In Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life, Steve Almond enters new territory as a writer. Where his previous collections have worked toward the brutally honest, self-depreciation Almond fans have come to expect, this book accomplishes far more. It's still funny--Almond's natural ability to engage the reader through the universality and emotional trauma of human existence is still present--but he's certainly addressing something deeper, more personal.
The book is structured to include lists, notes, and asides, effectively breaking up the narrative with research, interviews, and exposition. As a book, it does not overwhelm the reader, but enlists their help in understanding the way music makes us feel. In addressing the less technical aspects of music and the music industry, Almond is able to appeal to a multitude of generations with varying musical taste--and if that isn't enough, he's included a free soundtrack to emphasize the impact of certain artists.
Almond's approach to writing about the musicians he has most admired in uniquely honest, exploring the human side of all heroes outside of the industry. Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life is a book that truly travels; as readers, we see Almond as a young writer and eventual father, we see the ways in which music has evolved, and we see famous and not so famous musicians as the people they are and have become. Finally, Almond explores his role in shaping his children through music, their own tastes already developing. Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life offers a reflective look at music, life, and the human condition.
Get more detail about Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life: A Book by and for the Fanatics Among Us (with Bitchin' Soundtrack).
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