By Bob Spitz
Little Brown, 2005. 983 pages. Biography
Though I am a big Beatles fan, I didn't have a good chronological understanding of their story, so I set out to find a good biography on them. Rather than a simple recitation of the when and where and who of the Beatles saga, this biography brings their story to life, lending insight into how people were feeling throughout and adding color to their many remarkable experiences. This book of course has its "take" on some events, but it isn't afraid to recount The Beatles' shortcomings while still acknowledging their genius. In order to maintain a compelling narrative, this book can't cover everything - even a few major elements of the Beatles story aren't quite fully discussed. Still, I definitely came down with some "Beatles-mania" while reading this and had to stop several times to listen to their songs, even though I've heard them probably a hundred times before. The story ends with the break up of the Beatles, including a quick nod to things to come in future years, and even after 10 hours it felt like it was over a little too soon (which is a great metaphor for the Beatles themselves). I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator does a great job bringing the story to life, especially quotes from the Fab 4 themselves.
BHG
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