential band -- a beautifully written account of their lives, their music, and their times. Now brought completely up to date, this epic tale charts the rise of four scruffy Liverpool lads from their wild, often comical early days to the astonishing heights of Beatlemania, from the chaos of Apple and the collapse of hippy idealism to the band's acrimonious split. It also describes their struggle to escape the smothering Beatles' legacy and the tragic deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison. Witty, insightful, and moving, Shout! is essential reading not just for Beatles fans but for anyone with an interest in pop music.
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