I, Me, Mine [Paperback]

George Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2007

Cherished by fans and collectors since its first publication in 1980, I, Me, Mine is now available in paperback. The closest we will come to George Harrison's autobiography, it features George in conversation with The Beatles' spokesperson Derek Taylor, discussing everything from early Beatlemania to his love of gardening. The lyrics to over 80 of his songs, many in his own hand, are accompanied by his uniquely intimate and humorous commentary. Fifty archival photographs of George with The Beatles and solo capture a journey of creative and spiritual transformation. Brimming with the wit, warmth, and grace that characterized his life, and with an introduction by his wife, Olivia, I, Me, Mine is a treasured portrait of George Harrison and his music.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A 400-page memoir from the Quiet Beatle? Can it be? Well, yes and no: only about 60 pages of this earnest tome, originally published in 1980, are devoted to Harrison's recollections of life before, during and (notably) after the Beatles. His memories, which manage to feel fresh and distant at the same time, come to readers via transcripts of his conversations with Derek Taylor (1932-1997), the Beatles press officer and ghostwriter of Brian Epstein's memoir. Harrison (1943-2001) was only in his late 30s when I Me Mine came out-the Beatles had formed, changed music forever and disbanded before his 28th birthday. The rest of this volume consists of photos with whimsical captions ("the author enjoying a cheese sandwich with some friends" is assigned to a picture of Harrison with a sitar) and facsimiles of his handwritten lyrics (including a fairly different version of "Taxman"), each accompanied by a brief explanation (ideas expressed in "It's All Too Much," for example, were inspired by LSD and "confirmed in meditation"). Most of the songs were composed after Harrison's immersion in Hinduism; divorced from their melodies, lyrics espousing love, peace and harmony tend to take on a certain sameness. This volume offers much to Beatles zealots, but for the casual fan, Harrison will likely remain as admirable and as inscrutable as ever. B&w photos and illustrations throughout.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Guitars gently wept the world over November 29, 2001, when George Harrison succumbed to cancer. Originally released in 1980, this volume includes some very casual recollections by "the quiet one" about his life, including his Liverpool childhood and interest in music, meeting the other kids who would become the 20th century's most influential band, his fascination with Eastern religions, and more. The book features roughly 50 photos taken throughout his life, but the meat of the book is the more than 80 song lyricsDmany of which are reproductions of his hand-written sheets with corrections intactDalong with background on each. There is also a new introduction by Harrison's widow. For millions of diehard fans, there is no such thing as too much information on the Beatles, so this should circulate well.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Reprint edition (March 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811859002
• ISBN-13: 978-0811859004
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Pop Culture > Beatles

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Gem August 3, 2004

By J. Moon

Format:Hardcover

Be warned that this is not an autobiography in its entirety. However, it contains the most true biographical content you will find in print about George Harrison. This book is made up of three parts. The first is a short biographical section written by George himself, and by a man by the name of Derek Taylor, a very close friend of George's. While that section is far shorter than any curious fan of George's would like, it is none the less very entertaining, and funny. A true "Must Read", if you will. The second section is the words to nearly all of his songs that were written prior to 1980, when the book first came out. Along with the words are a comment from George about each song. Many of the comments are quite amusing and insightful. The third section is made up of photographs. This edition also comes with an introduction to the writing of this book by George's wife, Olivia, that is truely endearing. If you want to begin to get an idea of George Harrison's sense of humor and personal views on a wide variety of subjects, and if you just plain love George Harrison, GET THIS BOOK! Amen.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I WANT TO TELL YOU October 16, 2002

By BeatleBangs1964 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

As an inveterate Beatles' fan, it comes as no surprise that I would heartily endorse this book. Long dubbed the Quiet Beatle and other similar cliches, George Harrison does indeed offer his voice and reflections in this work. Always a private man, George's wordings here can be described as almost cryptic.

This work provides readers with a "glimpse" of George growing up; the former Beatle describes his working class roots in Liverpool, his musical muse and later, his work as a gifted composer, guitarist and lyricist. Indeed, George Harrison has expanded musical horizons; in 1965 he became enamored of the sitar and included it on several songs on "Rubber Soul" and later collections.

His lifelong quest for spiritual knowledge and core belief system are explored; indeed, it is in his own words he explains that he does not follow an "organized" or "traditional" religion, but rather bases his spiritual feelings around his internal beliefs.

I like the input the artist's wife Olivia offered; her words are a welcome and added treat to this work. Indeed, it is Olivia's contribution that make the reissue of this work even better and more effective in touching readers.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Check out Guitar George, he knew all the chords April 11, 2003

By Kevin Cook

Format:Hardcover

It has never been acceptable merely to be passionate about The Beatles collectively: You MUST have a personal favorite. John Lennon was always mine, by dint of his court jester persona and his wordsmithing, with George Harrison a close second. Being shy myself, I identified with the so-called Quiet Beatle and liked his scornful "don't bother me" attitude, which was integral to so many of his songs. Harrison's meticulous and versatile guitar work, never show-offish and always tasteful, was my main inspiration for wanting to learn to play, too. The Beatle least comfortable with his immortality, Harrison could be openly contemptuous of Beatlemania and often referred to himself ruefully as Beatle George, a title he felt he could never live down. Off-putting to some, maybe, his cantankerousness only made Harrison more interesting to me.

Predictably, Harrison takes a larkish approach to telling his life story. In his foreword, he facetiously calls "I Me Mine" (named after a forgettable tune from "Let It Be") "a little ego detour," but the book's tone is actually rather self-effacing. It's not an autobiography per se, although there is a six chapter text section that hits the high points of Harrison's life up until that time (late Seventies) and allows the mystical Beatle to rhapsodize on some of his passions: spirituality, gardening and, surprisingly, Formula One motor racing. Written by Harrison in a conversational style, with extensive "notes" by longtime Beatles confidant/press officer Derek Taylor, the text is a rambling sketch of a very private man determined to stay that way. (A clue to Harrison's reticence is found in the book's "backword," where he includes the cryptic quote, "Tell not all that you know because he who tells all that he knows, often tells more than he knows.") Luckily for his admirers, Harrison would more forthcoming, particularly on Beatle matters, in "The Beatles Anthology".

The photo section (48 black and white plates) is extraordinary, with lots of unique snaps that haven't seen print before in countless other Beatle books. Two of my favorites: a box of Good News chocolates, the inspiration for Harrison's "Savoy Truffle" from "The White Album," and a cancelled check for one million pounds paid to Inland Revenue, which the notorious taxman-baiter calls "punishment for being cheeky and making lots of money."

The bulk of the book is devoted to examining Harrison's songs, beginning with "Don't Bother Me" from "Meet the Beatles" (1964) through "Blow Away" from the excellent "George Harrison" LP (1979). For each song, Harrison provides a brief (usually) insight into his inspiration and shares his original, handwritten lyric sheets, replete with notes and illustrations. While words were never really Harrison's forte, it's still fascinating to glimpse a Beatle's creative process in such detail. The book includes the final versions of Harrison's songs as they were recorded, and it's interesting to compare them to the working models. "Taxman," in particular, was very rough indeed until Lennon offered Harrison the use of his acid pen - a fact Harrison curiously fails to mention here.

TRIVIA NOTE: The book's first edition was a signed, limited edition of 2,000 numbered copies, hand-bound in leather, by Genesis Publications, Ltd., Guildford, Surrey, England. My humble copy of "I Me Mine" is a 1980 Simon and Schuster edition, a birthday present from my sister (George was her favorite Beatle) in 1983.