Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Bruce Springsteen grew from a disheveled, bearded singer of youthful street ballads to become the hottest name in the rock world. The resilience of the New Jersey troubadour has seen him top the album charts in four succes...

An expansive biography of David Bowie, one of the twentieth century’s greatest music and cultural icons.From noted author and rock ’n’ roll journalist Marc Spitz comes a major David Bowie biography to rival any other. Following Bowie’s life from his start as David Jones, an R & B—loving kid from Bromley, England, to his rise to rock ’n’ roll aristocracy as David Bowie, Bowie recounts his career but also reveals how much his music has influenced other musicians and forever changed t...

Randy Bachman has been rolling out chart-topping songs his whole life—“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” “These Eyes,” “American Woman,” “Takin’ Care of Business”—and, since 2005, treating fans to a lifetime of rock ’n’ roll stories on his hit CBC Radio show, Vinyl Tap.His approach is always fresh—even the most hardcore music fans will be surprised by what they can learn from Bachman. Whether he is touring with Ringo Starr, jamming with Little Richard, or recording with Neil Yo...

From the New York Times bestselling author of Tonight in Jungleland comes the first biography in more than twenty-five years written with Bruce Springsteen’s cooperation—an intimate, powerful portrait that captures the enduring impact of the Boss: “Carlin gets across why Mr. Springsteen has meant so much, for so long, to so many people” (The New York Times).In Bruce, acclaimed music writer Peter Ames Carlin presents a startlingly...

She still wondered, "Am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me?" It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end. If you could hear me, no I would tell you, you weren't just good enough, you were great. — Kevin CostnerWe all read the same stories and found ourselves believing the rumors. The stories of drug use and drunken nights out, her problems with money and marriage, and even those about how much ...

The New York Times bestselling author of Aretha Franklin reveals the singular life of the six-time Grammy-winning superstar.Over the course of her storied career, Whitney Houston amassed a fortune while earning scores of accolades for her music. Her fame peaked in 1992 with the release of the blockbuster movie The Bodyguard, in which she starred opposite Kevin Costner. Featuring her international hit, “I Will Always Love You,” the movie s...

An amazing singing and movie career that spanned three decades and touched millions of people around the world.  'Whitney Houston - The Queen of Pop' tells the compelling story of the girl from Newark who's first class talent, model looks and glittering personality made her one of (if not THE) most successful pop stars of the late 21st century.   Adored by hundreds of millions of fans around the world who all say Whitney's songs and performances touched their life.  A tribute to the life and ...

An intimate, magisterial biography of David Bowie, drawn from over 180 interviews with friends, rivals, lovers, and collaborators—“the ultimate oral history of the artist’s life and musical journey” (Billboard)“There have been many books about David Bowie, both before and after his death, but GQ editor Dylan Jones’s is among the best, as well as the most revelatory.”—The GuardianTracing David Bowie’s life from the...

A vibrant biography of one of the greatest rock 'n' rollers, the America that made him, and the America he made.Smart and incisive, this unique book takes us through Bruce Springsteen’s life by tracing the cultural, political, and personal forces that shaped his music. Beyond his constant stylistic adaptations, Springsteen developed over the decades from expressing the voice of a guy from working-class New Jersey to writing about the larger issues facing the country, including war,...

Teenage punk self-taught musician bandleader session man smoker drinker multi-millionaire David Grohl has achieved a rare feat a rock n roll double crown having been a member of two hugely successful and influential bands Nirvana and The Foo Fighters. Loaded with candid interviews and hard truths about Grohls life in music this is the first comprehensive biography of an icon whose career charts rock and rolls rise and fall over the past two decades. Details his drumming and touring with Qu...

There are dozens of books about the Boss, exploring every facet of his career. So what's left to say? Nothing objective, perhaps. But when it comes to music, objectivity is highly overrated. Robert Wiersema has been a Springsteen fan since he was a teenager. By most definitions, he's a fanatic: following tours to see multiple shows in a row, watching set lists develop in real time via the Internet, ordering bootlegs from shady vendors in Italy. His attachment is deeper tha...

The acclaimed biography—now updated and revised. "Many writers have tried to probe [Dylan's] life, but never has it been done so well, so captivatingly" ( The Boston Globe).Howard Sounes's Down the Highway broke news about Dylan's fiercely guarded personal life and set the standard as the most comprehensive and riveting biography on Bob Dylan. Now this edition continues to document the iconic songwriter's life through new interviews and reporting,...