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38th out of 699 books
—
479 voters
Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation
UPDATED TO INCLUDE PAUL McCARTNEY'S KNIGHTING AND THE DEATHS OF JOHN LENNON AND GEORGE HARRISON Philip Norman's biography of the Beatles is the definitive work on the world's most influential band -- a beautifully written account of their lives, their music, and their times. Now brought completely up to date, this epic tale charts the rise of four scruffy Liverpool lads fr...more
Paperback, 608 pages
Published
February 8th 2005
by Touchstone
(first published January 1st 1981)
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My sister bought the first paperback edition of this book when it came out, and I read it waaaaay back then. I seem to recall that John Lennon's recent murder wasn't mentioned at all, it having happened after the book went to press. This is a very comprehensive history of The Beatles and it is chock full of trvial details every superfan craves. However, I do recall feeling that the author was making no secret of the fact that John was his favorite Beatle. In my opinion, that is the one ongoing p...more
Feb 05, 2010
Zach
added it
Shout- The Beatles in their Generation
By: Philip Norman
Synopsis- This book is a biography made for the purpose of describing every last deatil of this band. The author worked with the Beatles themselves and gathered this info over many hard years of work.
Classification-
Audience: Adults, mainly those 18 and over.
Purpose: To enlighten with information
Medium: Biography
Genre-Setting: The real world
Genre-Style: Historical
Genre-Plot: Bioraphical purposes
Criticism: This is the ultiamte biography about...more
By: Philip Norman
Synopsis- This book is a biography made for the purpose of describing every last deatil of this band. The author worked with the Beatles themselves and gathered this info over many hard years of work.
Classification-
Audience: Adults, mainly those 18 and over.
Purpose: To enlighten with information
Medium: Biography
Genre-Setting: The real world
Genre-Style: Historical
Genre-Plot: Bioraphical purposes
Criticism: This is the ultiamte biography about...more
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...Let me take you down, cos I'm going to...
Read at the tail end of the year in which John Lennon would have been 70 (and also just over 30 years since the man was gunned down in NYC), it was an interesting read for me after many years of Beatles fandom. Having read the Lennon biography by the same author earlier this year, I found the sections on his life in this book somewhat short of the mark. Whilst an impressive piece of work, it really needs to be read in conjunction with that book as well...more
Read at the tail end of the year in which John Lennon would have been 70 (and also just over 30 years since the man was gunned down in NYC), it was an interesting read for me after many years of Beatles fandom. Having read the Lennon biography by the same author earlier this year, I found the sections on his life in this book somewhat short of the mark. Whilst an impressive piece of work, it really needs to be read in conjunction with that book as well...more
After visiting the Beatles Story, John Lennon's childhood home, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, the Cavern and many other Beatles' haunts this Easter, I just had to read this biography which was going cheap in Virgin Records for £3.
I thoroughly enjoyed it though it may give too much information for some people. It was fascinating going back to that time - yes, I was around then even though I don't look it! It was interesting to see how quickly the band took off and how astonishingly successful th...more
I thoroughly enjoyed it though it may give too much information for some people. It was fascinating going back to that time - yes, I was around then even though I don't look it! It was interesting to see how quickly the band took off and how astonishingly successful th...more
Maybe it is because I have listened to and loved the Beatles since I can remember and my earliest memories include dancing with my Dad to the ‘blue’ album, but I have always found something deeply sad about the Beatles story and sometimes nostalgia is tinged with sadness. Maybe it is also because the Beatles story is at root the story of friendship imploding, scorched with the whiff of what could have been.
Philip Norman’s Shout is meant to be the book on the Beatles but it is the only one I have...more
Philip Norman’s Shout is meant to be the book on the Beatles but it is the only one I have...more
1 like · like · see review
Although this was a easy read I found that the writer didn't really put much thought into how to make the story of each Beatle flow together effectively. I found my self getting confused about who was speaking or what person he was refering to.
Furthermore, I found that Philip Norman didn't really have much good to say about any of them, it was putting them all in a bad light which made me sort of dislike them in the end. (Which I wasn't very happy with!)
Also He focuses a lot on John Lennon (sp...more
Furthermore, I found that Philip Norman didn't really have much good to say about any of them, it was putting them all in a bad light which made me sort of dislike them in the end. (Which I wasn't very happy with!)
Also He focuses a lot on John Lennon (sp...more
One of my favorite groups in music history and having written so many reports and papers on this band during school, I thought I had a good knowledge of the band, their background and music. I was introduced to pieces of information in the book that I did not know and it made this a great joy to read. A summer read, sitting around the pool and I played a ton of Beatles music as well. Gives a good, intimate chronicle of the individual lives and the band as a unit from their humble beginnings thro...more
I have read many, many bios of the Beatles. This one was one of my favourites of the bunch. What I mainly and positively remember from this book was the in-depth telling of the Beatles' early years, from forming the band, to the days in German night-clubs, which really made them the tight group they became. I read this book on my first overseas flight, on my way to live in London, and it kept me grounded on my first few weeks of culture-shock, whilst settling in. Who isn't comfortable with thos...more
I was never really into The Beatles until I took a class on British pop music and culture. This book is a detailed story of the members of The Beatles that is very interesting. I enjoyed learning of how they met and formed up, their travels and the behind the scenes information presented. I now have a couple Beatles albums and its nice to listen to them and know the origins of their music. Some of the book can be a little drab but the after a few chapters I was able to skip around and I could st...more
An engrossing read ( especially if one was listening simultaneously to the music), showing the band in all their naked glory and un-glory, with touches of humor and sorrow someone would readily expect from these guys. Very informative and entertaining—though some accounts are laden with elaborate prose that it’s quite obvious Norman had no direct attestation and, thus, had had to place his own interpretation of what he thought really happened.
Also, I wished he paid as much attention to Harrison...more
Also, I wished he paid as much attention to Harrison...more
This author really annoyed me for various reasons, but this book was okay for a basic intro to the Beatles' career. I didn't take most of what he said about Brian Epstein seriously, because he attributed absolutely everything Brian did to his being a closeted gay man. I also never got the feeling that he particularly LIKED the Beatles or their music at any point in the book, so it was kind of depressing.
Aug 15, 2007
Ben
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Beatle fans, those interested in the celebrity profiles or the consequences of pop culture
I can't imagine a better Beatles bigraphy. Written in a manner that would be compelling even if I weren't a Beatles fan. This book does a nice job of illustrating the changing psychological landscape of the fab four from within their curious percpective including intimate portrits of each band member as well as the necessary supporting characters (Epstien, Martin, Sutcliffe, Best, Allan Williams, Mal Evans). Ultimately, Norman captures the story from the eye of a storm that both permeated out fr...more
I am not a huge Beatles fan, but it was great to read about the times, the places, and what was going on in society at the time that helped these four young lads change pop culture forever. The seedy pubs, their personal struggles and their assault on the music charts single after single.... album after album. The Beatles were more than catchy pop songs they changed a generation.
Rather good book, and at times interesting. However it was overly long and overdone in factual nature - making up for his lack of access. Early years of the Beatles (pre-fame) took up over 2/3 book so the lack of author's knowledge of later period is very noticeable. Also a bit of a shame how obvious he was with the people he liked and didn't like! But overall an enjoyable read.
This book is the sorriest attempt at a definitive Beatles book I've read. At least he got one thing right, he did spell his name correctly on the front cover. However the title was not so lucky Shout! I'm sorry I think you meant S***!
Seriously Paul hates this book. He refers to it as s***. (Paul McCartney: A Life page 263) Yeah sure best and most definitive book ever, my a**.
Seriously Paul hates this book. He refers to it as s***. (Paul McCartney: A Life page 263) Yeah sure best and most definitive book ever, my a**.
Having come back and dipped into this book many years after first reading it, I'm struck by the poor quality of Philip Norman's writing. It seems to verge on tabloidese much of the time. He has a low opinion of everyone except Lennon. I shall reread in its entirety and see if my opinion changes. 'Revolution In The Head' is still the best Beatles book in my opinion.
I read this one ages ago, maybe 12 years or more ago. It's an older book, so I have no idea how "accurate" it is compared with later words that are more frank about the reality of the Beatles. I'm not sure when or if I'll reread. I did like Norman's more recent book on John, so maybe I'll reread at some point.
Feb 21, 2011
Angela Joyce
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Donal, Michael
Shelves:
biographies
Let me put it this way: If you're a John person, read and enjoy. If you're a George person, be prepared to feel a bit depressed. If you're a Ringo person (I raise my hand here), the little you'll see of him should not distress you overmuch, as he gets the last word and it's rather nice.
If, however, you are a Paul person... DON'T READ IT!
If, however, you are a Paul person... DON'T READ IT!
I really enjoyed this book. It's bent a bit more towards Lennon but the author admits that - everyone has a favorite Beatle. It covers everything from their humble beginnings and leads to the deaths of Lennon and Harrison. It's generally considered the best book on the Fab Four.
Not unlike his bio of Lennon, Norman tackles the subject with verve and fealty. he reveals a side of George I had never suspected. The book was also a lot softer on Paul than I had heard it would be. Still not as strong as his bio of Elton John.
Good book, however the author clearly plays favorites and emphasizes Lennon and Epstein, while he kind of villainizes McCartney. It comes off as childish and gets in the way of the history. Otherwise well written and comprehensive.
This was not as great as I had hoped. I was looking for something that was more about the interactions of the bandmates rather than an in depth look at the business side of the music industry. But pretty good nonetheless.
I recently re-read this Beatles biography. Norman is definitely a John fan and not a Paul fan, but this book is so well-done, it's a must-read for any Beatlemaniac. It reads like a novel.
I read this as a teenager. It had a different cover but was an early edition. This book got me interested in The Beatles and I wanted to buy every Beatles record as a result. Recommended.
Good for the time it was written, but now completely superceded by Bob Spitz's "The Beatles". Was a bit vague on some of the less flattering aspects of the band's history.
The first Beatles biography I ever read. At the time, it was THE Beatles biography. Great introduction to the group and their history, especially if you're a new fan.
Here's the thing - I'm a Beatles fan. A big one. So even if some of the book is confirmation of things I've previously read, I'm still going to enjoy it. Norman has great love for John Lennon (obviously, the man wrote a whole biography about him) and no love lost for Paul McCartney. But that's the nature of the Beatles. People are either Lennon fans or McCartney fans. Me? I'm a Harrison fan. And with the section added to cover the 2001 death of George, I found myself getting a little choked up....more
I started reading this for the musical side, but ended up enjoying even more the cultural side of this history. The 60s were so weird!
This was a long book. That's not to say it wasn't good. It was very enlightening. My opinions of each Beatle (except Ringo) has been altered some, and not for the better. My only criticism is the depth with which the author gets into some areas such as the financial side. It was interesting, but a little too detailed for my liking. I will say this is a must read for any Beatle fan.
A great starter book for those wanting to know the history of the world's biggest and most famous pop band.
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