33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Trash, August 14, 2005
This review is from: Elvis (Hardcover)
Albert Goldman has long been considered a biased hack, and his Elvis bio, if anyone recalls the Rolling Stone article going through it, researching it, and refuting it, is the basis for a lot of Goldman's bad reputation. Anyone, anyone, with a modicum of knowledge about Sam Phillips certainly knows he never used the N word - never - and yet this book is supposedly factual. And his big source is Lamar Fike? Hello!
If you want to read an honest account of Elvis' life, try the books by Peter Guralnick, Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. This two book set is, in my opinion, the definitive biography of Elvis Presley. This may come as a shock to some, but Elvis was about music and guess what, Guralnick's books actually discuss the music in detail, including the genesis of rock 'n' roll itself, making for fascinating reading.
As someone who has helped to research many biographies for a very, very distinguished biographer, Barry Paris - just look him up on Amazon, why don't you - I can tell you that this book is disgustingly, horribly researched - when there was any research done at all, with bad source notes and a major bias. Like his equally revolting book on Lennon, Goldman's Elvis bio neglects to paint a portrait of a full, complicated human being. Guralnick's books do not in any way portray Elvis as a saint. They do, however, place him and his music in history and give a total picture of a man.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Hold your nose reading this one, October 7, 2009
This review is from: Elvis (Hardcover)
In this book Goldman maliciously sets out to destroy the reputation of Elvis Presley. This is not a biography in the traditional sense of the word, no; it is a vicious hatchet job.
Through his persistently negative line of attack and dependence on unnamed or biased sources Goldman paints the ugliest portrait of Elvis imaginable. But he doesn't stop there. His depiction of Elvis's parents as the "Beverly Hillbillies" and his condescending reconstruction of the sort of gospel show that inspired the young Elvis could even be considered racist.
In short, "Elvis" by Albert Goldman is a thoroughly despicable book, written IMO by a thoroughly despicable man--hold your nose and read it at your own risk.
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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Trash!, September 12, 2007
I was forced to give the book 1 star, as Amazon does not offer a 0 star option. Even people who dislike Elvis should find the writing insulting. Only someone who was severely jealous of Elvis could write the evil words and tone found in this book. I'm not a disillusioned Elvis fan. I'm well aware that Elvis had his faults and find it appropriate to mention some of them in a biography. However, Albert Goldman chose to make up hateful lies and worked hard to make Elvis seem gross and uncouth. I must admit that I did not complete the book. In fact, I could no longer stomach the rubbish and quit at page 22. I wondered where all this jealousy and rage were coming from. A quick flip through the back page flap where I found the photo of Mr. Goldman answered that question. Poor guy.
If you want a book with truth in it, don't waste your time on this book of lies! If you are severely in hate with Elvis you might like it. But if after reading it you find it a good book, I recommend you seek out a qualified psychiatrist.
Shellie Collins
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