At last… “the Myth” becomes a reality!

[atp]

Brian Wilson believes that “music is the voice of God.” I do, too.

I became a fan of Brian Wilson just over three years ago, at the age of 26. It was an incredible experience to take a deep-dive into his life and music. I searched for every possible resource to learn about him. One of my favorites was the documentary Beautiful Dreamer, which was made by David Leaf. It was plain to see that he is a very talented storyteller! I kept coming across references to a book written by David about Brian as early as 1978. Try as I might, I could not find a copy anywhere, at least at an affordable price. It had been out of print too long. Imagine my excitement to hear that this edition was being released! Finally, I am able to own a copy of what has come to be considered the most authoritative book about someone I have come to consider one of the greatest artist/composers/arrangers/producers of all time, and certainly the greatest of our time!

This book is the complete 1978 edition, with the new chapters from the 1985 edition, plus a massive update that picks up the story and brings it up to the present. Because I regretted being born too late to be able to experience the music when it happened, I tried to read the 1978 and 1985 editions as if I were living in those times, suspending, for the course of the reading, my knowledge of anything that came after the edition I was currently reading. This was made remarkably easy by the author’s vivid writing style and keen analysis, enabling me to feel as though the events on the pages were unfolding right in front of me. And, because the original texts are allowed to stand, readers also get the sense of learning and growing in our understanding of Brian right alongside the author.

This is an essential piece for any fan of Brian Wilson. It is also, due to the unabridged nature of the earlier texts, an essential piece for understanding this very special aspect of music history as it developed! It isn’t often that one comes across a book that is relatively unaltered by hindsight, where the entire development of the story is documented in a way that feels so immediate to the reader. For new fans like myself, or for people who don’t know Brian’s story, this is one of the best resources out there for understanding him! It is also a compelling tale of beauty and artistry, redemption and hope, that anyone is sure to be able to appreciate!

I give this book my strongest recommendation. For anybody who cares about the Beach Boys, about Brian Wilson.  About America.  About music and harmony, love and family, an artistic journey with, thankfully, a much happier ending than the first two editions -- this book is for you.
 
I actually can’t believe this book exists, and that I can finally read it! I love it! I’ve already begun to read it for the second time!