For any fan, the biography of their idol is usually found wanting. As a U2 fan and Bono enthusiast, it's difficult for me to give a good review on a biography of Bono simply because it's irrelevant for me to own a biography on Bono. For the obsessive fan, there's rarely any new information that i haven't already heard; also, biography's on living people are already hard to judge simply because they're obsolete the day they're released.

All of that aside, this book was a great addition to my U2 collection. Jackson presents a well-rounded look at the rock star's life, focussing mostly on his social work. Of course, if i had written this book it would have been gushing with admiration and fan-boy emulation. the fact that it's not proves that it's a superior, well-written account written for anybody on the reader spectrum, long-time fans and non-fans alike.

My only complaint is the lack of focus on Bono's spiritual side. This book almost gives the impression that Bono's endeavors are purely socially and politically motivated, almost without any transcendent consideration. Of course, enough has been written and discusssed about Bono's spirituality, so perhaps a fresh take on his life story thus far is something fans can use. However, for a social and spiritual balance, i recommend reading Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2, although that succumbs to several of the inherent problems with fan biographies.

In this book, Dave Marsh has compiled the definitive lists of the best and the worst that rock 'n' roll has to offer. Drawing from his experience as a rock critic for Rolling Stone magazine, he has covered every aspect of rock 'n' roll, from musicians to songwriters, from attitude to publicity. Along with his own opinions and information, he has gathered the input of other select critics and musicians. Irreverent and witty, this book is a great read. No one with aspirations of being a master of rock trivia should be without it. Where else can you get a list of all the best records that never made it to #1? Who else has compiled a list of the absolute silliest band names to come out of the 60's? Where else can you get good advice like "Don't let the roadie handle your valuable guitar. I have a box of toothpicks that used to be a Les Paul"? This book is now out of print, but it is worth the wait to find a used copy.

Well, I may seem a bit biased, but I am a good friend of Richard and Nancy's, and over the past 6 months or so, I have heard little pieces of this book read by Richard inbetween sets at his NYC gigs, which were amusing to say the least!! I couldn't wait till I had my very own copy of Richard's debut tome, and it was worth the wait.

Basically, it's about Richard growing up, his own childhood, discovering rock + roll and all it's many pleasures in the 60s, continuing up through the present day. From getting to know Richard and Nancy very well, seeing many of his gigs, collecting all his CDs + video collection, as well as witnessing the Doughboys reunion gigs, many of these pages rung familiar and true to life, as they are true stories of his life basically. It's just Richard has a way with telling a tale, a narrative piece, that it's funny and meaningful and vivid!! His childhood days come off like a written version of that show "Oliver Beene", evoking the coming of age in the 60s, nostalgic, funny and entertaining. AND he drops many names, of well-known people he has collided with in his rock + roll travels, which should keep the uninitiated interested.

This is one book that is worth reading again and again, it's just fun to page through!! And if you're not familiar with his recordings, it might just inspire you to pick up such masterpieces as "Basic Glee" + "Cornerstone". I just feel fortunate that I am friends with Richard and Nancy. If I wasn't, I sure would want to be!! Oh and the pictures are almost worth the price of admission!! :-)

Richard is a master of popcraft, maybe this book will gather a new bunch of appreciators. I can see this book "Boom Harangue" (say it fast, haha) being turned into a movie, that's how vivid the stories are, and how talented a writer Richard is (he had no help, no co-writers, no biographers or editors, it's all Richard!!) Can't wait for the next volume!! If BH does become a movie, I want to star in it, as V perhaps, dammitt!! Hahaha!!

Kudos to you Richard!!!

Once again Jane Yolen creates a unique fantasy novel that left me reading it a second time. And a third. Not as complex as the "Pit Dragon" trilogy or as eerily poetic as the "Merlin" books, "Boots and the Seven Leaguers" is nonetheless good fun.

Gog is an average teen - oh wait, he's also a troll who has trouble with magic. It's just a matter of days before the rock band "Boots and the Seven Leaguers" shows up, and Gog and his friend Pook don't have tickets. The two manage to magic themselves into the concert as roadies - only to lose Gog's younger brother, Magog. The two troll-teens set off to find Magog and encounter such colorful creatures as the Huntsmen, Weed King, and the White Wyrm.

The characters are pretty much perfect. Any teen will see themselves in Gog, and his desperation both to find his little brother and to get back in time to see Boots perform. And who didn't have a best friend like Pook?

Yolen's writing is as snappily descriptive as ever, managing to be concise while bringing images into the reader's mind. There is, also, a decidedly funny undertone. The viewpoint is just non-human enough to make us see how a troll thinks without losing the reader's interest.

A fairly short but wonderfully-done book that I could read over and over.

This book tells it like it is. I have saved the cost of the book by reading the reviews. The reviews not only tell about the quality of the recordings but also help toreduce duplication in ordering cds.

The whole book was great. I love Shawn Stockman the best and hope he knows that he is the cutest guy in the whole world. From Molly, Shalom

This book has everything that you have to know to understand what is the boyz like.This book was published before they hit the chart.This one can tell you the truth!

The late Nicholas Schaffner packed tons of detail into "The British Invasion," with the first section devoted to the major artists of the 60s (the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, The Who, David Bowie, Marc Bolan and T-Rex, and Pink Floyd), followed by short vignettes of the numerous groups who also inhabit the pop music firmament - nearly everyone who recorded from 1962 to 1982, from the Small Faces to the Police and from Yes to Siouxie and the Banshees.

The quality of the writing is what makes this book so enjoyable. Schaffner dispels myths, clarifies histories, and lays out credible evidence that each of the major acts has made an indelible mark on rock music (although some may wonder why such greats as Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin were relegated to the second section).

In the second section, Schaffner is joined by other music writers for a thorough review of British pop, and though the year at which the book ends ('82) truncates the careers of folks like Elvis Costello, it's still a fascinating read. Also included are each band's hit records, dates of release and chart positions.

For a book with so few pictures (and black and white at that), it is a must for anyone interested in pop music history. One subjective criticism: much as T-Rex may have predated Bowie's glam-rock, I don't think that Marc Bolan really deserves a spot in the Top Eight.

Although it may be a hard-to-find book, it's worth it.

this tells a lot about Britney and has some great stuff in it. the pictures are awsome and the setup is great.

Great Book. Very informative. A thorough body of research was completed in order to have this book published. I thought I knew all about Chuck Berry until I read this book. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Chuck's. The book is balanced and pulls no punches. No wonder the biography is unauthorized. It contains information that is both provoctive and endearing.