Best Music Books

Explore the world of music with David Byrne's comprehensive guide, updated with a new chapter on digital curation. Drawing on his extensive career and collaborations with Talking Heads and Brian Eno, Byrne delves into the key influences that shape music, from acoustics to social and technological factors. Discover the power of music to shape our experiences and learn more about how songs, symphonies, and rhythms inspire us all. With every chapter, Byrne reveals exciting new insights into the liberating qualities of music.

Explore the fascinating connection between music and the human brain with this groundbreaking and engaging book. Delve into the new discoveries in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology that shed light on why music has such a powerful effect on our emotions. Uncover the mysteries behind how musical preferences are formed, how the brain responds to music, and why musical pleasure is unlike any other kind. This book takes a deep dive into our obsession with music, examining cultural and scientific perspectives, and even studying patients who cannot make sense of music. Discover the unique role music plays in our lives through this informative and enlightening read.

In "Lou The King of New York," Will Hermes has crafted the ultimate biography of rock legend Lou Reed. Drawing on the New York Public Library's extensive Reed archive, Hermes delves into the complex partnerships, poetic genius, and artistic ambition that defined Reed's life and work. From his influential role in bridging pop and avant-garde music to his pioneering exploration of nonbinary sexuality and gender identity, Reed's impact on American culture is undeniable. Discover the captivating story of a man who left an indelible mark on music and society.

Discover the fascinating and often obscure world of 20th-century classical music in this insightful book. From its influence on jazz and avant-garde sounds in Hollywood to its impact on rock, pop, and dance music, this book explores the remarkable array of maverick personalities who defied the classical past and resisted the will of dictators. The narrative takes readers on a journey through Vienna, Paris, Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Russia, and downtown New York in the sixties and seventies, chronicling experiments, revolutions, and dramatic new technologies. All told, this book provides a history of the 20th century through its music.

The ultimate guide for musicians navigating the ever-changing music industry. This book has become widely adopted by music schools and is considered "the best how-to book of its kind" by industry professionals. Learn how to build a stable career by taking advantage of social media, mastering merchandising, and authentic fan connections. The second edition includes updated online trends and inspiring success stories on Spotify and Instagram. A must-have for any musician hoping to make it on their own terms.

Explore the entire history of popular music over the past fifty years through the big genres that have defined and dominated it: rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, dance music, and pop. Kelefa Sanneh, one of the essential voices of our time on music and culture, distills a career's worth of knowledge into a brilliant and omnivorous reckoning with popular music. Major Labels explores music as an art form, cultural and economic force, and tool that we use to build our identities. Sanneh debunks cherished myths, reappraises beloved heroes, and upends familiar ideas of musical greatness, arguing that sometimes, the best popular music isn't transcendent. This is a book about the music everyone loves, the music everyone hates, and the decades-long argument over which is which.

This book takes you on a journey through the captivating story of two young artists who made a pact to take care of each other during the hungry years of late sixties and seventies New York City. It is a love story, an elegy, a historical snapshot, and a tribute to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions, and their ascent to fame. Written by Patti Smith, an influential artist herself, it serves as a salute to the worlds of poetry, rock and roll, art, and sexual politics, all colliding and exploding in this unforgettable milieu.

Discover the raw, unfiltered history of punk through the voices of its most infamous pioneers. Iggy Pop, Joey Ramone, and other punk icons share their stories in the first-ever oral history of this explosive movement. From its beginnings in the New York City art scene to its peak as a cultural revolution, this definitive account of punk is a must-read for music lovers and history buffs alike.

Relive the punk rock revolution that reenergized American rock with this sweeping chronicle of music, politics, drugs, fear, loathing, and faith. Discover the never-before-told stories of bands, labels, fanzines, radio stations, and other subversives who created deeply personal, often brilliant, always challenging, and immensely influential music. Profiles include Mission of Burma, Sonic Youth, Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, Fugazi, Minor Threat, and more. Recognized as an indie rock classic in its own right, Our Band Could Be Your Life is a must-read for any music lover.

Discover the captivating world of fashion and style with Behind the My Life in Rhinestones. Iconic superstar Dolly Parton takes you on an intimate journey, sharing personal stories and showcasing 450 stunning photographs, including exclusive images from her private costume archive. Delve into the fascinating history behind Dolly's unique sense of fashion, from her humble beginnings sewing clothes from feed sacks to her dazzling looks that have captivated audiences worldwide. Explore her most unforgettable outfits, from sky-high heels to eye-catching stage clothes, all accompanied by behind-the-scenes anecdotes from her legendary career. With a delightful blend of candor, humor, and lots of rhinestones, this book is a shining tribute to an iconic musician and an essential guide to embracing your own beauty and confidence.