Customer Reviews

Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley in Jamaica and Beyond

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A pure delight! This beautifully designed and printed book contains the kind of extraordinary photographs of reggae master Bob Marley the world has come to expect from award-winning photojournalist David Burnett, almost all of which are previously unpublished. But it is not just a picture book. Burnett spent time with Marley at Marley's home in Jamaica, and traveled with Marley and the Wailers on their famous "Exodus" European tour. He writes about them with the insight that perhaps comes from Burnett's rare access to Marley's private life few journalists were granted, combined with Burnett's rare gifts of observation and expression.

The pictures are gorgeous and illuminate Bob Marley's spirit and music. You just have to look these while listening to his songs to really "hear" them. I strongly recommend this one--just gorgeous.

The natural light Burnett used in the series of pictures of Marley at his home in Jamaica has the effect of making a man--who even decades later is considered a musical legend--completely down to earth and human.

"I think that rarely do you find journalists as sharp-eyed as photographers," said Burnett in an interview about his craft. "We are paid to look, and look around, we do. We notice little things that sometimes become very telling in a story."

You see these little details in the photos in Soul Rebel. The light in Marley's eyes, the lines in the skin of his hands, the lines of his face in his introspective profile.

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This book is beautiful! Lots of great, large photos, perfect for any Bob Marley fan! The reviews and pics do this book no justice. I am sooooo happy with this purchase.

This was given to me by a dear friend who knew that I liked photography. So I looked at it first from a photographic point of view. This is a beautiful beautiful book, full of candid moments and powerful images, and I love how it is put together. If you are a Marley fan also, then you will really love it. This is a wonderful portrayal of a very special man and musician.

The photos are absolutely stunning! Beautiful Marley pics! Although I am a Bob Marley's fan, and have accumulated quite a bit of paraphernalia, I thought "Soul Rebel" was a fairly good find. There is some pertinent information about Marley but the book is not entirely about him; it covers other reggae artists. The title presented the idea that it was maybe a biography "intimate portrait" of Marley--not the case. I'm a little bias so I'm happy to get my hands on anything of, by or on Marley. Others, however, may find it a bit misleading.

Unlike anything before it Soul Rebel captures Marley's spirit with a truly candid look at the artist and musical revolutionary. The best book on Bob Marley that I've ever had the pleasure to own.

THE PHOTOS ARE WONDERFUL!


IT IS A GREAT PICTURE STORY OF HIS LIFE.

Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley is an amazing photographic portrait of reggae music legend Bob Marley. Filled cover to cover with black-and-white and color photographs of Marley that "Time" magazine photojournalist David Burnett took in 1976 and 1977, Soul Rebel is further enhanced by Burnett's reminiscences of those bygone days, and the unforgettable experience of meeting and working with Marley. Many of the images are quite candid, and show Marley in his day-to-day life as much as his time on stage giving performances. A captivating photographic collection that reveals the man behind the music.

I have always been amazed why we have not seen books before now by David Burnett. Although shy and introverted, this award winning snapper should
use this splendid book, with Burnett's well composed text, as a spring-board for more such tomes. I have followed Burnett's career for years
and while most of his pictures were obviously taken with an Instamatic, it is his unique composition that makes this a "must have" to add to your
photojournalism library. Also important, it gives hope to all amateurs that we too can make it in the BIG TIME, with a simple "point and snap." Of course, the MAJOR difference is DB has "the eye" and we don't. BUY IT!