Customer Reviews

The American Book of the Dead

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is basically just an encyclopedia of Dead information. No setlists, but a description of every song the dead played, along with recommended versions of each song are included. Signifigant personalities are also listed with appropriate descriptions. The roots of the dead are also discussed, and there is a fair amount of quotes from various band members. It is a good book, but the encyclopedia format gives no continuity, so toilet style, quick reading is the best way to enjoy this book. But hey, i got this book for 4.99 on the clearance table of a book store. I wouldn't pay 14 bills for it (i'm cheap), but it is nevertheless a great source of info about the Dead.

I love this book. I got it about a year ago and I read it cover to cover over the course of a month. It makes great bathroom reading! The thing that's really great about this book is that you get the story behind all of the songs. Reading the backstory for all of my favorite tunes gave them a new life and made me want to go listen to them again -- to see them in that new light. Another interesting aspect is that even the covers are given some backstory -- including extensive information about the orig. artists. Then there's the in-depth information about the Dead themselves. Want to know more about Tom Constantine? It's there. Interested in Bruce Hornsby's connection to the Dead? It's there too. Overall I love having this book in my collection. It's a great reference book as well as a damn good read. I strongly recommend this to all Dead-heads!

It is a fun book lots of info and great facts plus many new photos. If you are a diehard deadhead or a novice you shoud learn lots of new stuff. I liked the entrys for each song, where it came from,who also did a cover,best live version.An encyclopedia for all fans of the dead or fans of the music it came from.

Good idea, but there are some holes. Examples: no mention of the Ice Cream Kid, the Wall of Sound, Bill Walton, Mouse Kelley. To name a few.

Do you listen to Dead tapes? Will they play Dark Star at your funeral? This book belongs in your home. It is first and foremost a reference work, but it is lovingly compiled and utilizes more other sources than most (if not all) the other Dead tomes out there. You know most of what's out there - prose histories summarizing interview material. Sure, this baby has that, and plenty of it. But what sets this book apart is its referential essence. Hey, it's alphabetical. So you want to find out who has recorded "How long blues?" Look it up! Trager lists like the most prominent performers of the tune, plus the best (known) Dead performances of said tune (his best list I guess-but always fun to compare!). They go into details of a song's history and interpretations, give you the rundown on the writer and original performers, and link it up with the Dead. It's great. Hey, if you are looking for a reference on blues musicians and don't care about the Dead, this book is for you too! I especially like the fact that Trager has those obscure and rarely performed tunes in here. 'Nuff said. Check it out!

Love it. Really helps me fill in the pieces, as I am a fan of The Dead, but I knew very little about the history of all things Dead. Be careful, after perusing the book, I find myself heading to iTunes and adding more to my already larger than average catalog of Dead music. Very happy I purchased this book.

if you like to collect the good Dead books, then this is a must have. lots of trivia and info

GREAT BOOk, if your a dead fan, very interesting information and i learned a lot, i recommend this book to all the peace love nature hippies who love the dead it is a great experience

It is hardly definitve in that, for two things, it doesn't even mention Hank Harrison and plays down Pig Pen McKernan's role in forming the band. Not mentioning Harrison (or bad rapping him) is ironic since the book cover emphaiszes, in large print, the words THE DEAD, which is, not coincidentaly, the title of Harrison's trilogy, Trager can hardly be thought of as a literary artist. I give it 2 stars for reference only.

A "Definitive ... Encyclopedia" without an Index ?!?!?! That's the first flaw that caught me when I received the book. It dawned on me I spent (which later I realised it was wasted rather than spent)25$ on an unprofessional almost useless book.
For years I have thought of the Grateful Dead as the MOST overrated band in the rock scene.Only recently have I realised how wrong I was. Once realised that I turned to Ammazon for help - purchasing a whole bunch of Cds and books.
I orders "The American Book of THE DEAD - The Definitive Grateful Dead Encyclopedia" hoping it will help me get the basic knowledge fast and compensate for my lost time. Was I disappointed (not to say shocked) to see there was no intex to help me navigate around. Encyclopedia is a very demanding term which the writer chose to ignore completely.
OK, I started to navigate the "Encyclopedia" myself according the ABC and was prety disappointed by the writing style and the info given.
I've read in other reviews there are some missing terms, let me add one which really pissed me off - Fillmore. You got to be kidding me.
Another missing item that was mentioned is - Wall of Sound. Let me guide you to the W section of this book - 2 poor pages (no Z btw in this encyclopedia) with no mention of Working Man's Dead, NO KIDDIN'!
So, to sum this up:
* The book is outdated - 1997 (13 years ago). Dick's Pick is stuck at volume 7, and all last years issues are ofcourse abssent. I'd think a serious encyclopedia gets updated from time to time.
* No INDEX makes this book prety useless.
* Poor presentation and grafix - well, that's a matter of taste. IMHO, thinking of the amazing posters, light shows and tye-die shirts connected to the Grateful Dead I think the poor B&W photos do not match the expected standards.
* Some lists like Discography is a MUST. And a defenetive source MUST have a thouruogh one; A band family tree is essential;

Seems not much inovation and thought was put into this book, and it is defenetly not defenetive. Can someone PLEASE recommand a real good defenetive source?