Woody Guthrie: A Life by Joe Klein Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Woody Guthrie: A Life
Book Review: Head to the Record Store!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a child of the 60's and 70's, I held the rather myopic view that my generation invented rebellion, cynicism and their voice in music. Not so! Joe Klein's masterful telling of Woody Guthrie's story reveals the musical tradition of the folk song as a means of political activism long before Bob Dylan and the rest. Woody Guthrie's wonderful, painful life is detailed with careful attention and astute observation. Mr. Klein does not spare us the unsavory irresponsiblity of this hobo, nor does he turn us away from the tragedy of his illness and death. Instead, through the words, letters, and memories of Woody, his friends, and detractors, Joe Klein gives us a protrait fo a flawed, resolute singer of our songs and in the process, presents a bit of our history that was never covered in my textbooks! Not an easy read, but a mesmerizing story. My next stop is the record store (or is it CD store?)!Book Review: Simply astounding!
Summary: 5 Stars
The life of Woody Guthrie is one that is hard to trace. He lived the life of a hobo and one as a father and husband. Klein uses all the resources he possibly could possibly get to tell the life of the most imporant figure in American Music. Guthrie suffered throughout his life, and the author makes sure the reader understands that. He also points out that Guthrie was not the most polite person, but that he also was one who cared for people. The story of Woody's childhood right up to the time of his death is one that needs to be read by anyone interested in the music of America.Book Review: An unflinching look at America's most important Songwriter
Summary: 5 Stars
I first picked up a copy of this book after Bruce Springsteen mentioned during a concert that he had read it and loved it. It inspired him to sing a very sad and mournful rendition of This Land is Your Land and to explain why it was really an angry song and not at all the happy little ditty we remembered from childhood. That was a fitting introduction to this book of his life which was also not a happy little ditty. Woddie Guthrie's life and music speak to more than just Folk Music fans and I hope more younger folks pick this book up, read it and as a result give his music a listen. If you want to hear Bruce's comments on this book, they preceed his performance of This Land is Your Land on his Live performance Boxed Set. I highly recommend listening to NEBRASKA and THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD while reading this book!!Book Review: Great bio of the first American singer-songwriter
Summary: 5 Stars
The Amazon listing displays March 1999 as the publication date, but this is actually a reissue, and this is a book that well deserves to be re-issued. It's one of the few really great music bios -- extremely well-written and researched, and not just hagiography. And, Woody was one unique and fascinating character. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn what Woody was really like (not just the lovable dustbowl balladeer) and wants to learn about folk music, American communism, and lots of other interesting stuff.