Customer Reviews

Bob Dylan: Intimate Insights from Friends and Fellow Musicians

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Where do I start about how bad this book is - maybe on p. vii in the Foreword where the author states "As fascinating an autobiography as Chronicles is, however, it does not provide great illumination of Dylan's character, his likes and dislikes, his personality..." My Lord, was the author reading the same Chronicles as I was? And on p. 4, the author travels along Rt. 2 in Western Massachusetts, saying, about the town of Erving, Mass., "Erving's small commercial area features the predictable Wendy's, McDonald's, and the occasional gas station." Well, as someone who travels Rt. 2 everyday, I can tell you there is NO Wendy's or McDonald's in the little blip of a town that is Erving. So, dear reader, you may go on at your own peril. This book is NOT for anyone who may know anything about Bob Dylan. It may be geared towards elementary school children. But then, that would be a travesty, because why should they be reading inaccuracies? The writing is third rate, the "research" is 95% from other sources, and it sadly becomes another Bob Dylan book that he would shake his head at and cringe.

Sure, there's some "intimate insights" about Bob Dylan in this book, but not much that we haven't read before in other books. However, my primary issue with this book is that there is WAY WAY WAY too much written about the people who are the ones giving the information about Dylan. I mean if you're really interested in the history of "Peter, Paul, and Mary" and if you really want to know how the "Band" got it's start and if knowing trivia about Liam Clancy, Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson and others, then this is the book for you. If you want insights about Dylan there are a lot of books out there with MUCH more information. Again, if you're wanting to know more about Bono, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, then I'd suggest buying this book.

Whip out a book about Dylan with a cool photo on the cover and a couple of enticing quotes, and you have a good shot at reeling in enough Dylan fans to make a buck. This is a shallow effort that made me feel foolish about falling for another exploitation project. There aren't many intimate details here. In fact, this is largely a clip job woven with a collection of puff-piece essays on not particularly forthcoming sources from journalist who should have known just how low down in the profession she was going to release this. More marketing than meat. Don't fall for it.

...don't bother purchasing this book.

I don't think that I've read all that much about Dylan, but next to nothing in this book was 'news' to me... it's not much more than a rehash of old, previously published information that has been carefully gathered (and annotated) from multiple places.

On the other hand, by reading this book you will learn lots of little tidbits without having to look elsewhere.

Your choice, but for the price, I'd rather buy another Bob Dylan CD.

I am a long time Dylan fan, and have most every book written.....I hoped
this would be interviews with those who know him sharing their thoughts
and insights. But it is just a rehash of previous interviews, statements,
published thoughts, etc. Not an original interview to be found. I have
read all that was in this book elsewhere. I think it is more than a bit
misleading. I do not recommend it.

TO ALL OF YOU WHO GAVE THIS BOOK LESS THAN 4-5 STARS...YOUR WRONG!!!!
THIS BOOK "IS WHAT IT IS", KATHLEEN MACKAY DID NOT TITLE IT "WAR AND PEACE"....SHE NEVER SAID IT WAS THE BEST BOOK ON ZIMMY EVER TO REACH HIS PUBLIC.......DYLAN IS AN ICON AT THE VERY LEAST, AND IN A WORLD FULL OF PEOPLE THAT THE PUBLIC ADORES AND ARN'T WORTH GIVING A SECOND THOUGHT TO, THAT MAKES HIM REAL REAL IMPORTANT!!! YA DIG?? ZIMMY WILL BE RANKED AMONG THE LIKES OF COLE PORTER, CHOPIN, DUKE ELLINGTON, AND HANK WILLIAMS, FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC.
WHAT MS. MACKAY DID IN THE BOOK I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD IDEA. SHE SPOKE TO FRIENDS, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE KNOWN HIM OVER THE YEARS AND SIMPLE TOLD US HOW THEY FELT AND WHAT THE KNEW ABOUT THIS GIANT IN MUSIC...WHO IS A BIT SHY WHEN IS COMES TO "BRAGGIN ON HIMSELF".
READ THIS BOOK!!! WHAT YOU WILL LEARN WILL NOT ALWAYS ASTOUND YOU, BUT AS WAS THE CASE WITH BONO INTERVIEW...BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE AND MAKE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TIME WAS NOT WASTED ...LISTENING FOR MANY, MANY,MANY HRS. TO A TRUE AMERICAN TREASURE. THANKS KATHLEEN.
PAUL ZAMMARELLI

Bob Dylan is an icon of American popular music whose work and performances have influenced and inspired folk musicians and rock stars ranging from Pete Seeger to Bruce Springsteen. "Bob Dylan: Intimate Insights From Friends And Fellow Musicians" by biographer Kathleen MacKay provides Dylan's legions of fans with an intimate portrait of the man and his music in a published 'oral history' drawn from extensive interviews with his friends and associates. Superbly organized, here are the memories and reminiances regarding Dylan as related by such luminaries as Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny rivers, and dozens more. No one who has ever thrilled to a Dylan song or who were fortunately enough to catch him in a live performance will want to miss reading this outstanding biography which is enhanced with the inclusion of fourteen black-and-white photographs, source notes, an extended bibliography, and a listing of websites for musicians.

Kathleen Mackay's book provides an entirely new angle on Dylan's personality and his life as a musician. By interviewing those who knew him the best throughout his career, she has created a remarkable portrait of a musician who has influenced so many others. I am a huge music fan and a huge Dylan fan, and this book was thoroughly enjoyable, well written and well researched. It is certainly not "just another" Dylan book; it offers a really unique perspective. A must for any fan.

I remember when Kathleen Mackay wrote for Rolling Stone magazine..and her articles were well researched and well written....this book is excellent from beginning to end ...and...the interviews were great, the writing is excellent..and, bravo, Kathleen, you added "source Notes", a "bibliography", an index and even "Musicians Web Sites"..You have created a winner!!!

OMG i love this book - i am a huge music lover (other faves include jazz) and a HUGE dylan lover...my girlfriend melisa and i love to listen to dylan together! she gave me this book and i literally could not put it down. literally. it was insane. 4 readings and 67 bags of corn chips later, i LOVE THIS BOOK and it gave me so much insight into bob dylan, my hero, from the perspectives of others in his life. he is a musical genius, and kathleen mackay is a literary genius!!! so well written, so many insights...thanx melisa for introducing me to it, i love u baby! EVERYONE BUY THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY!!!