History & Criticism

Kaleidoscopic culture critic Chuck Klosterman rewrites the history of reality in an “ingenious” (Kirkus Reviews) work of speculative nonfiction based on a question that has never been considered or (in all likelihood) even asked: What if The Beatles had only developed a cult following while...

Story of the indestructible LA group, from their early funk days to eventual success as one of America's top-selling bands. Despite an epic reputation for exhibitionism, drug taking and drunkenness, through it all the Chili Peppers have continued to produce records that shock and intrigue their fans

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL MOVIE STARRING MACHINE GUN KELLY, DANIEL WEBBER, DOUGLAS BOOTH, AND IWAN RHEON, DIRECTED BY JEFF TREMAINE. Celebrate over thirty years of the world's most notorious rock band with the audiobook edition of The Dirt—the outrageous, legendary, no-holds-barred autobiography...

“A biography that crackles with as much energy as the great bluesman’s songs.” —Ted Drozdowski, Boston Phoenix The epic, rollicking, up-and-down life of Muddy Waters—who went from Mississippi farmhand to musical legend, invented electric blues, and created the template for the...

A valentine and a breakup letter to one of rock's most controversial bands. Goodbye, Guns N' Roses is a genre-rattling attempt to explain the appeal of America's most divisive rock band. While it includes uncharted history and the self-lacerating connoisseurship of a Guns N' Roses fetishist, it...

*The inspiration for the CNN original series Vegas: The Story of Sin City* “Outstanding pop-culture history.” —Newsday The “smart and zippy account” (The Wall Street Journal) of how Las Vegas saved Elvis and Elvis saved Las Vegas in the greatest musical comeback of all time. Elvis’s...

In January 1959, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and founded the Detroit-based record company that in less than a decade was to become the largest Black-owned business in the United States. It also became one of the most productive and influential producers of popular music anywhere in...

Pop music didn't begin with the Beatles in 1963, or with Elvis in 1956, or even with the first seven-inch singles in 1949. There was a pre-history that went back to the first recorded music, right back to the turn of the 20th century . . .

The #1 New York Times Bestseller As Taylor releases her 11th album, THE TORTURED POET’S DEPARTMENT, catch up on the full story of Taylor Swift’s stratospheric rise to fame; all any dedicated Swifty needs to know about the pop superstar who’s taking over the world A small-town girl with...

After more than two decades of research and travels, Christophe Lebold, who befriended the poet and spent time with him in Los Angeles, delivers a stimulating analysis of Cohen’s life and art.

The human body is the primary instrument of war, yet those waging war often confront soldiers' bodies in a detached or merely intellectual way. In The Tenderness of Silent Minds, Martha C. Nussbaum, a leading thinker on emotion, morality, and justice, conducts a pioneering study of Benjamin...

Bloomsbury presents Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves by Chris Dalla Riva , read by John Moraitis. Popular music history collides with data analytics, charts, and numbers in this insightful and surprising look at the greatest hits and musicians...

Jazz is more than a musical genre. It is a movement, an escape, and a form of rebellion—one whose mystery you can uncover through the fascinating musicians that shaped its history....

'This is the greatest rock and roll book ever written' GUY GARVEY, Elbow 'A brilliant storyteller, Clint has been there to see it all first-hand' TIM BURGESS, The Charlatans 'Clint writes like he speaks and plays; as one who knows' JOHNNY MARR, The Smiths 'Clint knows it all, has done it all'...

Lords of Chaos focuses on the scene surrounding the extreme heavy metal subgenre black metal in Norway in the early 1990s, with a focus on the string of church burnings and murders that occurred in the country around 1993....

Howard Bloom - called “the greatest press agent that rock and roll has ever known” by Derek Sutton, the former manager of Styx, Ten Years After, and Jethro Tull - is a science nerd who knew nothing about popular music. But he founded the biggest PR firm in the music industry and helped build...

A leading music journalist’s riveting chronicle of how beloved band Pearl Jam shaped the times, and how their legacy and longevity have transcended generations. Ever since Pearl Jam first blasted onto the Seattle grunge scene three decades ago with their debut album, Ten, they have sold 85M+...

The follow-up to The McCartney Legacy, Volume 1, the most complete work on the life and work of Paul McCartney ever published. Volume 2 continues to paint the portrait of one of the world’s greatest musicians, his work post-Beatles, and his life from 1974 to 1980. By 1974 the Beatles were a...

“An excellent history of the queer world’s countless music scenes.” —Emma Alpern, Vulture “An essential book for this moment.” —Rob Sheffield The definitive history of LGBTQ music, from Stonewall to RuPaul, and its impact on culture and American life From the underground...

Brought to you by Penguin. The Beatles landing in New York in February 1964 was the opening shot in a cultural revolution nobody predicted. Suddenly the youth of the richest, most powerful nation on earth was trying to emulate the music, manners and the modes of a rainy island that had recently...

Exploding on the music scene in the early 1970s, the rock group KISS combined raw energy with theatrical showmanship—not to mention face painting! Founding member Gene Simmons—an outrageous star whose superlong tongue, legendary sexual exploits, and demonic makeup have made him a rock...

The definitive account of how the rough sounds of the Mississippi Delta changed the course of American popular music. The blues grew out of the plantations and prisons, the swampy marshes and fertile cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta. With original research and keen insights, Ted Gioia -...

Paul McCartney and John Lennon described him as the Beatles' "favorite group", he won Grammy awards, wrote and recorded hit songs, and yet no figure in popular music is as much of a paradox....

A no-holds-barred narrative history of the iconic label that brought the world Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, and more, by the co-author ofDo What You Want andMy Damage. Greg Ginn started SST Records in the sleepy beach town of Hermosa Beach, CA, to supply ham radio...

"Raw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era." -- Kirkus, starred review A monumental, revealing narrative history about the legendary group of artists at the forefront of West Coast hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre...

'This is the greatest rock and roll book ever written' GUY GARVEY, Elbow 'A brilliant storyteller, Clint has been there to see it all first-hand' TIM BURGESS, The Charlatans 'Clint writes like he speaks and plays; as one who knows' JOHNNY MARR, The Smiths 'Clint knows it all, has done it all'...

Bloomsbury presents Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves by Chris Dalla Riva , read by John Moraitis. Popular music history collides with data analytics, charts, and numbers in this insightful and surprising look at the greatest hits and musicians...

This definitive work on the occult's "great beast" traces the arc of his controversial life and influence on rock-and-roll giants, from the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin to Black Sabbath. When Aleister Crowley died in 1947, he was not an obvious contender for the most enduring pop-culture...

Trace the soulful origins of music history from southern cotton fields to the gritty pulse of global pop. Perfect for your morning commute or a reflective evening listen, this immersive journey explores the raw resilience of Black Americans who turned profound sorrow into a cultural revolution...

Experience the thrilling music history of the acoustic and electric instrument that sparked global cultural rebellions. Perfect for an inspiring morning commute, this energetic audio journey sweeps from ancient plucked strings to the roaring digital amplifiers of modern global pop. Whether you...

Trace the explosive music history of rebellion and pop culture that shattered boundaries and redefined the world. Whether you are fueling up for an energetic daily commute or hitting the highway on a nostalgic road trip, this fast-moving audio journey transports you straight to the heart of the...

Experience this evocative music history exploring how deep hardship and soulful resilience birthed a cultural revolution. Perfect for a reflective commute, this immersive origin story transports you to the Mississippi Delta after the Civil War. Listen as quiet survival tools transform into an...

Experience the electrifying musical history of how grassroots urban resistance birthed a global cultural revolution. Born in the neglected neighborhoods of the 1970s South Bronx, this underground movement transformed abandoned buildings into laboratories for a radically new sound. Discover the...

Journey through human evolution and cultural history to discover how primal noise transformed into musical expression. Perfect for an awe-inspiring commute or a mindful listening session, this captivating exploration reveals why rhythm and melody are wired directly into our brains. Whether you...

Embark on an evocative music history journey as scattered instruments unite into a soaring classical symphony. Whether you are navigating a busy daily commute or seeking an immersive mental escape, this vibrant narrative reveals the fascinating evolution of collective sound. From humble church...

Experience the explosive musical revolution that transformed an underground rhythmic rebellion into a global art form. Whether you need an inspiring soundtrack for your daily commute or an energetic deep dive into cultural history, this passionate narrative transports you into the smoky clubs of...

Uncover the sweeping cultural history of sound, tracking our evolution from prehistoric rhythms to digital masterpieces. Whether you are unwinding during a quiet evening or seeking intellectual stimulation on your morning commute, this immersive journey will change how you hear the world...

Trace the fierce mechanical evolution of a brilliant acoustic innovation that revolutionized classical music and jazz. Perfect for a relaxing evening wind-down or an inspiring daily commute, this immersive journey transports you directly into the candlelit workshops of relentless craftsmen. Feel...

Step inside the dramatic world of classical music and transform your daily commute into an inspiring historical journey. Demystify the soaring vocals and theatrical spectacles of Europe's greatest stages without needing a degree in music theory. Perfect for curious minds seeking deep focus, this...

Track how the hit single evolved from parlor sheet music to algorithmic streaming dominance in this pop culture history. Perfect for your daily commute or a nostalgic road trip, this energetic exploration reveals the hidden machinery behind your favorite artists. Witness how clever executives...

Unlock the over-the-top drama of live theater with a witty audiobook that demystifies classical music history. Whether unwinding on a Sunday afternoon or seeking high-energy entertainment for your morning commute, this lively journey transforms an intimidating museum piece into a welcoming...

Feel the heartbeat of cultural history in this captivating musical journey from ancient rituals to stadium concerts. Far more than a technical timeline, this is a profound social mirror reflecting exactly what civilizations feared, fought for, and joyously celebrated across the ages. Whether you...

Master the history of classical music by exploring how a thousand years of societal shifts forged the Western sound. From plainchant echoing in medieval stone churches to bold modernist revolutions, this auditory journey links brilliant compositions directly to the wars, scientific breakthroughs...

Discover how marginalized musicians forged an improvisational language of resistance to birth modern music history. Perfect for an inspiring commute, this rhythmic journey traces the evolution of sound from West African polyrhythms to the bustling streets of New Orleans. Feel the raw emotion of...

Experience the gritty music history of how 1970s Bronx street battles birthed a billion-dollar pop culture empire. Perfect for your daily commute or an intense workout, this high-energy cultural study immerses you in the arson-ravaged neighborhoods where marginalized youth invented a...

Dive into immersive music history and discover how a creaky wooden experiment ignited a global cultural revolution. From royal courts to crowded jazz clubs, follow the relentless quest to build a keyboard that could sing, whisper, and roar like the human voice. This captivating journey reveals...

Trace the majestic evolution of classical music history as humble court ensembles transform into global symphonies. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive journey transports you from echoing European churches to the dazzling acoustics of modern concert halls. Whether you are seeking a...

Uncover the high-stakes music history and creative psychology behind the pop culture anthems that define our lives. Whether you are powering through a morning commute or deep in focused work, this energetic journey reveals how a technical accident became the emotional heartbeat of society. Step...

How a Quartet of American Musicians Outwitted the KGB – The Untold History of a Daring Cold War Spy Mission In 1985, while the United States engaged in a battle of nuclear brinkmanship, four Americans landed in Moscow on a mission to smuggle secret information in and out using music as their...

Pop music didn't begin with the Beatles in 1963, or with Elvis in 1956, or even with the first seven-inch singles in 1949. There was a pre-history that went back to the first recorded music, right back to the turn of the 20th century . . . Let's Do It is the first book to tell the definitive story of the birth of pop, from the invention of the 78 rpm record at the end of the 19th century to the beginnings of rock and the modern pop age.