Bowie
Product ID: 47522256
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Simon Critchley first encountered David Bowie in the early seventies, when the singer appeared on Britain’s most-watched music show, Top of the Pops. His performance of Starman” mesmerized Critchley: it was so sexual, so knowing, so strange.” Two days later Critchley’s mum bought a copy of the single; she liked both the song and the performer’s bright orange hair (she had previously been a hairdresser). The seed of a lifelong love affair was thus planted in the mind of her son, aged 12. In this concise and engaging excursion through the songs of one of the world’s greatest pop stars, Critchley, whose writings on philosophy have garnered widespread praise, melds personal narratives of how Bowie lit up his dull life in southern England’s suburbs with philosophical forays into the way concepts of authenticity and identity are turned inside out in Bowie’s work. The result is nearly as provocative and mind-expanding as the artist it portrays. Review: beautiful book. Obviously - Despite this being a book about Bowie, and, ostensibly, about the meaning of persona, transformation, and the negotiation of "nothing," this is a very personal, beautiful book. Obviously, as a book titled, "Bowie," it will resonate with those already familiar with Bowie's body of work and litany of characters. But its an accessible book that might prove meaningful to anyone interested in the discussion of persona, of "authenticity," and an artist's complete commitment to their cause over a lifetime of work. In the end, this book worked for me because it was about Bowie, because it shed an easy, accessible light on the connecting threads throughout Bowie's oeuvre, and because this was the book of someone clearly and profoundly affected by this singular yet multiplicitous character called Bowie. For my own reasons, I'll forever be affected by the day that Bowie went away. This book offers a shared sense of wonder at a world that ever contained such a character, and a world that will never be without him, either, even if we have to let him go. Review: It reads like a diary which makes it a very quick read - I only wish it had been longer. There is so much Bowie stuff out there that it's refreshing to have a book that just distills things down to why he was significant. It reads like a diary which makes it a very quick read.
| Best Sellers Rank | #420,812 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1,049 in Rock Band Biographies #1,228 in Rock Music (Books) #3,027 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 123 Reviews |
L**H
beautiful book. Obviously
Despite this being a book about Bowie, and, ostensibly, about the meaning of persona, transformation, and the negotiation of "nothing," this is a very personal, beautiful book. Obviously, as a book titled, "Bowie," it will resonate with those already familiar with Bowie's body of work and litany of characters. But its an accessible book that might prove meaningful to anyone interested in the discussion of persona, of "authenticity," and an artist's complete commitment to their cause over a lifetime of work. In the end, this book worked for me because it was about Bowie, because it shed an easy, accessible light on the connecting threads throughout Bowie's oeuvre, and because this was the book of someone clearly and profoundly affected by this singular yet multiplicitous character called Bowie. For my own reasons, I'll forever be affected by the day that Bowie went away. This book offers a shared sense of wonder at a world that ever contained such a character, and a world that will never be without him, either, even if we have to let him go.
B**H
It reads like a diary which makes it a very quick read
I only wish it had been longer. There is so much Bowie stuff out there that it's refreshing to have a book that just distills things down to why he was significant. It reads like a diary which makes it a very quick read.
F**R
personal and illuminating
simon critchley is a fan and writes like one. he also happens to be a smart guy. unlike critics, fans usually are able to navigate the corpus of an artist as a geography where peaks and valleys have a value of their own and at the same time make sense only if you understand long processes, like a geologist. in this case, critchley's "geology" happens to be philosophy. while reading the book, i was able to recognize the love and to bodn with the author in his assessments of albums and songs. i especially appreciate his attention to bowie's later albums. highly recommended.
R**I
For fans who like to obsess about the topics Bowie mentioned
Very deep look at Bowie's work and meaning, told in contrast with the author's life. Not a biography of Bowie. It is a look behind the constant themes and topics referenced by Bowie on his lyrics. For fans who like to obsess about the topics Bowie mentioned, it is a must
C**S
One of the most insightful books yet written on Mr. Bowie
Critchley is obviously a brilliant guy with excellent taste in contemporary music but more importantly, he captures Bowie's creative and even psychological influence on so many of his fans and admirers. The pieces dealing with his untimely death are particularly illuminating.
A**G
Stands apart
This isn't a biography. It's a series of essays, sort of, that run roughly parallel to Bowie's recording career. Critchley is a philosopher but he wears that mantle lightly here. Pithy, thoughtful, personal. An unusual book about how music can influence us.
H**K
Different and great
Never really read books like this - but this one is great...
B**O
I located this rather obscure book
Used book arrived promptly and was in great condition
M**N
De lo mejor que he leído acerca de uno de los más grandes
De lo mejor que he leído acerca de uno de los más grandes, perfecto retrato de Bowie, y además es cortito!
B**A
Good read
Great book if you're a fan
S**Y
Very short essays that are intelligently written that I will definitely reread
An interesting insight into interpretations of Bowie's work. Very short essays that are intelligently written that I will definitely reread. A new lens to view Bowie's work through and interesting connections made between Bowie's songs across the decades. A great short read for anyone who loves Bowie!
C**T
Sehr interessantes Buch mit philosphischen Ansätzen
Ich habe mir in den letzten Jahren eine Vielzahl an Büchern über Bowie zugelegt und parallel gelesen. Wenn man eine Idee davon bekommen möchte, warum Bowie für viele Menschen etwas ganz besonderes war uns ist, sollte man dieses Buch kaufen. Es ermöglicht einen anderen, tieferen Ansatz und spiegelt viel von der Faszination wider, die dieser Mann ausmacht. Es gibt keine absolute Wahrheit, das ist der Gedanke bei Kunst. Sie ist erst vollendet, wenn der Betrachter sich seine Meinung bildet. Ob diese auch die des Künstlers ist, war nach Bowies Meinung unwichtig. Dieses Buch gibt einem Denkansätze und Ideen, wie seine Kunst verstanden werden könnte, aus der Sicht des Autors. Es ist ein wohl durchdachtes und teils philosophisches Buch mit kurze Kapiteln, die zu lesen der Länge eines Songs entspricht. Ich mag diese Mischung aus Zeitgeschehen, Songtexten und Philisophie, die auch verschiedene Titel in ein anderes Licht rückt. Sehr zu empfehlen.
R**O
No es plato para todos los gustos
"Bowie" es un conjunto de reflexiones (breve, unas 100 páginas con bastante espacio libre en las mismas, a veces ocupado por ilustraciones poco atractivas de Eric Hanson; no contiene fotos) en torno al famoso cantante, de manos de un filósofo británico. La mayoría de ellas se centran en dos aspectos de la estrella de rock : Su impactante e influyente imagen y, sobre todo, las enigmáticas letras de sus canciones. Centrándose mayormente en la etapa dorada de Bowie (la que va de "Space Oddity" a "Scary Monsters"; del resto sólo salva cosas como "Reality"), Critchley habla de su tendencia a adoptar diferentes personajes (Mayor Tom, Ziggy Stardust), la revolución que supuso su ambigüedad sexual (con su marciano aspecto en conciertos y apariciones televisivas) , la abundancia de imágenes apocalípticas y distópicas en sus canciones (como las del disco "Diamond Dogs"), el anhelo de amor que muestran muchas de ellas, etc. Usa multitud de referencias que van desde el novelista William Burroughs al filósofo Nietzsche, pasando por el poeta Paul Celan o Andy Warhol, y saca conclusiones que, dependiendo de cada lector, pueden parecer originales y reveladoras o una gigantesca comedura de tarro. Lo que está claro es que 1/ Este es un libro para fans de David Bowie. MUY fans (como el propio autor confiesa serlo, citando momentos de su vida que reflejan esa obsesión). Porque lo que hay en él de poco va a servir a quien busque únicamente información sobre el cantante o su música, una biografía típica o un comentario "tradicional" de su discografía. El libro no tiene nada de eso, y quien lo compre buscándolo, tirará el dinero. 2/ Aunque seas muy fan, eso no quiere decir que buena parte de las ideas de Critchley no acaben pareciendote delirantes o, en el peor de los casos, farragosas y difíciles de seguir. Personalmente no me arrepiento de haberlo leído, pero en modo alguno me ha entusiasmado. Evidentemente, no es plato para todos los gustos.
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