I love this book because, at its core, The Beatles, The Bible and Bodega Bay is an insightful, inspirational, reflective, and personal look at relationships.

As the trinomial title indicates, it is about three pivotal relationships in one man's life and how those associations have shaped his life path. Ken Mansfield shares his affiliation with arguably history's most influential rock group, which launched his 3 decade long career in the music business, understating yet hinting at the excitement that comes with the blurring whirl of touching fame. He approaches the topic of the Beatles through the eyes of a humble young man from the midwest sitting on a rollercoaster just before it takes off. He recounts personal stories of parties, concerts, and liaisons with people whose lives have touched him along the way. The fact that it is the Beatles with whom Ken started his career is almost incidental. These are stories about a man and his friends.

Sandwiched between anecdotal snippets of Ken's life in the entertainment world are thoughtful prayers from a now older man, having conversations with God and sharing with us as he looks at the steps he's taken so far and the steps he is faced with. Ken's focal relationship is to God as his trusted companion on his life path. It is his connection to his faith that makes the author so personal and real, and we can see how his love and devotion have given him clear vision after living a sometimes cloudy lifestyle. These are stories about a man and his spirituality.

Finally, the correlation of Ken's experiences, his faith and Bodega Bay is the relationship that appeals to many who find peace in nature. Ken's expression of his bond with the ocean, his environment, and his connection to his faith touches any human being who has ever glimpsed Heaven in a sunset or been enchanted by the deep vast blue sea. Bodega Bay is Ken's retreat, it is where he has slowed down to hear the quiet around him and feel most connected. But Bodega Bay could be any spectacular place in nature, it is about a man's bond with his environment.

As with all good autobiographies, you close this book feeling like you have a relationship with its author. He is a friend telling you stories of his life.

After all these years and after all the things I have read about the Beatles, for the first time I finally feel like I know them. What a refreshing view of these wonderful people. To cap it all off-as a baby boomer who grew up with the Beatles it is incredible to have such a beautiful pictorial about what is important in my life at this stage. Ken Mansfield describes his spiritual journey in such a non preachy way that I feel I have been given some direction in mine. I totally recommend this as a unique rock and roll historical journal with great new unseen pics of the Fab Four and as a personal level must read. I was totally surprised because I have never read a book so unique and unlike anything I have ever seen before.

At first, I found it a bit off-putting to read one chapter relating to Ken Mansfield's experiences working with The Beatles, & the very next chapter detailing his personal spiritual journey, but his poetic prose & very humanistic approach to both topics soon lulled me into a creative rhythm not unlike the way the Fab Four completely changed popular music when they appeared on the scene in the U.S.

Mansfield's writing is delicious, from the very first page when he says: 'You are invited to absorb these offerings as you would a suntan. Afterwards, you will probably look good in a white shirt or pale blue earrings.'

The photographs of Bodega Bay are absolutely lovely &, along with Mansfield's joyful hymns to his faith, make this book as much a keepsake as the formerly unpublished photos of Paul, John, George & Ringo.