Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller.David Bowie was arguably the most influential artist of his time, reinventing himself again and again, transforming music, style and art for over five decades.Trade ReviewOne of the most authoritative Bowie books you're ever likely to read. * Mojo *As a critique-cum-re-establishment of the David Bowie character, "definitive" is pretty much it. * Guardian *A fascinating portrait of a fascinating artist ... if you like Bowie and you're into biographies, this is the one to read -- Marc AlmondBuckley manages the ultimate achievement of any rock biog and sends you scuttling back to the records. * Guardian *A definitive re-establishment of the man and the myth of David Bowie. * Future Music *

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Book SynopsisIn this official centennial history of the greatest studio in Hollywood, unforgettable stars, untold stories, and rare images from the Warner Bros. vault bring a century of entertainment to vivid life.The history of Warner Bros. is not just the tale of a legendary film studio and its stars, but of classic Hollywood itself, as well as a portrait of America in the last century. It''s a family story of Polish-Jewish immigrants-the brothers Warner-who took advantage of new opportunities in the burgeoning film industry at a time when four mavericks could invent ways of operating, of warding off government regulation, and of keeping audiences coming back for more during some of the nation''s darkest days.Innovation was key to their early success. Four years after its founding, the studio revolutionized moviemaking by introducing sound in The Jazz Singer (1927). Stars and stories gave Warner Bros. its distinct identity as the studio where tough guys like Hu

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Book SynopsisGeoff Shreeves is a giant of football. From reporting pitchside on the biggest matches to his iconic appearances in EA's FIFA series, Geoff's warmth, humour and expertise have made him a constant fixture of the sport. In Cheers Geoff! he shares hilarious, bizarre and moving stories from across his incredible career.With a foreward from Alan Shearer.A The Times Sports Books of the Year'Cracking read . . . loved it' - Piers Morgan'Packed with brilliant anecdotes about the biggest names' - The MirrorThere are just a handful of people who have been ever-present for the thirty years of the Premier League, but only one person has been at the very epicentre for the entire period: Geoff Shreeves. From signalling the very first ball to be kicked on Sky’s Premier League coverage to facing down Sir Alex Ferguson’s wrath (on countless occasions), Geoff is an integral part of the Trade ReviewWhen it’s the showpiece game of the weekend and it’s on Sky Sports, you know Geoff will be there. No one handles the big moments better -- Jordan HendersonThe man who asks the questions now gives the answers -- Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer for The TimesA legend of television journalism -- Arsène WengerThroughout my career, Geoff is always there and always fair. As a player and a manager, you can’t ask for more than that -- Frank LampardGeoff has always been professional, honest and authentic in all the time we’ve worked together. He has a special way of connecting with his line of questioning -- Steven GerrardGood times. Bad times. Who is always there? Geoff is always there and he does his job perfectly -- José MourinhoPacked with brilliant anecdotes about the biggest names * The Mirror *Cracking read by a brilliant reporter - loved it -- Piers MorganSometimes, all that is needed is a bit of fun, and for that you can turn to Cheers, Geoff, by Geoff Shreeves, who is generous with his anecdotes * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Rylan is pure class and so is his book. Big attitude, big teeth, big heart.' - Louis TherouxFunny and outspoken, Rylan is one of the UK's most-loved presenters and a true household name. Rylan first emerged on our screens in September 2012 and in the ten years since then has become a one-of-a-kind national treasure. In this brand-new memoir, Rylan invites us deeper into his world to reflect on all the things he's learnt from a decade in the limelight, whilst also pulling back the curtain on his personal journey. Covering everything from fame and celebrity to his mental health and identity, family and relationships to his love of reality TV, he recounts his life lessons with humour, candour and a huge amount of heart. From the moments that have shaped him to the mistakes that have made him, and the unusual pastimes that have obsessed him along the way. With unforgettable stories about his rise to fame, his biggest regrets and his special bond wiTrade Review'Rylan writes humbly, honestly and with laugh-out-loud humour, his personality coming across in the chatty writing style... It would be a cold heart that wasn't warmed by Rylan' - Charlotte Heathcote, Daily Express/Daily Mirror'Honest, real and just so uplifting. Rylan is the most authentic man I know, This made me cry, laugh and I just couldn't put it down from the moment I picked it up!' - Alison Hammond'Rylan is pure class and so is his book. Big attitude, big teeth, big heart.' - Louis Theroux

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Book Synopsis A FASCINATING TRUE STORY OF FRIENDSHIP, INTRIGUE AND UNFORGIVABLE BETRAYAL, NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES Readers LOVE Capote''s Women: ''A genuinely fascinating account of a great writer and his muses.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Loved it! Fabulous book about a extremely complicated and complex character.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''You won''t want to put this down.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''There are certain women,'' Truman Capote wrote, ''who, though perhaps not born rich, are born to be rich.'' These women captivated and enchanted Capote - he befriended them, received their deepest confidences, and ingratiated himself into their lives. From Barbara ''Babe'' Paley to Lee Radziwill (Jackie Kennedy''s sister) they were the toast of mid-century New York, each beautiful and distinguished in her own way.For years, Capo

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Book SynopsisRose and Rosie are known for their candid and hilarious YouTube videos... but now they are taking oversharing to a whole new level. Discussing sexuality, revealing secrets and empowering others, OVERSHARE is a book packed with Rose and Rosie''s unique take on friendships, fame, mental health and LGBT issues.As visibly out members of the LGBT community, they open up about their own experiences, both together and as individuals, and have written this book in the hope that it gives strength to those who have faced similar difficulties. They are spreading a message of positivity and inclusivity, and want everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin, no matter what their sexuality. Delve deep into the unfiltered highs and lows of Rose and Rosie''s life: family relationships, secrets of a happy marriage, struggles with OCD and anxiety, finding love and navigating the world as a gay couple. Get ready to laugh, cry, cringe and OVERSHARE.

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Book SynopsisStories to inspire.Stories to connect.Extraordinary moments in which women's lives changed forever.Exhilarating, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring, The Day That Changed My Life is a remarkable collection of stories of Ireland's women and the extraordinary moments which transformed their lives.There are stories of the marvels of motherhood and coming out, leaps of faith and determined entrepreneurship. Stories of crazy highs, such as Oscar nominations and being elected into office. And stories of brave fights against illness and triumphs against all odds.All are united by a strength in adversity, courage and resilience, and an ability to find humour in the darkest places. Our lives change, but some days change our lives forever.'These women's stories have inspired me beyond measure and I remain in awe of their unwavering honesty. They leave me entirely humbled, while simultaneously stoking a fire in my belly.' CAITLIN McBRIDEFeaturing inspirational Stories from:ÁINE KERR, AMY HUBERMAN, ANDREA NOLAN, BREEGE O'DONOGHUE, CAROLINE DOWNEY, CASSIE STOKES, CHRISTINA NOBLE, CIARA GRIFFIN, DERVAL O'ROURKE, DOIREANN GARRIHY, EIMEAR VARIAN BARRY, ELLEN O'MALLEY DUNLOP, EMMA DONOGHUE, EVANNE NÍ CHUILINN, GEORGIE CRAWFORD, HELEN McENTEE, JOANNE BYRNE, JUDITH GILLESPIE, KIRSTEN MATE MAHER, KATHERINE ZAPPONE, KATHY RYAN, LOUISE O'REILLY, MARY ANN O’BRIEN, NORAH CASEY, NORAH PATTEN, ORLA BARRY, SABINA BRENNAN, SARAH TOBIN, SONYA LENNON, TARA FLYNN, TERRY PRONE

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Book Synopsis"Nobody knows Dolly like Dolly," declares Dolly Parton. Dolly's is a rags-to-riches tale like no other. A dirt-poor Smoky Mountain childhood paved the way for the buxom blonde butterfly's metamorphosis from singer-songwriter to international music superstar. The undisputed "Queen of Country Music," Dolly has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has conquered just about every facet of the entertainment industry: music, film, television, publishing, theater, and even theme parks. It has been more than fifty years since Dolly Parton arrived in Nashville with just her guitar and a dream. Her story has been told many times and in many ways, but never like this. Dolly on Dolly is a collection of interviews spanning five decades of her career and featuring material gathered from celebrated publications including Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, Playboy, and Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. Also included are interviews which have not been previously available in print. Dolly's feisty and irresistible brand of humor, combined with her playful, pull-up-a-chair-and-stay-awhile delivery, makes for a fascinating and inviting experience in down-home philosophy and storytelling. Much like her patchwork "Coat of Many Colors," this book harkens back to the legendary entertainer's roots and traces her evolution, stitching it all together one piece at a time..

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE FRANCO-BRITISH SOCIETY LITERARY AWARD 2020'Art is a Tyrant recounts [Bonheur's] life with no little brio.' Michael Prodger, The Times Books of the Year 2020 'A diligently researched, beautifully produced and insistently sympathetic biography.' Kathryn Hughes, GuardianA new biography of the wildly unconventional 19th-century animal painter and gender equality pioneer Rosa Bonheur, from the author of the acclaimed Mistress of Paris and Renoir's Dancer.Rosa Bonheur was the very antithesis of the feminine ideal of 19th-century society. She was educated, she shunned traditional 'womanly' pursuits, she rejected marriage - and she wore trousers. But the society whose rules she spurned accepted her as one of their own, because of her genius for painting animals. She shared an intimate relationship with the eccentric, self-styled inventor Nathalie Micas, who nurtured the artist like a wife. Together Rosa, Nathalie and Nathalie's mother bought a chateau and with Rosa's menagerie of animals the trio became one of the most extraordinary households of the day. Catherine Hewitt's compelling new biography is an inspiring evocation of a life lived against the rules.Trade Review[A] diligently researched, beautifully produced and insistently sympathetic biography. -- Kathryn Hughes, Guardian[A] lively biography of groundbreaking French painter Rosa Bonheur ... Art is a Tyrant is an impressive achievement, situating Bonheur's artistic achievement in the historical context of the Second Empire and Third Republic, and the artistic context of realism. * Spiked *Enthralling ... this biography, written every bit as compellingly as the best of novels, with a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter, tells a story just as fantastical. * Art Quarterly *Art is a Tyrant recounts [Bonheur's] life with no little brio. -- Michael Prodger * The Times, Books of the Year, 2020 *In Hewitt's third commanding biography of an overlooked French woman ... she recounts with enriching detail and narrative drive Bonheur's absolute dedication to her work and her independence, vividly establishing the tumultuous social and political contexts in which Bonheur overcame entrenched misogyny and negative views of lesbianism. ... Hewitt's rousing biography will propel a resurgence of appreciation for Bonheur and her achievements. * Booklist, starred review *

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Book SynopsisAs the enigmatic frontman of the multicultural band The Beat, RankingRoger represented the youthful and joyous sound of the post-punk 2 Tonemovement.Aswell as his illustrious career with The Beat and its subsequent iterations,this honest and compelling autobiography explores Roger's upbringing as achild of the Windrush generation, touring America and his outstandingcollaborations with artists such as The Clash, The Police and The Specials.Thishardback limited edition collectors boxset contains a number of exclusiveitems.Limitededition of 700 copies. Insidethe limited edition:Limitededition hardback book (not available in this format separately)7Single of two previously unreleased The Beat demosPhotographicprint of the Beat by Adrian BootTwobadgesCertificateof authenticityIJust Can't Stop It is the compelling autobiography of music legend RankingRoger. He died in March 2019, just as this autobiography was being finalised.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the life, ideas and music of visionary composer Olivier Messiaen.

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Book SynopsisAudrey Hepburn was one of the most admired and emulated women of the twentieth century, an Oscar-winning actress, a model and humanitarian. But Hepburn also had huge sadness in her life: two failed marriages, a broken engagement, and the crushing disappointment that occupied her triumph in My Fair Lady. Chronicling Hepburn's life, from her nearly dying in Hitler's occupied Europe, to her conquering, in just one year, the New York stage and the Hollywood screen, this fascinating tribute illustrates and illuminates all things Audrey Hepburn.While trapped in the Netherlands at the end of WW2, Audrey and her family received critical food and medical relief from UNICEF – an act of charity she never forgot, as later in life, Hepburn devoted much of her time to UNICEF, becoming a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. From her early years as an ingénue to her status as an icon of elegance, in her Oscar-winning performance for Roman Holiday and the career high of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Hepburn's star quality resonates across the globe – even so long after her death. Few stars before or since are as beloved as Audrey Hepburn and The Little Guide to Audrey Hepburn details why.'My appearance is accessible to everyone. With hair tied in a bun, big sunglasses and black dress, every woman can look like me.' Audrey Hepburn'For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.' Audrey Hepburn'Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.' Audrey HepburnTable of ContentsThe Young Audrey • Screen Legend • Style Icon • The Private Audrey • Fairy Godmother • The Inimitable Audrey.

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Book Synopsis"A total delight, a brilliant vignette of 17th-century Rome, the Baroque and the Catholic church – warts and all – rolled into an erudite narrative.... with an ease of writing that is rare in art history." - Simon Jenkins By 1650, the spiritual and political power of the Catholic Church was shattered. Thanks to the twin blows of the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years War, Rome, celebrated both as the Eternal City and Caput Mundi (the head of the world) had lost its pre-eminent place in Europe. Then a new Pope, Alexander VII, fired with religious zeal, political guile and a mania for building, determined to restore the prestige of his church by making Rome the must-visit destination for Europe's intellectual, political and cultural elite. To help him do so, he enlisted the talents of Gianlorenzo Bernini, already celebrated as the most important living artist: no mean feat in the age of Rubens, Rembrandt and Velazquez. Together, Alexander VII and Bernini made the greatest artistic double act in history, inventing the concept of soft power and the bucket list destination. Bernini and Alexander's creation of Baroque Rome as a city more beautiful and grander than since the days of the Emperor Augustus continues to delight and attract.Trade Review"A total delight, a brilliant vignette of 17th-century Rome, the Baroque and the Catholic church – warts and all – rolled into an erudite narrative.... with an ease of writing that is rare in art history." - Simon Jenkins

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Book SynopsisCompletely revised and updated from recently discovered archive material, Lewis Foreman's classic biography is the essential handbook to Bax and his contemporaries. Lewis Foreman's classic biography of the composer Arnold Bax (1883-1953) was first published in 1983. Documenting the life and times of a remarkable figure whose life touched a wide circle in England and Ireland, it was notable for having many of Bax's friends and contemporaries as sources, most of whom have since died. It also informed the remarkable revival of Bax's music and reputation which has taken place over the last twenty years. Now completely revised in the light of much new material including the huge archive of the pianist Harriet Cohen, Bax's mistress, which has only just become available for research, it is a notable portrait of a unique musical milieu. Bax's extensive musical output is now comprehensively recorded and widely known and here all the music is discussed from first hand acquaintance with all the revivals and recordings. This is the essential handbook to Bax and his period. LEWIS FOREMAN is a freelance author and advisor to record companies.Trade Review[Foreman's] big Bax biography...is surely his central achievement...The book established itself at the outset as the standard work on one of the most important and least understood British composers of his time...The new edition makes [it] more indispensable than ever. -- Calum MacDonald * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *Baxians everywhere owe Lewis Foreman a profound debt of gratitude and newcomers can rest assured that he is an absorbing and painstaking biographer...mandatory reading. -- Andrew Achenbach * GRAMOPHONE *A more wide-ranging study of Bax and his work than ever before...This book is a tour de force and the fitting culmination of a lifetime's dedicated research. -- Julian Haylock * CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE *One of the great biographies of an English composer just got even better. May it snare still more converts to this betwitching composer. * CLASSICAL MUSIC *For its contribution to the ongoing documentation of an extraordinary period of British musical creativity it is invaluable. * BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY NEWS *Foreman's latest effort is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Bax. * JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF MUSICOLOGY IN IRELAND *Highly recommended. * CHOICE *Table of Contents1883-1900: The Backround 1900-1905: The Royal Academy of Music 1905-1909: Many Influences 1909-1910: Ireland and Russia 1910-1911: Marriage 1912-1914: Rathgar and London 1914-1916: The Great War 1916-1918: Harriet Cohen 1918-1920: Peace and Success 1921-1923: Triumph 1924-1925: Crisis 1926-1928: New Directions 1928-1929: Dreams and Reality 1930-1932: Going Northern 1933-1936: Past Fifty 1937-1939: `I can't grow up' 1939-1945: The Second World War: Storrington 1945-1953: Last Years After 1953: Decline and Revival Appendix A: Dermot O'Byrne Appendix B: King Kojata Appendix C: The Happy Forest by Herbert Farjeon Appendix D: Bax's Symphonies at the Proms Appendix E: Felix Aprahamian's Foreward to the First Edition [1982]

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Book SynopsisGypsy Rose Lee?s memoir became a New York Times bestseller in 1957, inspiring the 1959 hit musical, two movies, and three revivals. Now a fourth, directed by Arthur Laurents and starring Patti LuPone, is lighting up New York, winning top Broadway theatre awards, including three 2008 Tony Awards, as well as raves from critics and audiences:?No matter how long you live, you?ll never see a more exciting production.? ?Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal ?Watch out, New York! This GYPSY is a wallop-packing show of raw power.? ?Ben Brantley, The New York Times ?Not your ordinary theater experience. This is the best production of the best damn musical ever.? ?Liz Smith, Syndicated ColumnistThe memoir, which Gypsy began as a series of pieces for The New Yorker, contains photographs and newspaper clippings from her personal scrapbooks and an afterword by her son, Erik Lee Preminger. At turns touching and hilarious, Gypsy describes her childhood trouping across 1920s America through her rise to stardom as The Queen of Burlesque in 1930s New York?where gin came in bathtubs, gangsters were celebrities, and Walter Winchell was king.Gypsy?s story features outrageous characters?among them Broadway?s funny girl, Fanny Brice, who schooled Gypsy in how to be a star; gangster Waxy Gordon, who fixed her teeth; and her indomitable mother, Rose, who lived by her own version of the Golden Rule: ?Do unto others … before they do you.?

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Book SynopsisMegadeth's run of thrash classics from the mid eighties through to the nineties continue to be celebrated in the metal community long after leader Dave Mustaine's band mates have been discarded to the sands of time-save one, Dave "Jr" Ellefson. Along the way there's Mustaine's pathology with his ex-friends in Metallica but also a hell of a lot of killer metal as the band works its way up through Peace Sells and So Far, So Good... So What! through to the superlative metal classics, namely Rust In Peace and Countdown To Extinction. Later came Cryptic Writings and Risk that threatened to kill the band but the reconstitution of Megadeth after its demoralising decline and then deflating dispersal at the destructive hand of Mustaine is a story untold... until now. But it's a tale worth telling for its instructiveness on how to rebuild and maintain a career. Quite simply the recent Megadeth story spanning the albums The World Needs A Hero through to Super Collider includes some of the beast and heaviest Megadeth ever committed to record. Celebrate Mustaine's vision track-by-track with top author Martin Popoff. With over sixty books to his name, Popoff applies his tried and tested methodology to a head-crunching canon of work that is truly as strong at the recent end of the spectrum as it is with the classics you all know and love.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE The world can't seem to get enough of Dolly Parton. Her image is blazoned across T-shirts, she burns on desks as blasphemous candles, and well into her seventies she continues to grace awards stages, arenas and talk shows where women of a certain age are rarely seen. Yet not so long ago, Dolly was best known by many people as the punch line of a boob joke. So, what happened? In this affectionate, sharply insightful book, Sarah Smarsh charts Dolly's meteoric rise against the backdrop of her working-class roots. Drawing on her own experience growing up in rural Kansas, Smarsh crafts a resonant portrait of Parton's cultural importance, above all for the often-unheard women who populate her songs: struggling mothers, pregnant teenagers, diner waitresses with deadbeat boyfriends. Candid, intimate and searching, She Come By It Natural captures the enduring appeal of this singular star.Trade Review'Smarsh and Parton are a perfect pairing for the kind of in-depth examinationinto gender and class and what it means to be a woman and a working class hero that feels particularly important right now' - Refinery29'A praise song for the cultural icon... deeply personal' - LA Times

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Book SynopsisSkip Spence was a soldier, a rockstar, an innovator, an addict, a cult phenomenon and a ward of the state. Spence's story is the story of the 60s, and one that has never before been told in full.

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Book SynopsisDesigned in 1774 by the celebrated architect Robert Adam, the Bury St Edmunds Market Cross is celebrated as a brilliant example of decorative neoclassical architecture. Beneath its feet lies an older story from the original medieval marketplace. Marking 250 years since Robert Adam revealed his design, this is the story of the iconic landmark

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Book SynopsisAutobiography of world star oboist Albrecht Mayer translated from best selling German Klangwunder. As a child he stuttered but the oboe proved to be the catalyst which cured him and propelled him to the heights of musical greatness.Foreword by KirillPetrenko.

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Book SynopsisThe second volume of the extraordinary life of the great music and literary icon Leonard Cohen, in the words of those who knew him best.Poet, novelist, singer-songwriter, artist, prophet, icon—there has never been a figure like Leonard Cohen. He was a true giant in contemporary western culture, entertaining and inspiring the world with his work. From his groundbreaking and bestselling novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers, to timeless songs such as “Suzanne,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “Hallelujah,” Cohen is one of the world’s most cherished artists. His death in 2016 was felt around the world by the many fans and followers who would miss his warmth, humour, intellect, and piercing insights. Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories chronicles the full breadth of his extraordinary life. This second of three volumes—From This Broken Hill—follows him from the conclusion of his first international music tour in 1971 as he continued to compose poetry, record music, and search for meaning into the late 1980s. The book explores his decade-long relationships with Suzanne Elrod, with whom he had two children, and various other numerous romantic partners, including the beginning of his long relationship with French photographer Dominique Issermann and, simultaneously, a five-year relationship with a woman never previously identified. It is a challenging time for Cohen. His personal life is in chaos and his career stumbles, so much so that his 1984 album, Various Positions, is rejected by Columbia Records, while other artistic endeavours fail to find an audience. However, this period also marks the start of his forty-year immersion in Zen Buddhism, which would connect him to the legendary Zen master Joshu Sasaki Roshi and inspire some of his most profound and enduring art. In From This Broken Hill, bestselling author and biographer Michael Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to reach beyond the Cohen of myth and reveal the unique, complex, and compelling figure of the real man. Honest and entertaining, this is a must-have book for any Cohen fan.Trade ReviewPraise for Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories: From This Broken Hill, Vol. 2“In the words of some of the people who knew Leonard Cohen best—and with important testimonies never heard before—Posner allows us a fascinating plunge into the tumult and passion of Leonard Cohen’s 1970s and 1980s. We see his life and endless quest for love unfold at fast pace and get an incredible glimpse into the furnace of the two decades that gave Cohen some of his best songs. This is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Cohen the artist, the seeker, and the man.” — CHRISTOPHE LEBOLD, author of Leonard Cohen: L'homme qui voyait tomber les anges“A multi-layered, mosaic portrait of one of the most legendary—and most complex—writers and musicians that Canada has ever produced. . . . Thanks to Michael Posner and the more than 550 people he interviewed for this project, we get a much better, humanistic understanding at what drove the talented enigma that was Leonard Cohen.” — The Montreal Times“The chorus speaks but not in unison, and yet their many voices do work to conjure a thing almost magical: the feeling that you have all but met Leonard Cohen and know what he’s like. . . . The great pleasure of Posner’s volumes is they make room for all of these notions and set them in opposition." — The Washington Free Beacon“This is a great read of unparalleled intimacy as Cohen’s fellow travelers recall encounters, conversations, projects, concerts, trips, and affairs—the quotes interspersed with Posner’s contextual bridges, which strengthen the book’s narrative. . . . The second volume has an even more intimate feel with its rich detail.” — The Senior TimesPraise for Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories: The Early Years, Vol. 1 A Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of 2020“Posner undertook dozens and dozens of interviews . . . creating a unique oral history, as if they’re in a room together, sharing memories and stories. . . . They’re linked together with a light narrative voice that gives this biography a very intimate and personal feel.” — Toronto Star“The life of Leonard Cohen—poet, novelist, artist, Zen monk, and oh, yes, singer-songwriter—is too vast to be contained within one book. Thankfully, Posner is giving us three. . . . Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to explore Cohen’s private and public lives, his complexities and contradictions, and, of course, his inarguable charisma. Serve yourself some tea and oranges and settle in.” — Zoomer“Posner masterfully weaves an abundance of interviews with Cohen’s family, friends, and myriad lovers to create an intricate tapestry and, ultimately, produces the most revealing portrait of the legendary songwriter and wordsmith to date.” — NICHOLAS JENNINGS, journalist and bestselling author of Lightfoot“Sex, drugs, and poetry permeate this oral history of Leonard Cohen. . . . This book offers a seductive blend of sometimes contradictory insights.” — Library Journal

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Book SynopsisWords of Glory: Inspiring Speeches from the Greatesteaders

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Book SynopsisRelive the laughter with this definitive book on Morecambe and Wise - the most famous and best-loved British comedy double-act of all time. In this unique book, Eric Morecambe''s son Gary sheds new light on the comic geniuses who became the nation''s best friends. Gary reveals what it was like behind the scenes, with touching and hilarious stories of life in the Morecambe and Wise family homes, along with memories from Eric''s wife Joan and his daughter (and Ernie''s goddaughter) Gail.Gary''s conversations with high-profile fans today, from Ben Miller and Bob Golding, to Jonathan Ross and Miranda Hart, provide a fascinating look at why Morecambe and Wise remain so popular now, their impact on today''s most recognisable double acts, and how Eric and Ernie continue to be a part of so many families'' Christmas traditions. Sweet and funny, touching and poignant, these untold stories and anecdotes let us get to know the two men who became the biggest British comedy act of

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Book SynopsisMusician, nightlife impresario, record label executive, photographer, and author, Michael Alago takes readers through this amazing journey that is his life. Alago grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in a large, spirited, and devoted Puerto Rican family. Through his early passion for music, art, theater, and photography, he soon found himself rubbing elbows with many downtown NYC scene makers, from Stiv Bators to Jean Michel Basquiat, Cherry Vanilla and Wayne County to Deborah Harry and Robert Mapplethorpe. As an underage teenager going to Max's Kansas City, CBGB, and various art galleries, Alago also began running The Dead Boys fan club. A few years later, he became the assistant music director for legendary nightclubs the Ritz and the Red Parrot. At age twenty-four, he began a storied career as an A&R executive at Elektra Records that started with signing Metallica in the summer of 1984, changing the entire landscape of rock 'n' roll and heavy metal. Alago continued to work in A&R for both Palm Pictures and Geffen Records. He was thrilled to executive-produce albums by Cyndi Lauper, Public Image Ltd, White Zombie, and Nina Simone. In the late 1980s, he was diagnosed with HIV, which manifested into full-blown AIDS ten years later. He survived to continue his music career, but in 2005, he left music to pursue his other love: photography. Alago went on to publish three bestselling books: Rough Gods, Brutal Truth, and Beautiful Imperfections with German-based publisher Bruno Gmünder. He has since overcome his longtime addiction to drugs and alcohol. In his clean and sober life, he has reconnected with his family, continues to be a working photographer as well as record producer, and only through the grace of his 12-Step program is he able to live this big, beautiful life. In 2017, a documentary directed by Drew Stone and produced by Michael Alex on Alago's wildly successful career in music was released in theaters and on Netflix, entitled Who the Fuck Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago.

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Book SynopsisWhat was it about Bob Marley that made him so popular in a world dominated by rock'n'roll?How is that he has not only remained the single most successful reggae artist ever, but has also become a shining beacon of radicalism and peace to generation after generation of fans across the globe?On May 11, 1981, a little after 11.30 in the morning, Bob Marley died. The man who introduced reggae to a worldwide audience, in his own lifetime he had already become a hero figure in the classic mythological sense. From immensely humble beginnings and with talent and religious belief his only weapons, the Jamaican recording artist applied himself with unstinting perseverance to spreading his prophetic musical message.And he had achieved it: only a year earlier, Bob Marley and The Wailers'' tour of Europe had seen them perform to the largest audiences a musical act had up to that point experienced. Record sales of Marley''s albums before his death were spectacular; in the years since his death they have become phenomenal, as each new generation discovers afresh the remarkable power of his music.Chris Salewicz, who had a sequence of adventures with Bob Marley in Jamaica in 1979, offers us a comprehensive and detailed account of Bob Marley''s life and the world in which he grew up and came to dominate. Never-before-heard interviews with dozens of people who knew Marley are woven through a narrative that brings to life not only the Rastafari religion and the musical scene in Jamaica, but also the spirit of the man himself.Trade Review'Salewicz invades and illuminates Marley's privacy more effectively than previous biographers' - The Sunday Times 'Essential biography that also traces the evolution of rebel music. It's the author's owm conjuring of events - that make this book so valuable' - Mojo 'Where the veteran music journalist Chris Salewicz provides new insights is in his portrait of the musician's complex and troubled personality. Drawing on extensive interviews with those closest to Marley, he reveals a character afflicted by insecurity and instability' - Times Literary Supplement 'The definitive account of the man and the myth' - The Independent

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Book Synopsis''A terrifying and unhappy book...'' The GuardianThis astounding self-portrait covering the whole of Shostakovich''s life (1906-1975) was prepared in collaboration with the distinguished Soviet musicologist Solomon Volkov. With the composer''s consent, the manuscript was smuggled out of Soviet Russia - but Shostakovich, fearing reprisals, stipulated that the book should not appear until after his death. Ever since its publication in 1979 it has been the subject of controversy, some suggesting that Volkov invented parts of it, but most affirming that it revealed a profoundly ambivalent Shostakovich which the world had never seen before - his life at once triumphant and tragic.Either way, it remains indispensible to an understanding of Shostakovich''s life and work. Testimony is intense and fiercely ironic, both plain-spoken and outspoken.Trade Review"'I do not know of a musician who will not read it with compassion and admiration' Andre Previn"

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to the life and work of Marina Abramovic, the world's most famous performance artist. Combining brand-new interviews, never-before-seen images and fascinating ephemera, this book is a testament to the extraordinary life and work of one of our most courageous and groundbreaking artists, and is published to coincide with the opening of Abramovic's Royal Academy exhibition - the first major show by a female artist in the Academy's 255-year history. Agreeing to answer any question that was posed, Abramovic embarked on 17 months of candid interviews conducted by her friend and confidante, Katya Tylevich. The result is a monolithic retrospective that takes us from the humble beginnings of a shy child sitting at the back of the class, to fearless pioneer, conquering and subverting the art world with boundary-pushing performances, and concluding with her most profound personal experience to date. Over 600 images from Abramovic's personal archives set these captivating memories alight, creating a fascinating, visual landscape and demonstrating the inextricably intertwined nature of her life and work. A breathtakingly intimate journey, we are led across deserts, oceans and cities to explore extreme highs and lows, all the while marvelling at how Abramovic approaches every success and setback with her signature humour and wit. Never shying away from the truth, no stone is left unturned, and Abramovic's fearlessness imbues every page.

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Book Synopsis''Nobody owes us anything, but the Simple Minds story has been too condensed. After Live Aid and ''Don''t You (Forget About Me)'' there hasn''t been quite the credit for those first few records. I think they contain some really special music. I can hear the flaws but there''s something about the spirit and imagination in them that feels good. They draw from such a wide range of influences . . . but the spirit of it was always Simple Minds.'' Jim Kerr, to the author An illuminating new biography of one of Britain''s biggest and most influential bands, written with the full input and cooperation of Simple Minds, shedding new light on their dazzling art-rock legacy. Themes for Great Cities features in-depth new interviews with original band members Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil and Derek Forbes, alongside key figures from within their creative community and high-profile fans such as Bobby Gillespie, James Dean Bradfield and Mogwai''s StuTrade ReviewA deep and thrilling dive into some of the greatest musical minds to have come out of Scotland in modern times * Ian Rankin *The definitive biography of this most mercurial of bands. Thomson knows how to take it apart - without demystifying the mystery, he gives us the art school band that never had an art school, but went instead on an endless adventure and took a bit of all of us with them * Alan Warner *A biography that gives the group its long-overdue credit. Thomson's exquisitely written account reaches poetic levels . . . An eye-opening work throughout, Themes for Great Cities may be the final word on Kerr and Co's legacy * Classic Pop *Brings fresh insight into the early albums in particular. Any music biog which sends you straight to the records themselves is doing its job * Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae *For anyone who is newer to the Simple Minds fold or hasn't explored their back catalogue extensively, I implore you to read this book. For the die hards - you need this book! It is a fast and exhilarating ride * Larelle Read, Priptona Weird (Simple Minds fansite) *[The] mission here is to "remystify" Simple Minds. It's a wholly successful endeavour . . . Thomson's enthusiasm for tracing the cultural and geographical roots of Simple Minds is infectious, and the result shines a bright light into the forgotten corners of the band's story -- Tom Doyle * MOJO *Excellent . . . shows how the five-piece Simple Minds found their place -- Jim Wirth * Uncut *Thomson expertly handles proceedings . . . best of all is the coverage of the epic early albums, which all too often seemed to be forgotten as soon as the mega stardom called * Electronic Sound *Music has such a capacity to uplift, to inspire, to recognise, to connect, and Graeme Thomson's latest book explores how the work of Simple Minds captures those possibilities * Books From Scotland *In focusing largely on their pre-stardom records ... Thomson elegantly reminds us how Simple Minds influenced Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers and contemporaries U2. **** * Mail on Sunday *An essential read * Echoes & Dust *An engaging, insightful, and welcome biography and history of one of Scotland's greatest bands ... it'll make you return to those glorious early albums and fall in love with them all over again - the ultimate accolade for any music biography * Product *One of the (many) pleasures of ... Themes for Great Cities is its desire to be an act of reclamation. Thomson wants to challenge the lazy cliches that have attached to the band's reputation, to complicate the story, to, as he says in his introduction, "remystify" his subject * The Herald *Themes for Great Cities is so taut and so full of cliff-hangers, that it reads more like a thriller. It's exactly the sort of book that Simple Minds deserve. * Prog *Thomson's thesis is sound: for about five years, Scotland's biggest ever band made exceptional music, and there's no better man to tell you all about it. * Hot Press, Music Book of the Month *Truly a story of 'ambition in motion' . . . There are a number of passages that almost uncannily mirror the music, where the narrative and inner vision perfectly align . . . In some ways Simple Minds' early music is a perfect secret waiting to be rediscovered. * Quietus *I couldn't read this book without digging out my old vinyl and listening as I read. It was like listening with new ears . . . utterly inspiring. * Louder Than War *

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Book SynopsisSelf-described as a 'spotty, chubby, ginger teenager' with a love for Damien Rice and Nizlopi, Ed Sheeran was never an obvious bet to become a global superstar. And yet that's exactly what he's achieved, winning plenty of awards (and hearts) along the way. But how did a young musician go from selling CDs from his rucksack to becoming the millennial record-breaking international stadium act? Tracing his story from his bohemian childhood in Yorkshire and Suffolk to the release of his third album Divide, music journalist David Nolan chronicles Sheeran's musical life and times. Featuring exclusive interviews with friends, relatives, musical collaborators and key figures in his rise to stardom, Divide and Conquer tells the story of how Ed Sheeran went from school drop-out to one of the world's most successful musicians.

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Book Synopsis** Shortlisted for the @CrimeFest H.R.F. Keating Award **'A smart and highly entertaining portrait of a literary powerhouse'- THE TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR'A riveting portrait' - GUARDIAN BOOKS OF THE YEAR***'Christie lovers should read this biography for the same reason they read her novels.' - The Times'A model of how to combine biographical information, analysis and literary criticism into a propulsive narrative' - Daily Telegraph'Worsley's book excels in bringing a broader historical perspective to Christie's life and work, and her enthusiasm is infectious.' - ObserverMs Worsley herself writes engagingly... She combines an almost militant support for her subject with a considered analysis of her books and plays.' - Economist'Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was.'Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was 'just' an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn't? As Lucy Worsley says, 'She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern'. She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness. So why - despite all the evidence to the contrary - did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure? She was born in 1890 into a world which had its own rules about what women could and couldn't do. Lucy Worsley's biography is not just of an internationally renowned bestselling writer. It's also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman. With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley's biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realise what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was - truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.Trade ReviewAgatha Christie was a modernist, an iconoclast, and a groundbreaker, according to this excellent biography from historian Worsley. Worsley offers close readings of Christie's work and presents a careful reframe of the novelist's famous 1926 disappearance. Drawing on personal letters and modern criticism, Worsley manages to make her subject feel fresh and new. This is a must-read for Christie fans. * Publishers Weekly, (starred review) *One brilliant woman writing about another: an irresistible combination. * Antonia Fraser *This is a warm, intelligent book, which does justice , both to Agatha Christie's character, and to her distinctive genius as a writer of plays and novels. Someone once said that the greatest character Agatha Christie ever invented was Agatha Christie herself. If that's true, she was waiting for the perfect biographer to bring her back to life, and she has found her in Dr Lucy Worsley. * A.N. Wilson *Lucy Worsley brings Agatha Christie back to life, revealing a strong, pioneering, highly intelligent woman whose detective novels rank among the best ever written. Worsley shows us Christie's faults and flaws in the context of her time; she evokes her houses, clothes and the central mystery of her life in spritely sentences with a sharp ear for dialogue. Reading Worsley is as enjoyable as reading Christie herself. * Ruth Scurr *Lucy Worsley's biography of Agatha Christie is as unputdownable as any of the novels by the Queen of Crime herself. Gripping, revealing, and ultimately extremely moving, Agatha Christie is a wonderful tribute to one of the best-loved writers of the 20th century. * Amanda Foreman *Fascinating, seductive, incisive, this beautiful exploration into Christie, her life and times, is full of unique insight, eye opening detail, sharp analysis. Lucy Worsley is a brilliant detective into the letters, the emotion, the drive of Christie, the ambition. Gripping. * Kate Williams *'In the best biography of Agatha Christie ever written, Lucy Worsley gets to the soul - the complex, troubled, but big soul - of our greatest whodunnit writer with laser-like precision. There will not now need to be another biography of the queen of the detective story written for decades.' * Andrew Roberts, author of ‘Napoleon the Great’ and ‘Churchill: Walking with Destiny’ *'Gosh this is BRILLIANT. Read it at one sitting. It's frothy and fast and properly, subtly, furious.' * Annie Gray *'Reading Lucy Worsley's biography is like sharing Agatha Christie's favourite drink: cream. Rich, hearty and extremely satisfying, this book fills the void and, more than that, shows us with much brio and charm why Christie remains a writer for our times' * Dr Daisy Dunn, author of Not Far From Brideshead *Lucy Worsley is simply unparalleled as a biographer who couples historical insight with riveting storytelling. She proves it once again by capturing the life of the elusive Agatha Christie in a book so full of sensitive interpretations and surprising revelations that you won't want to put it down. * Devoney Looser *'Entertaining and authoritative, shining a light on just what an extraordinary pioneer Christie was.' * Belfast Telegraph *'(An) authoritative and entertaining biography.' * Irish Independent *Written with the cooperation of the Christie family and all of Lucy Worsley's trademark wit and wisdom, Agatha Christie emerges from the page as a thoroughly modern woman, full of light and shade and a world away from the cosy little old lady that she's so often perceived to be. * Red *Paint(s) an intriguing picture of Christie as an upper-middle-class Victorian and Edwardian child whose life, then and later, encompassed significant losses and reversals of fortune, * Guardian *With great affection, Worsley masterfully maneuvers her way through Christie's life and prolific oeuvre. * Kirkus (Starred Review) *Ms Worsley herself writes engagingly, with a smattering of racy phrases (Archie Christie, that adulterous first husband, is said to have been "incredibly hot"). She combines an almost militant support for her subject with a considered analysis of her books and plays-making the case that, in her themes and formal innovation, Christie was much more than a writer of formulaic potboilers. * Economist *Presenting Christie in a stimulating new light... the book is a model of how to combine biographical information, analysis and literary criticism into a propulsive narrative. Christie would have hated it, as she would have hated all biographies, but even so she might have saluted the skill of an author who shares her gift for supreme readability. * Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph *What makes this biography so fascinating is the way Worsley demonstrates how "everything Agatha experienced became copy". An irreverent historian, she sets in context the events of her subject's life with great skill, then shows how Christie reflected them in her work... Christie lovers should read this biography for the same reason they read her novels: they "address dark, uncomfortable feelings. They address the darkness that can lurk within even normal, respectable people. People like your own spouse." Worsley not only makes you want to reread them all over again, she actually makes you love the talented yet tormented woman who wrote them. * Mark Sanderson, The Times *The first significant biography of Christie since Laura Thompson's... Worsley's book excels in bringing a broader historical perspective to Christie's life and work, and her enthusiasm is infectious. * Stephanie Merritt, Observer *Provocative new biography... the narrative is buoyed by colourful details about Christie's fondness for surfing, fast cars and drinking glasses of neat cream. She certainly emerges as a more subversive figure than is generally realised. * Business Post *Worsley is refreshingly down to earth, and her passion for her subject is palpable... What a shame she never met her heroine - they would have got on like a house on fire. * Irish Examiner *A superlative biography of the Queen of Crime, Worsley's page-turning volume is a fitting tribute to Christie's extraordinary life. * Waterstones Weekly, Best New Literary Biographies *Agatha Christie fans intrigued to learn where the queen of crime gained her real-life inspiration will enjoy Lucy Worsley's new biography. * Yours *Fascinating... A wonderful tribute to one of our most brilliant national treasures. * Best *

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Book Synopsis“The answer is not to silence me. . . . The answer is for you to have better arguments.”Go the Joe Rogan way. Sh*t Joe Rogan Says is a book of motivation, inspiration, and reflections from the man who talks to everybody. Not one to back down from a conversation or an f-bomb, Joe Rogan tells it like it is and gives everyone a fair shake.From years of discipline and expertise in martial arts, to unabashed comedy and showing people how to face their fears, to his stratospheric ascent to podcast greatness, Joe Rogan knows a little something about life, discipline, hard work, and an unrelenting pursuit of personal freedoms and free thought. Get Joe Rogan’s take on philosophy, comedy, politics, free speech, mind-altering experiences, censorship, and happiness with this collection of his most influential quotes and ideas. Get your hands on 150 Joe Rogan-isms on life, free thought, and common sense Find motivation, momentum, and real talk in Joe Rogan’s no-nonsense reflections Follow the Joe Rogan route to achieve confidence, nonconformity, and an uncensored life

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Powerhouse delivers a chronicle of vaunting ambition, immense wealth and power, and personal betrayal all the more astonishing in a business ostensibly built on loyalty and trust... Even more impressive is Miller's ability to get nearly everyone involved not only to talk but also go on the record." -- New York Times Book Review "Magisterial. ... One of the two most important books about the business of entertainment to come out in 2016. ... A must read for anyone who wants to work in Hollywood or just know how Hollywood works." -- The Hollywood Reporter "It's dishy. It's like People Magazine meets 'The Godfather.' It's like nothing else. I ate it up." -- New York Post "Eminently readable and moves at a fast pace thanks to dozens of fascinating celebrity stories." -- Mashable "The year's hottest Hollywood tell-all." -- New York Daily News "Probably the most hotly anticipated book since Julia Phillips's tell-all YOU'LL NEVER EAT LUNCH IN THIS TOWN AGAIN dropped more than two decades ago." -- Variety "[F]un to read both for the boldface names - including agency founders Michael Ovitz and Ron Meyer, and clients like Magic Johnson and Ali MacGraw - and for a glimpse into a largely unseen world of cultural influencers." -- The National Book Review

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Book SynopsisRichard Burton: star. The roaring boy from the Welsh coal valleys who came to sport on the banks of the old Nile, playing great Antony to Elizabeth Taylor''s Cleopatra. From the West End to Hollywood, from Camelot to Shakespeare, he drank, dazzled and despaired, playing out his life on the public stage. But there was another, quieter, off-stage Richard Burton, a face hidden from the multitude.Melvyn Bragg, allowed free access to the never-before-revealed Burton private notebooks, and with the cooperation of friends who have never spoken about him before, has brought together the private and public sides for the first time. Rich is the complete Richard Burton: a revelation.

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Book SynopsisThe classic biography which explores the shocking drama of Kurt Cobain's troubled life

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Book Synopsis'There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.' Hannah Gadsby, NanetteMulti-awardwinning Hannah Gadsby transformed comedy with her show Nanette, even as she declared that she was quitting stand-up. Now, she takes us through the defining moments in her life that led to the creation of Nanette and her powerful decision to tell the truth - no matter the cost.Gadsby's unique stand-up special Nanette was a viral success that left audiences captivated by her blistering honesty and her ability to create both tension and laughter in a single moment. But while her worldwide fame might have looked like an overnight sensation, her path from open mic to the global stage was hard-fought and anything but linear.Ten Steps to Nanette traces Gadsby's growth as a queer person from Tasmania - where homosexuality was illegal until 1997 - to her ever-evolving relationship with comedy, to her struggle with adult diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and finally to the backbone of Nanette - the renouncement of self-deprecation, the rejection of misogyny, and the moral significance of truth-telling.Equal parts harrowing and hilarious, Ten Steps to Nanette continues Gadsby's tradition of confounding expectations and norms, properly introducing us to one of the most explosive, formative voices of our time.Trade ReviewAs a document of what can happen when a different kind of voice seizes the conversation, Ten Steps to Nanette shows Gadsby taking control of the page along with the stage. * Sunday Times *A serious book about comedy...there is real merit in this deep exploration of a complex work and its creator * Irish Times *Here, she reveals the winding road that led her [to Nanette]...with her unique mix of humour and fury * Stylist *In this stunning debut, Emmy Award-winning comedian Gadsby guides readers on a tour of her life that's every bit as intimate, gutting,and untidy as the performance referenced in the title...[a] stirring tale of resilience. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Similar to her groundbreaking comedy specials Douglas and Nanette, Gadsby's memoir reads like a conversation with a longtime friend...A can't-miss memoir that will make readers laugh, cry, and everything in between * Library Journal (starred review) *A witty and provocatively written life story * Kirkus Reviews *Hannah is a Promethean force, a revolutionary talent... This hilarious, touching, and sometimes tragic book is all about where her fires were lit. -- Emma ThompsonAs uproariously funny as it is profoundly furious. * New Yorker on NANETTE *Table of Contents1: Epilogue 2: Foundation Mythology 3: The Formative Years 4: The Wilderness Years 5: The Bell Curve Jar 6: Whirl, Interrupted 7: All Part of the Soup 8: Gathering Strands 9: Women's Work 10: Nanette

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Book SynopsisBeethoven's life and legacy in 100 recordingsTrade Review'Norman Lebrecht has turned his attention to Beethoven, and in a way that no one has done before. Lebrecht has had the idea of taking 100 pieces, briefly describing their origins and character, and then critically examining, and recommending, recordings of them. You want to build a Beethoven library? There can be no better starting point. You want to expand your existing collection? This book is for you. Not just the familiar works — symphonies and piano concertos — but lesser known chamber pieces, and even songs and musical quips. Not many Beethoven books tell you about the 30-second musical joke ‘Schuppanzigh ist ein Lump’. Lebrecht does. Few chapters are more than a couple of pages long. Bite-sized Beethoven. Brilliant idea.' -- John Suchet, Classic FM presenter‘The inimitable Norman Lebrecht here turns his glaring spotlight not so much onto the composer as onto responses to him over the intervening centuries. This is a Beethoven book for our pixelated, attention-deficient era… one heck of an enjoyable read.’ -- BBC Music Magazine'From one of our most prolific and wide-ranging writers on music, here is a connoisseur’s guide to Beethoven recordings fleshed out with vivid bits of biography and memoir. Most books recommend either recordings or works. This singular book does both.' -- Jan Swafford, author of Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph'With these 100 reverently irreverent venerations, Lebrecht not only burnishes further the immortal legend of Beethoven but demonstrates that language need not end where music begins. An illuminating and uplifting mosaic.' -- Gabriela Montero, pianist and composer'Norman Lebrecht, in his remarkable book, shows that Beethoven has, in his philosophical approach, as much relevance as he always had – maybe even more in these crazy times.' -- Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra‘An incredibly fascinating personal search for the “core” of Beethoven's personality, his legacies and relevance of his figure nowadays. Lots of details and facts were new to me, many of the chapters provoked me to think even further, beyond the music and philosophy of this titan.’ -- Vasily Petrenko, Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra‘The greatest artists repay a lifetime of study. Now Norman Lebrecht has given us a lambent summing up of his adventures with Beethoven, deeply personal yet grounded in music that we know and love, inspiring readers to offer their own answers to the question “Why Beethoven?”’ -- Tim Page, winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for his music criticism in the Washington Post‘Any oldies who are a little hard of hearing will be moved by Norman Lebrecht’s new book.’ -- Oldie'Entertaining and informative... an ideal guide to the master’s wondrous achievements.' -- Kirkus, starred review‘This glorious study of Beethoven… a deep dive into the politics and cafe society of Beethoven’s day, and his effect on contemporary composers.’ -- Jewish Chronicle'Why Beethoven is a provocatively illuminating, occasionally scandalous survey of the recordings that shaped Beethoven's life. It makes for an exhilarating narrative that in its wake also raises several divisive cultural issues.' -- Strings Magazine‘This wonderful book inspires, challenges, cajoles and entertains. It is so grand in its sweep and erudition that like its subject it set the bar at a height that might, in fact properly will, dissuade others who might wish to publish a new view of one of Western civilisation’s pillar figures… refreshingly direct… It would be an overstatement but not by much to describe Why Beethoven as a Rosetta Stone to guide the interested but unsure to the pot of gold at the end of the Beethoven rainbow. And like all wonderful books, you can dip in and out as your appetite decrees. It is a wonderful primer but much more as well.’ -- Irish Examiner

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAs seen on The Today Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more. — “’The Office BFFs: Tales of the Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There’ is an enjoyable complement to the series, filled with behind the scenes anecdotes that help explain what made NBC’s hit click. … If there’s any lesson to be learned from the show’s nine-season run and this book, it’s that a lot of teamwork goes into making an office look this dysfunctional.” — Associated Press “Bound to have you giggling… Heart = warmed.” — The Skimm "Reading the book makes you feel like you're out to lunch (at The Ivy, if we can get a patio table!) listening to your two close friends gab. And it's clear those two friends have such warm regards for their show, their cast and crew, and each other." — Mashable “Can you think of a better gift for The Office lover in your life (even if it’s you?)” — AV Club A smart, sweet look from inside The Office about how the show spawned enduring friendships and unexpected careers. — Kirkus Reviews

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