Genres Books

Who is Bob Dylan? None of the biographies I've read - Sounes, Heylin, Scaduto, and a short book by Toby Thompson (1971) - are by people that really knew him. Shelton is the New York Times reviewer who heard Dylan play in a Greenwich Village coffee house not too long after he came to NY and wrote a very promising review about him, which helped him on his way... Shelton also got to know him, spent time with him, and was able to piece many things together and interview people that were not mentioned in the other books. The interviews and stories are interesting and informative, fill in gaps left by the other books, and we get more of a feeling of Dylan, especially before he came to NY and as he was developing. This is a very well written book. Fans will like it a lot.

It was, to me, the best biography of Bob Dylan. Very good writing, never boring or exhaustive with details or ponderings.

. . .start (of course) with the albums, of course, especially "Freewheelin'," "Highway 61 Revisited," "Blonde on Blonde," and "John Wesley Harding," "Basement Tapes," "Blood on the Tracks," "Bootleg Series Vol 4," and maybe "World Gone Wrong." Then check out "Don't Look Back" on DVD. Shelton's book has a lot of great information about Dylan, but it's not the best organized or most concise biography you'll ever come across (maybe it's the editor who worked on the book's fault [?]). It's also now a bit dated, published in 1986. Clinton Heylin's "Man Behind the Shades" (1991) and Howard Sounes' "Down the Highway" (2001) are both more up-to-date and easier reads. Greil Marcus' "Invisible Republic" (1997)does a better job of placing Dylan's music in a historical context. "No Direction Home" is a sprawling collection of interview excepts, biography, oral history, the author's personal recollections of Dylan, musicology, and literary criticism that never really connects the dots, but there is a lot of great information for the experienced or semi-experienced Dylan enthusiast to wade through

Expertly written by Robert Shelton (the New York Times music and popular culture reviewer generally credited for "discovering" Dylan in 1961), No Direction Home: The Life And Music Of Bob Dylan is a faithful and definitive biography of the talented artist and his unforgettable music. An extensively detailed chronicle which explores all sides and aspects of a cherished and popular figure in American music, No Direction Home is a welcome addition to 20th Century Music History Studies collections and "must" reading for all Bob Dylan fans.

Whether or not this is the BEST Dylan biography is hard to say, there are millions of them out there...certainly it has to be the best-researched, and one of the most heartfelt; Shelton gave Dylan his first great review, "discovered" him, in effect, and though he critically assesses Dylan's subsequent works there's never a doubt that he's Dylan's biggest fan. A midnight conversation on a private jet between Shelton and Dylan in the mid-60's is the best thing in the book, fascinating reading...but there is such a concept as too much of a good thing, and the minutae Shelton indulges in gets tiring. He apparently went to every concert and every party Dylan did, and his insistence on inserting himself into the scene makes me wonder about his objectivity. Maybe Shelton thought he was one of the new journalists. I don't know. But less Shelton would've been helpful. Also, Shelton insists on punctuating almost every paragraph with a hidden line from one of Dylan's songs; for awhile it's clever, but it gets old fast.
The book was out of print for a long time, and that's too bad. I hope it stays in print. It's incredibly packed with facts and interpretations and long quotes both from Dylan and those close to him. It's just TOO MUCH, that's all. But good. A worthy biography of the most potent force in popular music since Sinatra. How's that for a name out of left field?

E.W. Bullinger was a genius and I think every Pastor and Sunday School Teacher should have a copy of this book. It is somewhat technical reading but very interesting to see how numbers are so important in the Bible.

EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO READ/LEARN THE 'SECRET' GOSPEL
HIDDEN IN THE NUMBERS..........THIS BOOK IS THE BEST WRITTEN ON THAT SUBJECT.

"As for God His WAY is perfect" (PS.xviii.30). "The Law of the Lord is perfect" (Ps. xix. 7). "They are both perfect in power, perfect in holiness and righteousness, perfect in design, perfect in execution, perfect in thier object and end, and, may we not say, perfect in number."
E.W. Bullinger

It makes since does it not? If the words that God uses are perfect then why not the numbers? Thus, we have this monumental study by E.W. Bullinger. This book is broken into two sections, the first section examines the supernatural design of the Bible. The second section examines the spiritual significance of numbers. However, this book isn't just about numbers, it is an example of the beautiful accuracy and the infallability of God's perfect Word. The Bible flows in perfect harmony from the beginning to the end. After reading this book, never will you view the Bible as nothing more then just an "Old Book" written by religious zealots that collects dust on your bookshelf. Nor will you view the Bible as having no relevance in today's "modern" world. You will begin to see it as it really is, and that is, PERFECT!!!

God Bless ya!

IT WAS GREAT, I LEARNED A LOT. IT POINTS OUT THINGS WE NEVER THINK ABOUT.

This book was instrumental in understanding numbers as they apply to spiritual significance. God unfolded a story in my life and numbers were His way of communicating timing. This book helped me to understand God's numbers. A friend of mine ordered the book for me. I had shared with him numbers and timing that were being revealed. My friend stated the moment he took the book in his hands from the sales clerk who handed it to him, he heard the words "that's Lavon's book." This book does not read as a novel. It took me a couple of readings of different passage to understand its depth. I think the book is wonderful in that it reveals God's order and preciseness. This book was instrumental in my writing my book, thus it was "Lavon's book."

Old Mother West Wind was a gift for grandmother, who read her children stories from this series when we were young. Happy stories and illustrations for young elementary children. Good entertainment, useful for K-3 school. Loved it!

These stories were first told to his own children by Thornton Burgess. Then they were read to me by my mother over 60 years ago. They were long out of print when my own children were of the right age but they are back for my grandchildren. They are highly recommended.

This book was a gift to my 6 year-old grandson. He loves it; both the stories and the pictures. This is a book my mother read to me when I was little boy. My favorite character was Bobby Coon.

Thornton Burgess was a naturalist and the stories of animals in Old Mother West Wind are wonderful. The characters attitudes and behaviors are true to the animal portrayed. A wonderful way to get acquainted with nature. Perfect book for an adult to read to a younger child.

A book of short stories about animals who talk, _Old Mother West Wind_ is enjoyable for a child of about five years to about eight as a read aloud (or older, if your child isn't terribly worldly.) These short tales often attempt to explain "how", as in how the skunk got his stripe, and have, in addition to the animals, characters such as Mother Nature and the Merry Little Breezes.

Many of these stories attempt to teach a moral, though often it is not obvious due to the author's skill. These are old stories and they reflect the values of the time they were written in. My ADHD eleven year old read the book himself and enjoyed it and is looking forward to the sequel.

Here are the stories included:

1) Mrs. Redwing's Speckled Egg - Mrs. Redwing has just laid a beautiful new egg and the Merry Little Breezes must help keep it safe from Tommy Brown.

2) How Reddy Fox Was Surprised - When Johnny Chuck wanders too far from home, Reddy Fox decides to play a trick on him. But the joke's on Reddy Fox.

3) Why Grandfather Frog Has No Tail - Grandfather Frog tells the Merry Little Breezes why Mother Nature took away all frogs' tails.

4) Why Jimmy Skunk Wears Stripes - When Mrs. Ruffed Grouse's eggs are destroyed by "a pair of eyes," the whole forest seeks the culprit. When Jimmy Skunk is found out, his days of night camouflage are over. (This was my son's favorite.)

5) The Willful Little Breeze - When one of the Merry Little Breezes stays in the Green Meadow after Old Mother West Wind has gone home behind the Purple Hills, he foils Hooty the Owl and Reddy Fox's plans to eat Mr. Bob White and his family.

6) Reddy Fox Goes Fishing - While Reddy Fox sleeps, he dreams he can fish as well as Billy Mink, but Reddy Fox just ends up all wet.

7) Jimmy Skunk Looks for Beetles - As Jimmy Skunk looks for beetles, he doesn't make any friends, but is rather selfish and destructive. However, the adventure really starts when Peter Rabbit decides to help.

8) Billy Mink's Swimming Party - Billy Mink invites Jerry Muskrat and Little Joe Otter to a swimming party at the Smiling Pool.

9) Peter Rabbit Plays a Joke - When Peter Rabbit tries to play a joke on Johnny Chuck and Reddy Fox, the joke back-fires.

10) How Sammy Jay Was Found Out - When Happy Jack's store of nuts disappears, Old Mother West Wind forms a committee of the whole to solve the mystery.

11) Jerry Muskrat's Party - When Jerry Muskrat throws a swim party, many of his guests aren't having any fun. Then, Little Joe Otter comes up with an idea that saves the party.

12) Johnny Chuck Finds the Best Thing in the World - When Striped Chipmunk hears Old Mother West Wind tell the Slender Fir Tree that she's found the Best Thing in the World, everyone starts to search for it--and everyone imagines it as something different.

13) Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox Play Tricks - When Bobby Coon and Reddy Fox trap Johnny Chuck inside his home, Jimmy Skunk helps Johnny Chuck surprise the two of them.

14) The Tale of Tommy Trout, Who Didn't Mind - Though Tommy Trout's mother tried to warn him of the dangers outside of their little pool, Tommy Trout didn't listen.

15) Little Joe Otter's Slippery Slide - When Little Joe Otter, Billy Mink, and Jerry Muskrat build a mud slide on the bank of the Smiling Pool, Peter Rabbit's curiosity gets the best of him.

16) Spotty the Turtle Wins a Race - When Peter Rabbit, Reddy Fox, and Billy Mink decide to race to see who's fastest, Peter Rabbit teases Spotty the Turtle that he should join. Spotty the Turtle does, and uses his mind to win the race.

The book kept me in suspense and could hardly put the book down. I look forward to more books in this series.

I was so excited when I got theis book. It is so well written. I couldnt put it down. Everyone should read it.

Just like the previous reader, I couldn't put the book down! It was such a wonderful story I only wished that I had read the first two novels! I'm a first time reader to author Jannette Oke and I'm happy that found her! It was wonderfully written and very warming to the heart. I was glad to see Virginia's strength renewed during her toughest times. May God continue to bless Mrs. Oke.

I loved the first two books, but this one is the best yet! Virgina has now grown up. At first I was sad that her teen-years adventures were over, but reading about her as an adult has been thrilling. So many things, including an abused child, her own children, a husband, struggles, and her grandmother, happen to her. Through the whole thing she realizes that her relationship with Christ is not what it should be. I think that this book has a great value to it!

Virginia is so anxious to be married to Jonathan that she does not fully count the cost. When reality hits her, she is angry and disallusioned. Her home is finally built and just as life looks promising, an old friend drops in and with her a little waif daughter who ends up being Virginia and Jonathan's. Raising horses is risky and not without long hours - again leaving Virginia to fret. With a baby on the way and an wounded child to heal, horses take priority and Virginia loses her perspective on what is really important. The last straw is when Grandmother breaks her leg and must come live with them. Virginia is ready to throw in the towel when she allows God to speak to her heart and she finally listens. She is able to sort between fact and fantasy, romance and committment and wakes to the real reason for being a family. She is changed forever. Another Janette Oke thriller. Off to book 4!

Fantastic insight into a great band. The book is very well put together. Brilliant job Marc!

This book is a must have for every Guns N' Roses fan. It has a LOT of pictures from the early days of the band. It also has testimonies, some transcriptions of spoken words of AXL during performances and short interviews, among other valuable information regarding the first steps of GNR towards Appetite for Destruction. It would defenitely be great to have a second part to this book, focusing on the peak years on the USE YOUR ILLUSION tour and, why not?, the last years of ths fabulous band. This book offers web access to more photographic material, so don't hesitate and order it now!

Hola soy de argentina, y pedi el mejor libro que hay sobre la ultima gran banda de rock del mundo...

Guns n' Roses for ever!!!!

This book rocks. It's kind of hard to follow at first, but once you get into it, there is a lot of good info, i had no clue about. Pictures are awesome. Fast delievery time and book is in excellent condition. LOVE IT!!!!

It shouldn't be that hard to document what was the GREATEST rock and roll band of all time, but Reckless Road documents Guns N' Roses before they were household names, and before the rest of the world recognized their greatness. This book is a MUST own for all rock fans, not to mention GNR fans. The interviews contained in the book add substance to a book already chock full of character and everything that was right with rock and roll back in the day. Add in the book's companion, 'enhanced online edition', and the reader has access to everything he could ever want concerning Guns pre-Appetite For Destruction. A must own for all fans of GNR who want to witness firsthand, via pictorials, the evolution of the greatest rock-and-roll band of all time!

Nice, solid mystery for kids, with lots of action, and a couple of great nod-nod-wink-wink bits that readers will love!

I read this book after Mr. Hale spoke at our library last year. Even if you don't like soccer, you'll still love Red Card. It has action and adventure, and it's a really good mystery. I didn't figure it out until the end...

My wife and I always check out the books we give our boys (ages 8 and 10). We grew up on the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, and we loved the pleasure those books brought us. Until recently, we'd been unable to find anything new on the market in the way of great mystery/adventure fiction. You know what I mean - pure, unadulterated, fast-paced fun. There are a lot of books out there about kids with "issues", which is fine - they're certainly needed. But if alot of the kids today are anything like my wife and I were when we were young, then there's a need for a modern Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew.

We'd all but given up on finding anything like that, until I noticed a teaser on an uncle/nephew mystery writing team in last week's Apple eNews email from Apple Computer. I checked out the full story on Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LaBrot on Apple.com's Pro site. I was intrigued. I ordered both books in the Zeke Armstrong series. I read both Red Card and Green Streak in a single day (when I should have been making sales calls). They blew me away. They took me back to my youth. I gave the books to my wife. She stayed up until 3 AM reading them. They blew her away. They took her back to her youth. We gave them to our boys. They devoured them. For the past two days, all they've been able to talk about is Zeke and Pow Wow, Zeke and Pow Wow, Zeke and Pow Wow. My wife and I have never seen them so excited about books.

At last! In Zeke Armstrong, we have a worthy successor to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Thanks to Apple Computer for bringing him to our attention.

Okay, I got into the Zeke Armstrong Mystery series backward. I read Green Streak first. I loved it. My ten year old son loved it. I ordered Red Card and received it yesterday morning. Like with Green Streak, once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I had it finished by the time my son came home from school. He picked it up and kept reading until HE finished it. We both understand why this book won the Agatha Award, and we expect Green Streak to win even more awards. Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LaBrot have definitely got something going with the Zeke Armstrong Mystery series.

Mr. Hale came to our school to tell us about this book. I reccomend it to anybody who likes mysteries. I don't really like soccer, but I still give this book two thumbs up

If cars, rock-n-roll,and the birth of those two cultures even slightly interests you, this is the book for you! The author, who also put out another great book, art of modern rock, really shows just how much rock-n-roll and the car culture have been intertwined since the birth of rock-n-roll to the present time.

I'm not a huge fan of coffeetable books. They always seem to have an air of pretension about them (or I do ha ha), but "Rockin Down The Highway" does NOT come across that way. It's packed full of cool photos and info that draws you in and doesn't leave you feeling like an outsider. Even you're not a fan of rock music and hot rod cars, this is a great book to while away the time with...and maybe have a cup of coffee while you're at it.

Awesome book. It's about time that someone wrote about the marriage between music and cars and the people that drove them. This author really did his homework. I've done my share of reading about cars but there are photos in there that I've never seen.
Worth every dime.

Rock `n' roll is cool music, of that we can have no doubt. From Chuck Berry and Elvis, to the newest stars of 2006, rock n roll does, in fact, appear to be "here to stay." And cars have been a big part of rock since the early days. Whether you were revving up your Little Deuce Coupe, if you were Born to Run, or Born to Be Wild, or just roaring down the road in your Little Red Corvette, the cars have been there all along.

Paul Grushkin's book, Rockin Down the Highway celebrates this marriage of cool with photos, stories, cartoons, art and much more, bringing cars and rock together in a big, very attractive package. The book is as fun to read as it is to look at, with all varieties of entertaining anecdotes and tidbits from Mr. Grushkin and other contributors, ranging from well-known rockers and rock writers to ordinary rock fans recounting the pleasure of the open road, stereo blasting out their favorite tunes.

This is a big, lovely style book, lavishly illustrated and beautifully composed. It would go beautifully on the coffee table of any rock fan!

There are plenty of books on automobile history and culture and plenty on music history, but what makes Rockin' Down the Highway: The Cars and People That Made Rock Roll an impressive study is not just an oversized format which packs in color photos on every page - some 1,000 of them - but an attention to surveying the connections between cars and rock music. It's the first illustrated, book-length history of the topic and includes many photos not previously seen in print, coming from a notable rock historian who uses posters, photos, ads, album covers and more in the process of analyzing the attraction of fast cars and fast music to a teen audience. An outstanding, sweeping presentation which will prove a 'must' for any comprehensive rock library collection.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

WOW, WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO GO BACK IN TIME W/ THE VAN HALEN BOYS...ESPECIALLY DAVE, CUZ W/O HIM THERE IS NO VAN HALEN!!!!! IF YOU LOVE VAN HALEN, YOU NUST MUST MUST BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

I remember hearing the first track of VH 1 when it was released,
bringing with it chills up the spine and jaw dropped.
This book brings you in a time warp to witness rock history, and
realize - in case you didn't - that Van Halen dropped a bomb on
the music scene. Not only a revolutionary guitar god, but songs
and live performances that rose light years beyond what was coming out
of the U.S.A. at the time. The kind we won't see again, either.

The photos, by a master of R&R photography, look like they were taken
yesterday. Crisp, clear and a great mix of group shots and live. The
backstage pics of Eddie preparing his axe arsenal, for example, are priceless; Alex behind one of his monster drum kits.

And yes, it appropriately culminates with 1984 - got a problem with that?

Felt like I was back in high school, as I flipped through this book about the Rock God's -- Van Halen. Finally a Van Halen book worth looking at. Beautiful book about the Greatest Rock Band and Guitarist of all time.

This is a big, good quality hardcover book. Mostly full of pictures, hence the title. The pictures are excellent quality, and I couldn't stop from looking through them. There are also many quotes and stories from other musicians and coworkers. Very interesting. I bought this book as a gift for a huge Eddie fan, and I'm sure he'll display it proudly on his coffee table... I know I would.

It's an amazing visual history of the band we all grew up listening to. I'm very happy that I bought it.

This is my first book but his author and i truly enjoyed it!!! I loved the main character "Sweetie". She represents the pride, confidence and strength that any woman should have, and represents for the thick girls!!! She not only did her thing in the boardroom, but she knew how to break her man down in the bedroom as well. There are plenty of steamy love scenes, and lots of drama to go with it. Between her meddling mother, absent father, overprotective brothers, somewhat trifling homegirl, new (and fine!!) man and his meddling mother, this lady deos her thing and handles it all like a true sistah!! I suggest anyone who loves a great story, should definitely read this one!!!

This was my first book by this author. I read the reviews and wanted to see what this book was about for myself. Let me say that I was impressed. I read the book in six hours! (Yes I am a fast reader.)

The two lead characters (Sweetie and Gabriel) were great. Sweetie wasn't your typical thin woman with a long lustrious mane (weave) flowing down her back (That would be Tess). That was a breath of fresh air. Sweetie had her insecurity issues which by the time the book ended she was working to overcome. Gabriel was a good match for her. (Good looking, successful, and not shallow). He fell in love with her before he actually saw her.

The secondary characters, Tess and Missy (with their drama) had me rolling and yes tearing in spots. But there was a bigger issue in the book that with the light of things portraying in the Media right now, helped showed the ugliness of Domestic Violence and what it actually can do to a person. (Physical abuse is one thing but the mental abuse is layers of pain that sometime is hard to recover from.)

Yes, I will be picking up other copies of Ms. King-bey's books.

This book was burning up the pages! I couldn't put it down it was just that good. Monica "Sweetie" Fuller shares steamy sex talk with Gabriel Windahl. Gabriel decides he must meet Sweetie so he surprises her but meets her best friend Tess who is the skinny, ditzy but lovable best friend of Sweetie. Caught off guard and afraid to hurt her feelings he tries to cover up his surprise at seeing Tess who acts like Sweetie because Sweetie believes Gabriel wants the skinny chick. But when Gabriel meets Sweetie "sparks fly" and he can't help but fall in love with Sweetie because she's confident, intelligent, and sensual. Sweetie exudes sexuality with her talk and her walk. This book was great! Tess and James' story was sweet and cute and steamy hot. Missy was fierce! Zack was adorable and devoted to Sweetie - I liked him! This one is a keeper and I will looking for more books like this!

Monica "Sweetie" Fuller is a successful business woman who has been celibate for awhile. Of course, on occasion she feels the pang of sexual need which she satisfies with her "toys" for adults only. Sweetie was fine with being celibate until she heard a voice, dipped in honey and oh so arousing from business owner Gabriel Windahl. His voice inspired all sorts of needs and wants in Sweetie that she never thought she would feel again after her heart was broken. He is a man that Sweetie feels safe with. After all, Gabriel is not even in the same area as Sweetie in fact he is very far away from her. Sweetie has no problem speaking to him in their own special code during office hours. When Gabriel phones her cell one night their conversations lead their business relationship into a new direction.

Gabriel Windahl has built a successful career for himself. He has it all from success to fame and then some but he has searched for a woman to fulfill his every need. Gabriel thinks he has found the perfect woman in Monica Fuller based on their conversations and a fleeting description given by her. Now all he needs is for the two of them to meet to officially declare themselves a couple. Since Monica decides not to travel to meet him for business, Gabriel makes the decision to visit her on her own turf. He thinks she will better receive him if it is on her terms. Will Gabriel be impressed with the woman he meets or will he head back home with his tail in between his legs in defeat?

Whisper Something Sweet by Deatri King-Bey is a deliciously sweet read! With characters like Gabriel and Sweetie heating up the pages what more can you ask for? The bond between these two characters lets reads see that love could possibly conquer all if given a far chance. This book deals with serious issues of physical abuse, a child's issues with a parent, and one's own self worth. King-Bey articulates herself superbly through these characters while conveying emotions that are reminiscent to real-life issues. On top of all those things, Whisper Something Sweet is a romance that is heart-warming and most definitely enduring. This is sticky, sweet, and sensual read that I recommend for romance lovers.

Reviewer Chantay W.
APOOO BookClub

In "Whisper Something Sweet", Mrs. Deatri King-Bey has spun a highly erotic romance for our reading pleasure. This is the third novel I've read by Mrs. King-Bey, and although it's not my favorite, it was still an enjoyable read. "Whisper Something Sweet" is definitely a grab your attention mixture of romance, suspense, some intense & steamy love scenes, not too mention the many real life issues thrown in the mix such as physical abuse, drug dealing, absentee father, overbearing mothers, etc... The characters are well developed and quite memorable. The storyline flows smoothly. And with all the drama in this novel you couldn't possibly get bored. You will find yourself on one heck of an entertaining ride! It will have you LOL, shedding a few tears and then saying, Oh, My..., throughout. This novel gives you not one but two, whirlwind romances. Gabriel and Sweetie's fast-paced love affair kept the pages sizzlin' and then add the fire between Tess and James, it's a miracle the book didn't burst in to flames with all the fiery passion flowing throughout. Gabriel and Sweetie had a very special bond, I enjoyed their relationship. And I love the fact that Mrs. King-Bey made Sweetie a "plus-size" woman, with loads of confidence, charm, class and independence. Gabriel was definitely a handsome, protective, want-to-take charge, but willing to let his lady lead, got it goin'on kind of guy. "Whisper Something Sweet" was a deliciously sweet read!

This is an important and in many ways excellent book by Charles Rosen, who has also written other fine books. Rosen explains how the 18th-century sonata form was a logical extension and elaboration of what had come before and of what was inherent in traditional tonality. He shows that Romanticism wasn't a further development of the same principle, but rather a gradual dissolution. Rosen gives a scientific explanation of how traditional tonality itself is natural, grounded in physics. The implications of all this are clear enough. It's no accident that Beethoven was generally thought of as the greatest of all composers, until relatively recently (now it's not acceptable to think that anybody was greater than anybody else).

The anonymous reviewer from July 3, 1999 talks about sloppy thinking, while himself indulging in straw men, ad hominem, and plain deception. The reviewer gives a single quoted example of Rosen's allegedly sweeping statements, and this quote is of course taken out of context and isn't even Rosen's. It's Rosen quoting someone else in a context in which the quotation seems quite appropriate. The rest of this reviewer's statements are similar smoke and no substance. Please, do yourself a favor and read The Classical Style, and make your own conclusions. It's politically incorrect enough to inspire devious reviews and to be enlightening even to many professionals (if they have an open mind). It's not dumbed down, but it's written in an understandable language--something many other academicians might want to emulate. But if you are a "Liberal Warrior" or some other mind-already-made-up duffer, don't bother with this book or any other intelligent book: read Harry Potter and other children's fantasy instead, because that way you can escape reality while remaining rather harmless.

This analysis is most valuable in describing/explaining/analysing classical style in a way that assists actual performance of the piano music of that style. Excellent comments are interspersed throughout it.

Charles Rosen by now has attained a place among musical analysts on a par with the likes of Tovey and Grout, though his style is very different from either of these luminaries. Taking the music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven as the pinnacle of the musical style that developed in the late eighteenth-century, Rosen explains how around 1775 there was a decisive shift away from the High Baroque style of Bach and Handel, and why this new music was different. After his general introduction to the style most of the book explores different genres, symphony, opera, concerto and string quartet among them, to create a lucid and multi-faceted picture of how these three great composers approached and solved common musical and formal problems. The new edition adds a preface that addresses criticisms of the original book and an additional late chapter on Beethoven.

Rosen's writing, though it can be dense and repetitive, at its best is unmatched in its ability to relate analysis to what actually is heard by a listener. To this end, an ability to read and understand the copious and detailed musical examples is essential to fully grasping his points--this book is not for the casual amateur. But to those willing to do the work, The Classical Style remains as richly rewarding after three-plus decades as when it first appeared. As another reviewer has mentioned, it is a book one returns to again and again simply for the sheer pleasure of reading it.

The author does an impressive job of showing how the classical style of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven evolved from the musical chaos following the high baroque period. Perhaps giving too little credit to transitional composers who blazed the trail for these three geniuses, Rosen intersperses analysis with superlatives that at times is useful but at other times seems more like hero worship.

I found some parts particularly fascinating, such as the comparison between a work by Haydn and C.P.E. Bach. Certainly when the analysis was complete, you could see why Haydn's art was more rational and complete, however Rosen's dismissal of C.P.E. Bach's work as incoherent was somewhat off base in my opinion because the styles and goals of the two composers were not synonymous.

Though I didn't always agree with the author's conclusions, this book is still the best out there that I have read on the subject and is well worth reading.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book on a noble subject. On the basis of that rarity alone it deserves five stars.