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Clearly I’m biased, what with the book being about the album that introduced me to my favourite band, back when I was 11.
But… sue me. Rattle & Hum is a fantastic album, the movie has aged beautifully, and visually (and musically) it’s a feast. That book is packed with fantastic photos (colour and B&W, and wow do I love a grainy photo as it turns out!). A great resource of quotes from artists, musicians and tour/film technicians who were part of the tour. What a delightful find for a few quid on abebooks.
Critics panned U2 for preaching to the converted during this era and they hated the album, movie and this book. However, I was 16/17 around this time so my response was different. Coupled with "The Tube" on Channel 4, this book influenced me hugely. I went out and spent my pocket money on albums by Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Mahalia Jackson, John Lee Hooker, The London Community Gospel Choir to name but a few. That's just the music, they opened my eyes to many other things too. Re-reading it over 30 years later was very interesting for me, partly because I remembered so much from it. U2 are still hugely criticised, but I really don't mind. I just whisper to myself "They just don't get it."
U2 Rattle & Hum: The Official Book of The U2 Movie was released in support of the movie Rattle & Hum. Overall it is a nice pictorial look back at The Joshua Tree tour. It also contains a lot of technical information on the equipment, people, and the logistics responsible for pulling off one of the greatest tours to date. I just wish I could have been there.