Bob Dylan Book:

Just Like Bob Zimmerman's Blues: Dylan in Minnesota Reviews:
Exhaustive and brilliant
2007-08-13 - Anyone who considers himself a Dylanophile needs this book. It's incredibly rare, as it was printed in a tiny first printing (about 1,000 copies) and the publisher failed soon after. But a Dylan collection isn't complete without it. Engel writes from a lifetime's research. It's a shame he doesn't reprint his book elsewhere.

Not nearly what a very few people want to make of it ....
2006-11-22 - When viewed from afar, this book might seem to be more than that which it really is, meaning "OK" at best; there's lotsa conjecture to be sure, cute but utterly worthless.

According to Michael Karni (1941-2002), it contains numerous factual errors; Michael Karni was (just like Bob Dylan) born in 1941 in Northeastern Minnesota & raised (just like Bob Dylan) on the Central Mesabi (where Karni even recalled seeing Bob Dylan at a few social events & parties in the area, way-back-when). Mr. Karni went on to high places as a Minnesota and Finnish-American historian, including a PhD from the University of Minnesota followed by a teaching stint and, ultimately, own publishing house, Sampo Press--without question or hestitation, he is most highly regarded by all.

Engel's sin is that, when I tried to alert him as such, I was met with absolute silence ... Dave just wasn't interested; any historian with any real credibility wouldn't do that. But having worked with Dave Engel as co-author of "Calumet: Copper Country Metropolis" (the one he tried to claim as his own to Michael Gray, BTW), I can tell you that this reaction (or lack thereof) didn't exactly come as any surprise or revelation--as I would be very hard pressed to find a more pretentiously arrogant author ...

(Bingo-- Dateline November 17, 2008, Wisconsin Rapids [...]: "To you, I am best known as "Uncle Dave. When I cross the Minnesota line, I become 'Dave Dylan.'")

... invariably bent on cryptic intimidation-via-deception (though failing pathetically, I might add), not to mention one with less-than-meticulous, "carefree" work habits.

So I hardly have to go out on a limb to HIGHLY recommend Toby Thompson's recently updated classic, which gives us a "close to the source" slice of Dylan history of which Thompson's own participation is a legendary part.

The proof, as they say, is in the puddin'.

Essential Reading For the Dylanologist/Addict!
1998-09-22 - An excellent guide for a road trip, or pilgrimage to Hibbing. It gives a lot of information on the history of Hibbing and its culture. Also quite a bit more info on Dylan's childhood and family history than I have seen anywhere else, including numerous photos. Picked it up on New year's Eve afternoon last year, devoured it overnight, and on New Year's Day--at 4a.m.--left for Hibbing and felt as if I had been there before when I got there and "watched the sun come rising from that little Minnesota town." Found all of the Dylan sites listed with the help of the book, but should have picked a better day. (Zimmy's was closed, the Dylan museum was closed, and it was rather chilly to be wandering around old Hibbing.)

Think of it as a highly detailed tour guide to Dylan's Hibbing, whether or not the reader actually goes. Adds a lot of weight to references in songs like North Country Blues, etc.

THE source for early Dylan info
1997-10-06 - I grew up on the Mesabi Range within 25 miles of Hibbing, Dylan's boyhood home. I've been a fan of his for 26 years. This is the definitive book on his early years. Full of photographs, some never before published, this book covers all aspects of his youth...his faith, his family, his town, his friends, and how he grew into who he became. Delightful reading for the true Dylan freak!