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Editorial Review:
As soon as the Beatles became famous, the spin machines began to construct a myth, a myth that has continued to this day. Biographers have come and gone, each repeating the story precisely as they were meant to.But the truth is much more interesting, much more exciting, and much more moving. Now, after years of research around the world, hundreds of unprecedented interviews, and the mining of tens of thousands of documents (many never before seen), Bob Spitz has written the masterpiece biography that Beatles fans have been waiting for. Spitz restores the Beatles to what they were: a loud, angry, rock and roll band-kids who became gods, not gods who happened to look like kids.This is a biography of a band in full, not the story of John and Paul and their two mates from Liverpool. Here we see a vibrant Ringo, sharply portrayed for the first time, willing the Beatles to produce the classic White Album. And here we see in vivid focus George+s wild passion for innovative music.
The Beatles : The Biography Reviews:
Very good but still flawed 
2009-11-20 - The Beatles are probably the most talked-about and deeply explored musical performers in history. There have been literally hundreds of books about them from the atrocious to the sublime, from the inane to the masterful. As a Beatles fanatic with limited free time (that's quite a cross to bear!), I depend on Amazon's reader reviews to help determine my purchases. Not counting the Beatles' "Anthology" I'd read two of the acknowledged leaders in the Beatle biography sweepstakes: Hunter Davies' authorized "The Beatles" and Philip Norman's "Shout". Both are good reads but each has its drawbacks. Davies' account is somewhat sugar-coated to protect the sensitivities of family members at the time of its writing; he almost completely ignores Brian Epstein's homosexuality and downplays the Beatles' drug and sexual excesses somewhat. Norman is in my opinion a better read but has a tendency to hyperbole and doesn't do a good job of drawing a particularly large target on the back of Paul McCartney. So when the Spitz book hit the shelves I turned eagerly to Amazon readers for some guidance since I actually find them more accurate than the so-called professional critics!
Spitz's biography has achieved the remarkable feat of being either among the best or the worst of its kind. While most reviewers give it 4 or 5 stars, almost 20% consider it no better than 1 or 2 stars. Spitz's many factual errors have been frequently cited, and I agree that simple proof reading and fact-checking could have easily corrected this disturbing flaw in the book. Also cited has been Spitz's famous "get an enema and a life", response to having these inaccuracies pointed out to him -- a response that is demeaning and below-the-belt for any author let alone one of Spitz's supposed reputation.
On the other hand, it's an extremely fascinating read; much more complete and candid than Davies and much less demeaning and hyperbolic than Norman. Spitz has made a biography that reads like a novel, which is no mean feat. I particularly enjoyed his ending each chapter with some cliff-hanger sentence or two that makes you want to continue reading even when your eyes are at half-mast. You might think that nearly 1000 pages devoted to the history of a rock band is unadulterated excess but you'd be wrong; some may find his descriptions of North England, Liverpool and Hamburg, and of the Beatles' individual forebears boring and unnecessary but they provide (at least for me they did) some necessary contextual clarity to the overall story. On writing style and enjoyability alone I'd give the book 6 stars if it were possible, but the inaccuracies cannot be ignored (although I think they're less widespread than some reviewers indicate). Hence, I'm settling on 4 stars.
Some have called it a poorly written book, while others consider it a definitive biography. In my humble opinion, it's neither. The definitive Beatles biography has yet to be written, but word has it that such a project is already underway. Mark Lewisohn (of Beatles "Recording Sessions" and "Chronicles" fame) is reportedly working on a three-volume biography with a staggered release schedule. With Lewisohn's accuracy, completeness, and honesty being legend among Beatles fans, THERE'S a biography that will indeed be definitive. Until then, Spitz will do. Try it...you'll like it!
Fools on the Hill 
2009-10-11 - Who are these fools trashing this book? I can only guess they are musical jock-sniffers, upset that their dream-dominated world has been upset. The best tribute Spitz could have given to The Beatles is an honest book, and that's exactly what he's delivered. From what I gather reading the negative "reviews" on here, the naysayers are woefully ignorant. They attack photo captions in the book: That is NOT Julian Lennon in John's arms in Central Park! George did NOT meet his future wife on the set of "Help!" but rather on the set of "A Hard Day's Night." This is trivial carping; what these idiots don't realize is that, at most publishing companies (I know, I've worked there), things like photo captions are assigned to low-level employees. Spitz likely had nothing to do with the captions. He wrote a nearly 1,000-page book, with seven years of research, and the result is remarkably error-free. Kudos to Spitz AND his editors. The Beatles are a unique part of the 20th century, and Spitz has captured their phenomena in a dazzling book. As for the book's critics, they seem to me an online version of Magic Alex -- all puff and no substance.
If you haven't read a couple or so Beatles book, then hold off reading this one...
2009-10-09 - I'm telling myself, as I pulled Bob Spitz's The Beatles: The Biography off the bookstore shelf, that reading yet another Beatles book is superfluous. I mean, what else could possibly be new? And I'm not saying that because I consider myself a Beatles expert.
pfft...hardly.
But there is the cynicism that, unless the author had a place in that coveted inner-sanctum of the FabFour, there really couldn't be any other tidbit that can be dished out that hasn't been told in the past 3 or 4 books I've read.
And YET, as I turned the first page, the excitement began to mount. And I soon realized that no matter how may people have written about the Beatles, no matter how much and how many times their story has been rehashed and retold, it is, after all, a story of the Beatles. And, for me, their incredible journey never fails to fascinate.
If you think I'm overrating the Beatles, then sod off... *cackling an evil laugh*
Details (and inaccuracies) aside, Bob Spitz's work is actually quite remarkable. His narrative finds engagement under his lyrical and sometimes dramatic prose. Rather than simply telling the story of how John and Paul met, how the band performed in Hamburg, or how Epstein forged an empire under the shadows of the band's fame, Spitz `situates' the stories, lending color and even feel to the events (notables are his depiction of pre-Beatles Liverpool, the hotbed that was the Reeperbahn, the ominous Marcos `snub,' the "bigger than Jesus" controversy, and the Paul and Linda meeting).
Certainly, of course, these are already very familiar stories to some people. But under Spitz's pen, the familiar becomes quite unfamiliar--whereas, in the past books I've read, a Beatles anecdote was told in a matter-of-fact way, Spitz creates a new spin on things by making me feel like I'm in the same room, studio, or car where events are unfolding. In `setting the stage' by giving a seemingly palpable atmosphere of texture, sound, and light, he enchants a fan by making a faraway encounter come off as deeply personal.
And surprisingly, there were new things I've learned about the band (Beatlemaniacs hold back your snort of disdain): their first recording `session' as the Quarrymen, the many kept-under-wraps Lennon rants and rages; Lennon's close-door reaction to the `bigger than Jesus' debacle, the darker side of Epstein (and sorry, I have not yet read any Epstein biography, so...), and even how a Beatle felt about the many people who tried to get through the airtight Beatles bubble. Some were shocking, while others still were saddening (particularly when it all came apart).
My verdict (such as it is)? Read it.
Sure, there are LOTS of inaccuracies. Really die-hard fans will surely call out for Spitz's blood. Credibility probably took a backstage in favor of making *his* FabFour story more thrilling than some. So, an advice would be to just read more Beatles biographies. It's not a difficult suggestion to follow, surely.
Regardless of how many times something about a public persona has been told (particularly if there were 4 of them), either truthfully or otherwise, it just becomes a matter of comprehending how different people `see' the Beatles and accepting the fact that no one can ever really come close to knowing who these four `lads from Liverpool' really were.
The only comfort is the music they've left behind. And you know how that is...
As far as consolations go, that isn't so bad.
Ten Stars.
2009-09-30 - If I could give this book ten stars, I would. It's an astounding read -- jaw-dropping, horrifying and thrilling at the same time, riveting like a thriller, well-researched. The devil's in the details, and in this case, heaven's in the details too. I've read it twice already and have bought two copies for friends. Don't miss this book.
A remarkable and flawed achievement
2009-08-13 -
I've read a number of Beatles books over the years, from the famous ('Revolution in the Head' by Ian Macdonald) to the more obscure ('Magical Mystery Tour: My Life with the Beatles' by Tony Bramwell). This band is an incredible passion of mine and I know their history very well at this point. When I read a new Beatles book, I traditionally look not only for factual accuracy but for innovation: I like to see the authors bring something new to the table...to tell the familiar story in a new and insightful way. I finally got around to reading Bob Spitz' basically well-received and epic 'The Beatles: The Biography' this week and I was mostly very impressed by the work. I whipped through its 800+ page length in just three days. I couldn't put the thing down! Many others have already reviewed this book, so I'd just like to share some brief personal opinions about it.
Here are the basic positives and negatives of Bob Spitz' achievement in my eyes:
POSITIVES: (1) Spitz is an evocative and talented writer. His prose is both colorful and straight-forward, making for a very enjoyable reading experience. He doesn't just list the facts to you. He really brings you into another world. (2) He is clearly a fan of the Beatles, which I found refreshing, positive and wonderful. So many Beatles authors seem entirely uninterested and unmoved by the music itself, preferring to focus on behind-the-scenes drama, but Spitz devotes pages to unabashed praise for and discussion of the records and songs themselves.
(3) The incredibly detailed first 200 or so pages detailing the band's infancy are wonderful. I've never read such a well-researched and enchanting account of the Beatles' early years. (4) A wealth of new anecdotes and interviews are included in the story, giving 'The Biography' a fresh outlook and giving a hardcore fan new details and stories to enjoy. (5) A commitment to the truth: the Beatles and their inner circle are presented neither as infallible angels or horrific devils, as in other books. They are explored and written as human beings capable of both greatness and mistakes. (6) A Lennon-McCartney balance. Most writers and Beatles historians are completely enamored of the complex and colorful John Lennon and he is here given a rich and honest portrayal. However, Spitz is equally interested in the often comparatively ignored Paul McCartney. I loved seeing that. I believe John and Paul were geniuses of EQUAL stature and I was thrilled to not see Paul getting tossed off as a light-weight alternative to the Gospel of Lennon as he so often is.
NEGATIVES: (1) I wish that the entire book had the same level of intimate detail as the first 200 pages. It may have ballooned the book to well over a 1,000 pages but I think it would have been worth it. The book picks up considerable pace right around 1964 and it starts to feel a bit rushed and not nearly as rich as the beginning. The end of the book, in particular, feels abrupt and unfocused, as if Spitz had smelled the barn door. (2) There are some factual mistakes, mix-ups and general errors. Nothing that truly compromised the integrity of Spitz, but nonetheless things that Beatles fans will recognize right away and which could have easily been fixed. (3) Familiar scenes and moments in the Beatles story are skipped over completely or barely glanced at. I do like reading all the new anecdotes, but there were still some puzzling omissions. For example, why cut the joyful moment in Paris early '64 when the band learned they had gone #1 in America and Brian Epstein wore a chamber-pot on his head?
(4) Compared to the insightful and focused renderings of John and Paul, Spitz seems positively uninterested in the exploits of George and Ringo. As a major George Harrison fan, it was particularly troubling that Spitz barely spared a word for any of George's wonderful compositions. He spends pages upon pages describing "Sgt. Pepper" and its influence in loving detail without ever even mentioning "Within You Without You." It's as if the song doesn't exist. The same is true of pretty much every single George song. (5) Along similar lines, the final 4 Beatles records are discussed with considerably less finesse than those through "Sgt. Pepper." For example, review quotes pulled for "Abbey Road" describe the album as "boring" and Spitz never even discusses the innovation and grace of the second-side medley. I don't think these albums are represented entirely accurately: as the masterpieces that they are.
FINAL WORD: For such a huge effort (literally), Bob Spitz has achieved something very, very good with 'The Beatles: The Biography.' Though it is imperfect, I'd easily categorize it as the best general history of the band I've yet read. It treats the band and their story with respect, interest, and skill. Despite a few hiccups, it was a highly engaging read, I learned some new things and it furthered my love and respect for this remarkable, remarkable band. You can't really ask for much more than that. I highly recommend it for both new and veteran Beatles scholars.
