Bob Marley: Spirit Dancer (Paperback)

~ Bruce W. Talamon (Author) "He didn't walk, he would stride..." (more)
Key Phrases: Hope Road, Jah Rastafari, Tuff Gong

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Steffens traces the life of well-known Rastafarian and Jamaican reggae performer Bob Marley (1945-81) from his youth to his worldwide acceptance to the months preceding his death from cancer at age 36.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Bob Marley is not only an important cultural symbol. He is also something of a cottage industry. Sound recordings, videos, and desultory paraphernalia make of him, even in death, a potent and profitable figure. This volume largely of portraits represents a maturing of the Marley market even as the fascination with all things Marley filters down to fans too young to have seen him alive. Tasteful and well done, Talamon's photographic essay stands in stark contrast to some of the raw, slapdash products intended primarily to cash in on Marley's fame. The photographs catch Marley in relaxed, even introspective moods, and Timothy White's lengthy foreword lays to rest some of the misunderstandings and errors in previous Marley studies. Moreover, this is a thoroughly entertaining book that captures the mystical mood of reggae and advances the study of a figure who, like Malcolm X, to whom Talamon compares him, has grown greatly in influence and stature since his death. A moving portrait of a great musician, religious leader, and force for peace and justice. Mike Tribby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393312003
• ISBN-13: 978-0393312003
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,047,764 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of My Favorite Biographies, June 19, 2000

By	Tim Yanagisawa (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews

One of the most surprising things you'd expect out of me, a 15 year old skate punk kid, is my collection of books. Big and small, short and long, all of my books are spanned on a shelf system that runs around my room. An those are just the good ones. The really good ones go in my night table drawer. This is one of them. Bob Marley is and was one of the most inflential people not only in my life, but in many others as well. This book not only shows that, it also shows the feels and vibes of Caribbean life during his time. It richly illustrates reggae in general, racial boundaries, and social problems of Marley's time. It is a vividly painted portrait of one of the greatest musicians of our time. With facts from his birth to his death and everything that happened to him in between, it helps you (the reader) to fully understand this great person. Bob Marley was truly influential, and this book illustrates that fact completely. You will read it over and over and over again.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proud Spirit, February 15, 2008

By	Stephen P. Adamo "13-XIII" (LOS ANGELES) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Bob Marley: Spirit Dancer (Paperback)

The photographs and the written text of this book compliment each other
perfectly. This book is put together not just for the Bob Marley fan but
any style music fan and also for fans of photography.

1.0 out of 5 stars Wait - this is a book? Complete Rip-Off, November 1, 2009

By	Reader1979 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bob Marley: Spirit Dancer (Paperback)

Well, for the price, I can safely say this is a complete waste of money. I've bought hard cover autobiographies on Amazon for less. The 'book' is the size of a CD booklet, with 160 'pages'. This book was rated because of all the photos included, but who wants to see pictures in a 'book'that small? I'm sorry I took it out of the package because of curiousity. I should have read the reviews in more detail. In addition to all the pictures, the actual words are written so big that I wondered if it was meant for 10 year olds. I'm sure if this was converted to the size of a real book, there wouldnt even be 30 full pages. Complete RIP-OFF!

There is not much to this 'book' and if you want to read about Bob Marley, this book has nothing for you. I can't even bring myself to read it, I just get angry every time I look at it.