Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Hundreds of books have been written about The Beatles, but it is crushingly obvious when reading this Anthology volume that by far the best one would naturally come from the bandmembers themselves. [The price] seems like an incredible bargain considering the size and quality of this work, which covers the years 1940 (the birth of Ringo and John) to the breakup in 1970. At 368 coffee-table sized pages it's already huge, but the small print makes it almost double that size. The book would be worth it just for the photos alone, which are beautifully reprinted--many from the early years are actually in color--chronicling dozens of previously unpublished, intimate moments taken straight from the group's personal archives. But what really makes this one essential is the text itself, which is taken from interviews conducted with Paul, George and Ringo in the 90s and an exhaustive compilation of Lennon quotes from all points in his life (I recognized many, but there were also some I've never seen before). Even after the dozens upon dozens of biographies which have recounted the group's earth-shattering tale ad nauseum, you feel like you're reading it for the first time. All four bandmembers speak with a thousand times more wit, frankness and detail than all of their previous biographers combined; in fact, they manage to offer up juicier tales, and more interesting spins on already known events, than anything you've read before even in the most gossipy bios--and you get it this time knowing that it's honest (you know it's honest when you hear conflicting memories about certain events!). "Anthology" is especially revealing when it comes to the childhoods and Hamburg era: you get to hear about the first time George got laid (right in front of the other three bandmembers!), or when Ringo was a member of the Dingle gang, or what they did at teenage parties. The detail is so thorough and vividly recalled for the early years (and butressed by the photos) that you feel like you're living it as it actually happened. No stone is left unturned about the famous years, either: George and Ringo philosophize about their first LSD trips and the meaning of "Tomorrow Never Knows", the Maharishi controversy is finally put to rest (hint: he never made a pass at anybody), and new insight is shed on the evolution of the friendships between John and the other three. More is made about the breakup than was on the "Anthology" videos, including Yoko's presence and the business hassles, as well as the making of "Abbey Road". Finally, all of this is told with such an elegant sense of Beatle humor that even the heaviest moments are a joy to read. Also included are excerpts from Stu Sutcliffe and Brian Epstein's personal diaries. With this volume now finally released, the only other essential Beatle books to get are Lewishon's "Beatles Chronicle" and Miles' "The Beatles: A Diary", both of which give exact reference dates and descriptions for every live show, radio, recording and filming session (as well as more great photos).