David Bowie's top 100 must-read books

[Nigeyb]

You have probably seen this list before. It came out a few years before he died. So why do I post it again now? Well partly because it's quite an interesting list and might stimulate some discussion but also because his son, Duncan Jones, has set up an online club to read and discuss one book at a time. I'll say more about that in another post.



David Bowie's top 100 must-read books

The Age of American Unreason, Susan Jacoby (2008)
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz (2007)
The Coast of Utopia (trilogy), Tom Stoppard (2007)
Teenage: The Creation of Youth 1875-1945, Jon Savage (2007)
Fingersmith, Sarah Waters (2002)
The Trial of Henry Kissinger, Christopher Hitchens (2001)
Mr Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder, Lawrence Weschler (1997)
A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution 1890-1924, Orlando Figes (1997)
The Insult, Rupert Thomson (1996)
Wonder Boys, Michael Chabon (1995)
The Bird Artist, Howard Norman (1994)
Kafka Was the Rage: A Greenwich Village Memoir, Anatole Broyard (1993)
Beyond the Brillo Box: The Visual Arts in Post-Historical Perspective, Arthur C Danto (1992)
Sexual Personae: Art and Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson, Camille Paglia (1990)
David Bomberg, Richard Cork (1988)
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom, Peter Guralnick (1986)
The Songlines, Bruce Chatwin (1986)
Hawksmoor, Peter Ackroyd (1985)
Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music, Gerri Hirshey (1984)
Nights at the Circus, Angela Carter (1984)
Money, Martin Amis (1984)
White Noise, Don DeLillo (1984)
Flaubert's Parrot, Julian Barnes (1984)
The Life and Times of Little Richard, Charles White (1984)
A People's History of the United States, Howard Zinn (1980)
A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole (1980)
Interviews with Francis Bacon, David Sylvester (1980)
Darkness at Noon, Arthur Koestler (1980)
Earthly Powers, Anthony Burgess (1980)
Raw, a "graphix magazine" (1980-91)
Viz, magazine (1979 –)
The Gnostic Gospels, Elaine Pagels (1979)
Metropolitan Life, Fran Lebowitz (1978)
In Between the Sheets, Ian McEwan (1978)
Writers at Work: The Paris Review Interviews, ed Malcolm Cowley (1977)
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, Julian Jaynes (1976)
Tales of Beatnik Glory, Ed Saunders (1975)
Mystery Train, Greil Marcus (1975)
Selected Poems, Frank O'Hara (1974)
Before the Deluge: A Portrait of Berlin in the 1920s, Otto Friedrich (1972)
n Bluebeard's Castle: Some Notes Towards the Re-definition of Culture, George Steiner (1971) Octobriana and the Russian Underground, Peter Sadecky (1971)
The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll, Charlie Gillett(1970)
The Quest for Christa T, Christa Wolf (1968)
Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock, Nik Cohn (1968)
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov (1967)
Journey into the Whirlwind, Eugenia Ginzburg (1967)
Last Exit to Brooklyn, Hubert Selby Jr (1966)
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote (1965)
City of Night, John Rechy (1965)
Herzog, Saul Bellow (1964)
Puckoon, Spike Milligan (1963)
The American Way of Death, Jessica Mitford (1963)
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea, Yukio Mishima (1963)
The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin (1963)
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess (1962)
Inside the Whale and Other Essays, George Orwell (1962)
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark (1961)
Private Eye, magazine (1961 –)
On Having No Head: Zen and the Rediscovery of the Obvious, Douglas Harding (1961)
Silence: Lectures and Writing, John Cage (1961)
Strange People, Frank Edwards (1961)
The Divided Self, RD Laing (1960)
All the Emperor's Horses, David Kidd (1960)
Billy Liar, Keith Waterhouse (1959)
The Leopard, Giuseppe di Lampedusa (1958)
On the Road, Jack Kerouac (1957)
The Hidden Persuaders, Vance Packard (1957)
Room at the Top, John Braine (1957)
A Grave for a Dolphin, Alberto Denti di Pirajno (1956)
The Outsider, Colin Wilson (1956)
Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov (1955)
Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell (1949)
The Street, Ann Petry (1946)
Black Boy, Richard Wright (1945)

What do we make of it then?

The reading list, with books presented in chronological order rather than order of preference, provides Ontario with a new angle. American classics of the 50s and 60s are strongly represented – On the Road byJack Kerouac, Truman Capote's In Cold Blood – as are tales of working-class boys made good, which emerged in the postwar years: Keith Waterhouse's Billy Liar and Room at the Top by John Braine, and The Outsider by Colin Wilson, a study of creativity and the mindset of misfits.RD Laing's The Divided Self speaks to a fascination with psychotherapy and creativity, as does The Origin of Consciousness in the breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, by Julian Jaynes. There is no evidence that Bowie's scientific inquries extend beyond psychology – Stephen Hawking's cosmic theories are out – but his tastes are otherwise broad.

Political history features, in titles such as Christopher Hitchens' The Trial of Henry Kissinger, and Orlando Figes' A People's Tragedy, as well as collections of interviews.

A broad taste for fiction emerges, too, from early Ian McEwan (In Between the Sheets) and Martin Amis's definitive 1980s novel, Money, to 21st-century fictions such as Sarah Waters' Fingersmith and Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.

He also displays a penchant for irreverent humour, with the inclusion of Spike Milligan's comic novel Puckoon, and the entire oeuvres of Viz andPrivate Eye.

And, of course, there's music – with soul music especially prominent. Bowie selects Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom by Peter Guralnick, and Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music by Gerri Hirshey, as well as Charlie Gillett's The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll.

More info and article here.

[Nigeyb]

David Bowie's son Duncan Jones has started an online book club featuring the literature beloved by his late father.

In 2013 Bowie's official website revealed his personal "Top 100 Books", which included works such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Waste Land by T.S Eliot and Don DeLillo's White Noise.

Jones, the director of films including Moon and Warcraft, tweeted before confirming his plan: "My dad was a beast of a reader. One of his true loves was Peter Ackroyd's sojourns into the history of Britain and its cities. I've been feeling a building sense of duty to go on the same literary marathon in tribute to dad. Time allowing."

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...

[Nigeyb]

Duncan Jones on Twitter in late Dec 2017....


Alright gang! Anyone who wants to join along, we are reading Peter Ackroyd’s “Hawksmoor” as an amuse cerveau before we get into the heavy stuff.

You have until Feb 1. ❤️

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 27, 2017

[Nigeyb]

I am not sure to what extent this is related but....


Bowie Bookclub
@bowiebookpod

A podcast full of wild speculation about David Bowie & his favorite books.

bowiebookclub.com

[Susan]

I haven't read that many of the books included in his list - possibly about ten of them. Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock was one of the first, general, books of rock history that I read though.

[Nigeyb]

I've read these ones....


Mystery Train, Greil Marcus (1975)
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz (2007)
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess (1962)
On the Road, Jack Kerouac (1957)
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark (1961)
Money, Martin Amis (1984)
Last Exit to Brooklyn, Hubert Selby Jr (1966)
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote (1965)
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov (1967)
Billy Liar, Keith Waterhouse (1959)
Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov (1955)
Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell (1949)
A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole (1980)
Viz, magazine (1979 –)
In Between the Sheets, Ian McEwan (1978)

15 in total - probably could have added Private Eye mag too though it's only ever been sporadic. Viz is an interesting choice. To varying degrees I have enjoyed all of the ones that I have read above. It gives me confidence that I'd probably enjoy the rest.

I would be especially keen to read these ones, on the basis I have read other titles by the same authors and I enjoyed them...

Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock, Nik Cohn (1968)
Teenage: The Creation of Youth 1875-1945, Jon Savage (2007)
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom, Peter Guralnick (1986)
Inside the Whale and Other Essays, George Orwell (1962)
Hawksmoor, Peter Ackroyd (1985)
Interviews with Francis Bacon, David Sylvester (1980)

And of course, currently reading with RTTC...

Room at the Top by John Braine

...and loving it, loving it, loving it

[Patrick]

Bowie was a man of acute taste and sensibility. This was not unusual among the first generation of British rockers, many of whom attended art schools and were well-schooled in cultural trends. Bowie himself studied art and design at Bromley Technical High School.

His book list is tremendous.

[Susan]

Actually, going through the list properly, I find I've read less than I thought.

Patrick, you are right in saying so many early British musicians went to art school. Was he a first generation British rocker though? He was around in the Sixties, I know, but not really successful until a little later.

A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution 1890-1924, Orlando Figes (1997)
Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock, Nik Cohn (1968)
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote (1965)
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark (1961)
On the Road, Jack Kerouac (1957)
Room at the Top, John Braine (1957)
Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell (1949)

[Hugh]

I have read 14 of them. All of them are novels...

[Patrick]

He was born in 1947 and released his first single in 1964. Four years younger than Mick Jagger, five years younger than Paul McCartney. So yes I think he is first generation, although his success is associated with the Seventies.

[Jan C]

I've read four and have three others.

[Nigeyb]

Patrick wrote: "Bowie was a man of acute taste and sensibility"


Patrick wrote: "His book list is tremendous"

Patrick wrote: "His success is associated with the Seventies"

Yes, yes, and yes.

[Judy]

I haven't read very many, but there are another 3 or 4 that I am not sure whether I've read or not! These are my definites:

Fingersmith, Sarah Waters (2002)
Wonder Boys, Michael Chabon (1995)
Hawksmoor, Peter Ackroyd (1985
Nights at the Circus, Angela Carter (1984)
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov (1967)
Inside the Whale and Other Essays, George Orwell (1962)
Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell (1949)

[Cordelia]

Yes. I will read Hawksmoor. But not sure when. Just reserved it from library. Am 8th on list - they only have 1 copy. Will just wait patiently

[Susan]

I don't feel inclined to read any more Peter Ackroyd (he's a bit hit and miss in my opinion), but anything that encourages reading is a good thing!

[Nigeyb]

I've only read one Peter Ackroyd book - Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem - which was very powerful and well written. I recommend it.

[Judy]

I liked Hawksmoor but don't remember it in great detail and have read a few other books by him - I've been meaning to read the Dan Leno one for ages. Has anyone seen the new film of it with Bill Nighy? I have seen trailers but wondered if the film would be too gory for me.

[Hugh]

I read Hawksmoor years ago and from what I remember I found it interesting, if a rather odd mixture of genres. Also read The Fall of Troy but have not been tempted to revisit Ackroyd since.

[Hugh]

The one book on the list I would have no hesitation with agreeing on is The Master and Margarita

[CQM]

There's not a great deal there that blows my mind but the simple fact that Viz is on the list wins me over. Nice to see him reading Keaton by Rudi Blesh in the accompanying picture too.

[Hugh]

My count is 16 if you include a few editions of Viz and Private Eye - I don't believe Bowie or anyone else read all of them...

[Susan]

Not that many female authors either. Were I to list my top 100 books, I suspect I would have more female than male authors, but it would be interesting to list them and see.

[Hugh]

Susan wrote: "Not that many female authors either. Were I to list my top 100 books, I suspect I would have more female than male authors, but it would be interesting to list them and see."

That is a common fault of such lists. I have been trying to read equal numbers of male and female writers over the last few years and it is difficult due to peer pressure - group reads tend to mean the men sit on the shelf for much longer!

[Nigeyb]

The male/female split is interesting. Like Hugh, I make a conscious effort to read female writers however, try as I might, my natural inclination and preferences lead me to male writers. I am sure that the opposite is true for a lot of women.

That's why, when I discover a female writer I enjoy, I tend to aim to read all of their work (e.g. Cathi Unsworth, Muriel Spark, Sarah Waters).

EDIT: I just realised that, iInterestingly, 2/3 of my examples are in David's list

[Nigeyb]

Judy wrote: "I've been meaning to read the Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem one for ages. Has anyone seen the new film of it with Bill Nighy? I have seen trailers but wondered if the film would be too gory for me."

I've not seen the film yet, however can confirm that the book is ridiculously gory. It does have a great plot though and is wonderfully immersive

[Pamela]

I tend to read and enjoy more male authors actually. I don't know why, maybe I just pick up the wrong female authors for me (Virginia Woolf, Elena Ferrante for example). Crime is the exception, where I've liked the work of male and female authors pretty equally.

[Nigeyb]

That's a good point about the Crime genre Pamela. I agree. It makes me wonder why that should be. Perhaps everyone is, to one degree or another, fascinated by crime.

[Emma]

I've only read three- think i've got some work to do.. A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924 is actually on my list for this year so that'll be one more.

Saying that, i'm not as interested in any of the music ones and I struggled with On the Road/In cold blood/A Clockwork Orange.


And it's a very white/male list...

[Roman Clodia]

10 for me - which surprised me as I didn't expect even that overlap in reading tastes.

I'm not conscious of preferring male or female writers simply based on gender, but was surprised that when I selected my favourite authors here on my profile that so many C20th-C21st favourites turned out to be women.

[Nigeyb]

Emma wrote: "it's a very white/male list..."


True - only 13 females in the 100. Not sure how many non-Caucasians - not many....

However, what also strikes me about this list, is that it is quite global - and it is extremely diverse in terms of type of book, subject matter etc, which supports what we know about David's innate curiosity and plethora of interests.

He was also an autodidact - leaving Bromley Technical High School. at age 16.

I should mention I have been a massive fan since seeing the iconic Starman performance on Top of the Pops age 12. He saw me through my adolescence and I feel I learnt a great deal from him and his example. And yep, I'm still not over his death.

Anyway, David's list has sparked a bit of discussion - which is what I hoped would happen

May the debate continue to rage

[Susan]

I had a quick look at the books I read last year and I would say that I read about two thirds female authors and one third male.

[Nigeyb]

I would guess I am the opposite Susan - about two thirds male authors and one third female.

[Susan]

I thought I would be about 50-50, so it surprised me a little.

[Michael]

Why are we surprised by the gender of the authors we read?
If you believe that either by nature or nurture men and women have a different physical, intellectual and emotional responses to given situations.
Then the type of genre of literature we read may be also determined by subject matter and if our gender is a factor then similarly if you want to write a book the subject matter will be something which you find interesting or are drawn to.
Just a thought.

[Bronwyn]

I haven't read many, though a number of others are on my to-read list. I've read:
The Age of American Unreason, Susan Jacoby (2008)
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz (2007)
A People's History of the United States, Howard Zinn (1980)
The American Way of Death, Jessica Mitford (1963)
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess (1962)
Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov (1955)
Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell (1949)

On the male/female authors thing, the last two years I've read 58% male, 42% female (I track). I've been trying to read more women (though not terribly consciously. I read what I read), but I seem stuck there. Another one I keep track of is fiction/non-fiction. Two years ago I read mostly fiction, last year mostly non-fiction. So far this year I'm reading more fiction, but I'm only 2 books (and one kid's book) in.