Although it does not move in a chronological sequence, it does a nice job of providing a foundation on which to build Beatle knowledge. As a Beatles' expert, there was little if any new material in this work for me, but I did enjoy it from a "teaching" perspective.

This is not meant to be a scholarly or comprehensive work about the Beatles nor is it a "Dick & Jane" format of merely simplifying their works to the basic "Hear/See the Beatles Play. ...." To describe it from either extreme is to do it a grave injustice; to view it is a harmless teaching tool that also has humorous passages is indeed, I believe the more accurate approach.

I enjoyed it. This book is a good resource tool for the person who is "newly" coming into the Beatles.


GREAT FOR NEWBIES, BUT LIMITED BY FORMAT   October 11, 2001
Joe (Hellmont, MA USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

As a hippie kid, I grew up in a house where the Beatles were at the top of the musical heirarchy. I knew a lot about them as a result of being into them for so long, but this book fills in the little gaps of knowledge I'd always had. Buskin knows the Beatles history inside and out. His coverage of their career is complete, even delving into the social and historical forces that shaped the Fab Four and set the stage for their ongoing success and eventual demise. I've read few rock history books that go so far to paint such a complete picture of the people and events that shaped a rock and roll band.

So why the four out of five stars? Call me picky, but I can't stand when historical authors fail to move in a chronological sequence. There's just no reason why he couldn't have taken it one year at a time with this book.

But while I dislike the structure of the book (which may not have been the author's fault, it is a complete idiot's guide after all), you still come away knowing a LOT more about the Fab Four by the time you're done. So, while it's not the best format to tackle the subject, it certainly succeeds in making a novice knowledgable, which is what these books are all about.


Good, but with some mistakes...   October 9, 1999
Rick Vaughn (Chicago, Illinois USA)
1 out of 17 found this review helpful

I was just perusing this title last night at Tower Records. I've been doing some research on the Beatles' concerts in the Philippines and I noticed that this book kept referring to the capital city as "Manilla" instead of the correct spelling "Manila". I didn't notice any places in the book where they said "Londdon", "Pariss", "New Yorrk" or "Tokyyo"... maybe the editors of the book just didn't care.


Great For Beatles Begginers   September 6, 1999
2 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is a great book for beatles begginers.It takes you through their births and parents.To their school lifes.To their stints in Hamburg until they invade the U.S.A.Then it tells there slow decline of friendship between each other.Then they break up and it takes you to the anthology (1996).Great book,very up to date.