Why Bowie Matters, Will Brooker
Why Bowie Matters, Will Brooker
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

Why Bowie Matters

Author: Will Brooker

Narrator: Ciaran Saward

Unabridged: 7 hr 55 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/05/2019


Synopsis

A unique, moving and dazzlingly researched exploration of the places, people, musicians, writers and filmmakers that inspired David Jones to become David Bowie, what we can learn from his life’s work and journey, and why he will always matter. When David Bowie died on 10th January 2016, it seemed the whole world was united in mourning. His greatest hits were sung tearfully in pubs up and down Britain, garlands of flowers were left at the Aladdin Sane mural in his old stomping ground of Brixton and tributes poured in from a galaxy of stars. To many of us, Bowie was so much more than a pop idol. But why? In , Professor Will Brooker answers that question persuasively, as both a fan and an academic. A Bowie obsessive since childhood, he hit the headlines over the course of a year-long immersive research project that took him from London to Berlin and New York, following in Bowie’s footsteps, only listening to music and reading books he loved, and even at times adopting his fashion. In this original and illuminating book, Professor Brooker approaches Bowie from various angles, re-tracing his childhood on the streets of Bromley, taking us through his record collection and bookshelves, and deciphering the symbols and codes of his final work, to piece together how an ordinary suburban teenager turned himself into a legend, and how perhaps we too could be a little more Bowie. He shows us that while David Robert Jones died on that terrible day in January, David Bowie will live on forever.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alec

This was supposed to be everything I wanted from a book, eg an intelligent, interesting academic study of my favorite artist of all time, by a hardcore fan and professor. Sadly it was just rehashed theories from other writers, coupled with slightly disturbing reminiscing of a fan who stepped over th......more

Goodreads review by Chloe

A brilliant and academic take on Bowie, and why he has always mattered and will always matter, to fans and to culture. A must read for Bowie fans.......more

Goodreads review by Wendy

self-indulgent to the point of tedium, without much exploration of the actual question posed by the book’s title.......more

Goodreads review by Mando

As a huge Bowie fan I was really hoping to love this book. Found it a little repetitious and self indulgent rather then true to it's title.......more


Quotes

Praise for ‘Brooker at his best, a playful, attentive scholar-fan’ ‘Wide-ranging and and closely argued, this book is one of the best Bowie has yet had’ ‘An intelligent assessment of the star’s career and enduring legacy’ ‘A moving, unique and distinctly researched exploration of pop icon David Bowie by professor and die-hard fan Will Brooker … Original and illuminating’ David Bowie News Praise for Will Brooker: ‘An intelligent and nuanced look at an artist whose total achievement is only now beginning to be discovered' Chris O'Leary, author of 'This book truly has it all about David Bowie. Intriguing and exciting research’ Sophia Anne Caruso, lead actor in Lazarus