Biography Books

Advantages: Objective, warts-and-all story of Abba and their manager as a group and individuals
Disadvantages: Too little about the actual music

...also written track-by-track notes for the insert booklet to 'Abba: The Definitive Collection', a 37-track double CD released October 2001. Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba Carl Magnus Palm Omnibus Press, 2001, 554pp, 32pp of plates 0 7119 8389 5 £19.95 (high street); £15.16 (Amazon) ... Read review

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" I have a low tolerance for mediocrity in music and life. Im into pain and joy and the in between doesn't interest me" So said Steve Earle in 1986 and although its the sort of rhetoric that music stars and actors tend to reel off to achieve a desired effect, Earle's life really is a testament to that quotation. It has been a life of tremendous highs and shattering lows, achieving fame and riches and losing it all to the excesses around him. This ...
...but came back from the bring to find that happiness is not found in material things, that its the love, trust and friendships that constitute the real successes in life. Steve Earle lead a happy, if poor, life growing up. Moving around as his fathers job dictated, Earle became used to being semi nomadic as the family moved around the southern states. As he grew into his teenage years he realised that he could grab peoples attention with his musical ... Read review

Advantages: Insightful and eloquently written
Disadvantages: None

...He was perhaps one of the most important (and many times overlooked) characters of the 20th century. I would recommend this book strongly to fan’s of Russell, and to those who share a love for history, and also not forgetting great letter writing! I noticed that the last reviewer included the closing lines, well, if nobody has any objections, I would like to include the opening prologue entitled “What I have lived for”. In my opinion, one of the ...
...strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a great ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair. I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy - ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have ... Read review

Advantages: Well written and not as long as other MacArthur biographies.
Disadvantages: Lack of details surrounding Korea.

If you are only to read one book on American generals, make sure it's this one. Although Perret has written great books on Ulysses S. Grant and Eisenhower, by far the most interesting figure for me, has to be MacArthur. Perret gives a thorough account into undoubtedly America's most controversial and charismatic figures. MacArthur graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1903 with the highest honours then became an aide to President Roosevelt, ...
...and again the youngest general and chief of staff in the army, he retired from the army in 1937 to train a Philippine Army but was recalled to active duty when the US declared war on Japan after Pearl Harbour; later in WWII he became one of the first to hold the new rank of five star general. Perret no doubt admires the man but equally whilst charting MacArthur's many achievements he doesn't omit his bad points; megalomania and self-absorption are ... Read review

Advantages: Entertaining, authorised biography, informative
Disadvantages: Lacking some warmth

...have been a fan of Hattie Jacques for as long as I can remember. I loved the Carry On films since I was a young child and I also watched her in Sykes on TV and live on the stage twice in Lincoln and Blackpool. So when I heard that there was a biography out on her, I bought it as soon as I could. Hattie by Andy Merriman is an authorized biography too, so this isn't some gossipy, muck-raking kind of life story. It has been written by Andy Merriman ...
...and private life, but reading Hattie really brought out her personality and character. She comes across as warm, funny, generous, loving, caring and willing to help as many people as she could - whether by fund-raising for charity or offering a bed, a meal or a friendly ear for any friend who needed one. Her career is also detailed from her early days to her work with the Player's Theatre to her more famous roles on radio, TV and the stage. Along ... Read review