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(More customer reviews)(This was written for a course assignment.)
Though already ten years old, "Dylan - A Biography" by Bob Spitz is an incredible, often uncomfortable look into singer/songwriter Bob Dylan's life. "Uncomfortable" because Bob Dylan, admired and even idolized by so many, named the spokesman of his generation in the early 1960s, and supposedly a prophet of peace and goodwill, is uncovered as a frequently complete and utter jerk. But at the same time, Spitz writes with an understanding pen. "Dylan" is by no means a tabloid-style hatchet job, Spitz having set out to "unmask the hero." If anything, "Dylan" shows us that Bob Dylan, the man, the myth, is indeed both a man and a myth. He is and always has been a human being, and one with his fair share of faults.
Reviews of "Dylan" on the Internet are rather critical of Spitz, using terms such as "mean-spirited." Due to Spitz having dramatically different reviews for his other works, it seems as though these other "Dylan" readers don't want to face the idea that their icon is not the quintessential humanitarian, despite the legend. Spitz interviews and quotes countless people from Dylan's past who give first-hand accounts of his own mean-spirited dealings with those who've cared about him. In doing so one feels foolish thinking of Dylan as among the world's greatest humanitarians.
Lack of personal knowledge created the void that "Dylan" was hoped to fill. Two topics in particular were eagerly awaited to be expounded on. These included Dylan's mid-1960s & life-altering motorcycle accident and Dylan's flirtation with Christianity, followed by his return to Judaism. Neither topic was satisfactorily covered, though it appears that the second part of the latter simply occured after the book was published a decade ago. As for the first topic, it appears due to the less-than-heavy emphasis and the implication that the accident was not nearly as serious as the public was lead to believe that it is for this that the topic was given little concentration.
The 550 pages that make up the main text of the book, including the prologue, chapters, and epilogue, certainly comprise a work that is significantly longer than easier-read alternatives for the topic, but it was hoped that the book would live up to its promise. At the bottom of the cover is a quote from esteemed writer Greil Marcus, "No other book captures it so well, understands so well..." An autobiography by Bob Dylan was also available, but to get the objective story, it is best to stay away from such self-promotion. In the author's notes preceding the prologue, Spitz writes that he was offered exclusive interviews with Dylan as well as access to countless treasures including photographs in return for allowing Dylan control over the final manuscript. Based on Dylan's notorious history of publicizing half-truths and outright lies about himself, Spitz refused.
"Dylan" is a recommended read.
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