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38th out of 380 books
—
559 voters
Many Years from Now
During the past year Paul McCartney has been in the public's eye more than at any time since the peak of Beatlemania over thirty years ago. His fans have been treated to the best-selling Flaming Pie and Standing Stone albums, a full hour of Paul on "Oprah," and this thoughtful and comprehensive biography that brings us closer to the man than ever before. Based on hundreds
...moreHardcover, 576 pages
Published
November 18th 1997
by Random House of Canada, Ltd.
(first published 1997)
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Sep 10, 2010
Mariel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Ringo never
Recommended to Mariel by:
Pete is best!
This is a good Beatles book to get because Paul includes his own personal back story on all of his songs and The Beatles songs (not much if it is one of George's, though. Too bad). It is neat to be able to pull the book off the shelf and consult it when on Beatles kicks (if you like the more technical info, Revolution in the Head is the book to get).
I personally love reading about the claims that John Lennon wrote Paul songs such as Eleanor Rigby (despite all evidence to the contrary). Paul was...more
I personally love reading about the claims that John Lennon wrote Paul songs such as Eleanor Rigby (despite all evidence to the contrary). Paul was...more
This is as close to a ghost-written autobiography as you'll get and is a companion - and riposte - to the giant Lennon Remembers Rolling Stone interviews (essential reading, even for non-Beatle fans). So old Macca comes across as being heartily sick of the Saint Lennon myth and decides to give his version of events - yes, McCartney was a rocker too, yes, he was avant-garde too blah blah. All quite true.
One thing the world isn't short of : unnecessary Beatle books.
I didn't even want to read th...more
One thing the world isn't short of : unnecessary Beatle books.
I didn't even want to read th...more
Detailed and heart felt...
The story begins with Paul's parents, Jim and Mary McCartney. The book follows Paul's boyhood. Between the narrative sections, Paul adds comments of details, in his own words. I know the history of each of the Beatles pretty well, but I must say I learned some interesting things. I didn't know Paul was a Boy Scout for a time. The book follows the Beatles story, from Paul meeting John, forward. One can tell by Paul's comments that John and he were as close as brothers.
So...more
The story begins with Paul's parents, Jim and Mary McCartney. The book follows Paul's boyhood. Between the narrative sections, Paul adds comments of details, in his own words. I know the history of each of the Beatles pretty well, but I must say I learned some interesting things. I didn't know Paul was a Boy Scout for a time. The book follows the Beatles story, from Paul meeting John, forward. One can tell by Paul's comments that John and he were as close as brothers.
So...more
This was the very first biography I ever read and I loved it. This not only gives you a good picture of McCartney's life but the whole history of the Beatles and a good overview of the 60s in general. There is so much detail in here to poke a stick at. I must say however that I found the last 1 or 2 chapters less enjoyable because all the information centred around Sir Paul but that is my only gripe. Goodreads says that this is by Paul McCartney when it is actually Barry Miles, a famous biograph...more
I really enjoyed this book. It sat on my book shelf a while before I got to it but it was nice to read a book that Sir Paul approved and one that a lot of his interviews over the years was used as the basis for the book.
Basically the book is trying to set the record straight on Paul and how he was the original avant garde Beatle being a swinging single in 60's London going to plays, performances, traveling, enjoying the night life of the city, hanging with artists, poets, other musicians ( lik...more
Basically the book is trying to set the record straight on Paul and how he was the original avant garde Beatle being a swinging single in 60's London going to plays, performances, traveling, enjoying the night life of the city, hanging with artists, poets, other musicians ( lik...more
I loved this book! It was part biography and part memoir, with Paul's actually words on most of the pages. I didn't know much about the Beatles - other than loving their music, until I read this book. I learned so much, especially that Paul was the most creative of the Moptops. I always thought it was John who was the master of creativity. I was also suprised at the amount of drugs that passed through their bodies and how easy it was for Paul to turn down drugs. I'm happy that I finally know how...more
Along with author Miles, McCartney himself adds a paragraph or two every 3 pages or so, making this book a de facto autobiography of his Beatles years, and McCartney's work with Miles in establishing Indica Books as a leader in counterculture art, periodicals, underground newspapers and literature in 1960s England.
It's also, frankly, a bit funny to read about how mundane the life of a "superstar" can be. Mick Avory has commented that McCartney was "the most competitive bastard I've ever met" in...more
It's also, frankly, a bit funny to read about how mundane the life of a "superstar" can be. Mick Avory has commented that McCartney was "the most competitive bastard I've ever met" in...more
Honestly, this book wasn't that great. It's surprisingly the only biography of Paul I could find, and it's just not written that well. It's not really a biography, it's more Paul talking about a variety of subjects. The thing is, the subjects usually don't have anything to do with his life or the Beatles. There are very long chapters where Paul waxes on and on about avante-garde galleries he frequented in the sixties. It doesn't seem like Paul wants to let his guard down, or delve into subjects...more
This is as close to an authorised, official book on McCartney as there has been. Barry Miles has remained a friend of Paul since they met in the 60s, and there are frequent passages from Paul himself - direct quotes reflecting on and adding unique detail to the events described.
Paul casting about his memory and blurting out some peculiar tangential thought adds a conversational feel, and this always pleasantly offsets Miles' fine, informative prose. It's often to comic effect, as in the afterwor...more
Absolutely fascinating! I loved this book! What an amazing, detailed look at the long and winding road (sorry, couldn't resist) of Paul’s life during the era of the phenomenon known as the Beatles, often told in Paul's own words. I was most intrigued with the descriptions of how each song came to be, the synergy of the collaboration with John Lennon and the incredible creative process that led to the greatest collection of songs ever written. I learned about all the cultural influences on the mu...more
Many Years from Now is a terrific example of a really great method in pseudo-autobiography: the author was a contemporary of the subject and so able to offer context from his own experience. It's an interesting give-and-take which employs McCartney interviews from way-back-when, Mill's recollection (if relevant) or interpretation, and McCartney's follow-up--almost like a long conversation (about an EXTREMELY interesting subject).
Detailed but not ponderous, this is easily the best band biopic/bi...more
This book is comprised largely of long interview responses from Sir Paul, and there has always been something about his interviews that puts me off - it seems that everything he's saying has been rehearsed, or internally edited somehow. The book is also almost comically anti-John, and a little too fawning towards its main subject. I can't think of one criticism the book makes, or where it casts Paul in a less than flattering light - but then, it does completely skip over the 80s. The palpable hu...more
The authorized biography, which means it's packed full of new information, as well as carrying the unstated agenda of "I was at least as cool as John Lennon." Barry Miles, whose hipness credentials include author of a good book about Allen Ginsberg and long ago editor of the 1960s underground paper The International Times, makes a good case for Sir Paul's rightfully belonging at the center of Swinging London's cultural ferment, at least until his marriage and subsequent career as a family man an...more
The coolest thing about this MacCartney bio is that the author, Barry Miles, personally knew Paul from the time that he moved to London and began living with actress Jane Asher. Barry Miles was buddies with her brother, Peter Asher, who later formed Peter & Gordon, and then went on to produce albums by Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. Barry Miles was part owner of the Indica Gallery, the bookstore/art gallery where John Lennon met Yoko Ono. It's 600+ pages long, and all told from the inside....more
Paul truly was the creative genius behind the Beatles. Yes, all four members were crucial to the group - it wouldn't have been the Beatles without John, Paul, George, or Ringo, and the contributions each made were priceless. But Paul had the vision and drive, especially in the later years. Yes, he can be a wanker, but that goes for most everybody.
Thsi book examines Paul's life and his art in a very honest and complete way. A must read for any Beatles fan and for ALL Paul fans.
Thsi book examines Paul's life and his art in a very honest and complete way. A must read for any Beatles fan and for ALL Paul fans.
This book is essentially a really long interview with Paul McCartney. I'm not sure why I read it. I am a fan of the Beatles, but McCartney is not a terribly interesting subject, especially compared to John Lennon. Macca was the better (more technically proficient) musician and vocalist, and you could argue, the superior songwriter, but Lennon is a much more fascinating character. Lennon was a mean, paranoid, delusional crank. By comparison, Paul always comes off as a bit dull. But, the book does...more
Such an amazing book, a different point of view, of what the beatles were, i really like how the author describes his times with the beatles. By the end, a tear must drop when they talk about Linda. Anyhow, you have to read both sides of the story (lennon & MCC)to imagine how it develop.
Five Stars, because it's the beatles, and i literally eat the whole book.
Five Stars, because it's the beatles, and i literally eat the whole book.
Esse livro é foda. Acho que é a melhor biografia dos Beatles que você vai encontrar. Afinal, é a versão do próprio Paul, dita em dezenas de entrevistas ao autor.
Tá certo que ele puxa um pouco a brasa pra sardinha dele, mas é foda. E, ainda assim, o autor Barry Miles (que era amigo e convivia com os Beatles nos 60's) mandou bem na pesquisa a ponto de todos os fatos "polêmicos" serem acompanhados de versões diferentes.
Mas, pra mim, o melhor é o Paul contando detalhes de quase todas as composíções....more
Tá certo que ele puxa um pouco a brasa pra sardinha dele, mas é foda. E, ainda assim, o autor Barry Miles (que era amigo e convivia com os Beatles nos 60's) mandou bem na pesquisa a ponto de todos os fatos "polêmicos" serem acompanhados de versões diferentes.
Mas, pra mim, o melhor é o Paul contando detalhes de quase todas as composíções....more
Aug 08, 2012
Sveta
is currently reading it
Paul is ambitious, very intelligent and experimental. Interesting info about his upbringing and the way he dealt with life situations, largely explained by his upbringing. John had some charismatic way to bend people's response to his irresponsible behavior, Paul including. Sometimes weakness is more powerful than a strong will. IMO of course.
A bit self-serving at times, but that's fine, because it's Paul McCartney.
It's great to get his insight into writing a lot of Beatles classics. The book glosses over the Wings years though, which is odd because he was only in The Beatles for such a short period of his life.
It's great to get his insight into writing a lot of Beatles classics. The book glosses over the Wings years though, which is odd because he was only in The Beatles for such a short period of his life.
The book was fun to read since I grew up with The Beatles. It explained how just about every song The Beatles performed was written and sometimes what the song was really about. I would have enjoyed reading more about his relationship withLindaand his family.
Jun 08, 2007
Joanna
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Beatles fans
Any book that makes you fall in love with a person without ever having met them is damn pretty powerful. This was that book for me. Before I read it, Ringo was my favorite Beatle! But I discovered that Paul is incredibly creative, loving, open and determined (not to mention pretty damn sexy in those early photos!). Some bits tend to wander and can be difficult to get through, like his long and winding (like the pun?) treatment of pataphysics, but this book will give you an honest glimpse into hi...more
This would be far more interesting if Paul didn't spend so much time slagging off John and Yoko. Was this really necessary? Still, some previously unread anecdotes of interest mainly to hardcore Beatles fans.
Interesting read but sadly lots of space given over to 'who wrote what exactly', it seems locked in a time when perhaps macca was feeling his legacy overshadowed by that of the lennon legend.
Paul's obsession with rewriting history reaches a low point in this glossy, self glorifying, overlong tome. There is some interesting detail, but McCartney's desperation to be taken seriously destroy the experience. It's all right, Paul we know you are a genius. But John was the fucking innovator, right. After all, you wrote Honey Pie.
The story of the fab four by Macca. It took him years to write, will you take a look?
The view of the sixties, particularly 66-68 years in London makes a great read.
The view of the sixties, particularly 66-68 years in London makes a great read.
Good insight into Paul by someone who knew him very well. If you live The Beatles and especially if Paul was your favorite, this is a must read.
Like all the books I've read on musical "stars".... if you're interested in the person or the times, this book is fabulous. If not, then don't bother.
One of my fave books of all time. I hold this book close to my heart. An insanely intimate look into the life of the Beatles, Linda, and Paul. Loved it.
It's about Paul McCartney. It's authorized by Paul McCartney. It's co-written by Paul McCartney. I can't write an objective review - I loved it!!!
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Sir James Paul McCartney MBE, known as Paul McCartney, is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. He gained worldwide fame as one of the founders and members of The Beatles. McCartney and John Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and "wrote so...more
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Jan 23, 2011 02:25pm
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