Paul McCartney: The Life
Paul McCartney: The Life book cover

Paul McCartney: The Life

Hardcover – May 3, 2016

by
Price
$34.62
Format
Hardcover
Pages
864
Publisher
Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0316327961
Dimensions
5 x 1.5 x 8 inches
Weight
2.76 pounds

Description

One of Amazon's Best Books of the Month A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Gift Guide Pick "An enormous and sympathetic book.... It's rich with detail about Mr. McCartney's philanthropy, his knighthood, his taste in country homes, his dabbling as a painter, a poet and a composer of classical music.... The story of its subject's life from his childhood in Liverpool through the breakup of the Beatles in 1970 has lost none of its ability to charm ... One of the best stories the past century has to tell."― Dwight Garner, New York Times "Norman offers a fully-fleshed out biography . . . What Norman gets so very right are the feelings: the intense relationship between John and Paul with its curves and angles; the normality being a husband and father brought him; the improbability of being one of the most famous men in the world. The shelves are full of books about the Beatles, but fans will want to make room for this one."― Ilene Cooper, Booklist (starred) "The most thorough and insightful biography of Paul McCartney to date.... Paul McCartney: The Life is loaded with wonderful passages, fascinating stories and cracking humor... A masterful account, the kind of biography fitting McCartney's continued prowess and genius. Or, as McCartney said at the end of one Beatles take, 'Keep that one. Mark it 'FAB.''"― Jeremy Mikula, Chicago Tribune "Norman's portrait of McCartney is fascinating and exhaustive.... Norman lifts the curtain to show us the real guy."― William McKeen, Boston Globe "A thorough, objective telling of McCartney's story--in and out of the most famous band ever. But it's also a breezy read, considering the tremendous ground it covers."― Jeff Slate, Esquire "Norman is an enviably skilled pen-portraitist, with a consummate ability to conjure the presence of [McCartney].... A powerful sense of McCartney the man comes across in this book's evocative high points.... A capably executed biography, brimming with detail."― John Harris, The Guardian "A compelling narrative about a working-class Liverpudlian whose extraordinary musical gifts made him the most successful songwriter in history... McCartney emerges from [the book] as a textured but decent man."― Graham Boynton, Newsweek "Norman is thorough... and his book gives us a fuller McCartney than you'll find anywhere else."― Colin Fleming, Washington Post "Norman shows McCartney in all his colors: artist, songwriter, genius, family man, and businessman... Even those of us with bookshelves full of Beatles books and libraries of bootleg recordings will be surprised by what they read in The Life ."― Laurie Ulster, bio. "The once-for-all-time record of the lad from Liverpool whose song lyrics and boyish good looks broke hearts and whose career after the Beatles was almost as successful as his time with them."― Henry L. Carrigan Jr., BookPage "Norman's 2008 book John Lennon: The Life became the best single-volume work on its subject. Now, with this book, Norman has done the same for McCartney..."― Bob Ruggiero, Houston Press "Where [the] book succeeds the most is bringing the reader into Mr. McCartney's private life... The most up-to-date account of Paul's life to yet appear."― The Economist "Philip Norman's considered biography portrays the 'cute' Beatle in all his creative complexity and breadth."― Neil Spencer, The Guardian "Norman sheds new light on well-known Beatles stories and then goes further, forging a thoroughly absorbing account of McCartney's life after the group's breakup.... The result is a tantalizing trip down the legend's own long and winding road."― Oprah Magazine "Where Norman's depth of knowledge comes in handy is in his descriptions of the Beatles, and McCartney in particular, at work... His book conveys a strong enough sense of McCartney's temperament and life priorities to give readers a new understanding of how utterly they're reflected in his art."― Tom Carson, The Barnes & Noble Review "Norman offers a surprising portrayal of a driven and even haunted artist--his biography reminds us why, more than 50 years after he achieved fame, the world is still singing along with McCartney's story."― Clarke Crutchfield, Richmond Times-Dispatch "The musician's definitive and authoritative biography."― Publishers Weekly "Vivid storytelling....In his seventies, Sir Paul is still outpacing those trying to tell his story. Nevertheless, Norman gets as close as anyone has."― Will Hermes, Rolling Stone "The biography is full of interesting bits of information.... Mr. Norman reminds us that we should be truly grateful that the Magical Mystery Tour guided by Paul McCartney remains a gift that keeps on giving."― Glenn C. Altschuler, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Norman is a good interviewer, and the book is charming when he lets his Liverpool sources speak about the days before The Beatles were inevitable."― Josh Tyrangiel, New York Times Book Review "The agenda of Paul McCartney: The Life is clear: to give the enduringly popular, almost inconceivably successful former Beatle his due...[and] the book succeeds at that."― David Hajdu, The Nation "Norman sheds new light on well-known Beatles stories and then goes further, forging a thoroughly absorbing account of McCartney's life after the group's breakup...The result is a tantalizing trip down the legend's own long and winding road."― The Huffington Post "Mr. Norman has done his research... he has uncovered yet more material, and tells his story with flair."― Christopher Walsh, The East Hampton Star "Well-researched... The more than 800-page biography covers others areas of McCartney's life including his time with the Beatles and Wings along with his children and wife Linda - and much more. Fans of the Beatles or Paul McCartney will enjoy this book."― Glenn Perrett Philip Norman is the bestselling biographer of Buddy Holly, the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Elton John, and Mick Jagger, and the author of the classic Beatles biography Shout! He is also a novelist and playwright. He lives in London.

Features & Highlights

  • The definitive Paul McCartney biography, written with his approval by bestselling biographer Philip Norman.
  • Since the age of twenty-one, Paul McCartney has lived one of the ultimate rock-n-roll lives played out on the most public of stages. Now, Paul's story is told by rock music's foremost biographer, with McCartney's consent and access to family members and close friends who have never spoken on the record before.
  • Paul McCartney
  • reveals the complex character behind the favßade and sheds new light on his childhood -- blighted by his mother's death but redeemed by the father who introduced him to music. This is the first definitive account of Paul's often troubled partnership with John Lennon, his personal trauma after the Beatles' breakup, and his subsequent struggle to get back to the top with Wings -- which nearly got him murdered in Africa and brought him nine days in a Tokyo jail. Readers will learn about his marriage to Linda, including their much-criticized musical collaboration, and a moving account of her death. Packed with new information and critical insights,
  • Paul McCartney
  • will be the definitive biography of a musical legend.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(600)
★★★★
25%
(250)
★★★
15%
(150)
★★
7%
(70)
★
-7%
(-70)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Lazy research, riddled with inaccuracies, devoid of insight

It appears that Mr. Norman hasn't updated his research since writing SHOUT! all those years ago. This book reflects none of the new information uncovered by Mark Lewisohn. Norman doggedly recounts the accepted but now discredited mythology of George Martin signing The Beatles to Parlophone. He repeats the accusation that the publishers Ardmore and Beechwood did nothing to promote "Love Me Do", when in fact Kim Bennett expended a great deal of effort in getting the record played on BBC and Radio Luxembourg while George Martin, who didn't like or believe in the record, did nothing to promote it.
Norman describes Geoff Emerick as having been involved in all Beatle EMI recordings from their first session in June 1962 until Emerick left during the White Album sessions. Emerick did indeed work as a tape operator in a few of the earliest recordings and a smattering of sessions afterwards, but he was by no means involved in every session or album. It wasn't until Norman Smith decided not to engineer The Beatles' recordings and George Martin tapped Emerick to take his place during spring of 1966 that Emerick was regularly involved in each session.
A shocking inaccuracy occurs as Norman recounts George Harrison's quitting the band during the Get Back sessions. Those tapes have been available online for years, and the walkout occurred on January 10, 1969 following a disagreement between John and George while they were at lunch. The group returns from lunch and George is heard to say, "I'll be leaving the band now." John asks when, and George replies, "Now" and walks out. Rather than researching or listening to this recording of the session, Norman relies on the released Let It Be film, stating that George walked out after a disagreement with Paul over Paul's telling George what to play. This disagreement occurred a couple of days earlier, so Norman has the wrong argument, on the wrong day, for the wrong reasons, apparently unaware that the factual information is readily available, and has been for decades. This is shoddy, lazy research.
These are a bare handful of the many inaccuracies in the book. They are shockingly numerous.
Norman's editorial opinions show even less insight. Noting George Harrison's ragged 1974 tour and disappointing Dark Horse album, Norman states that it had become clear that what little talent Harrison had apparently rubbed off from John and Paul. Apparently, Harrison's 1987 artistic and commercial success Cloud Nine, his work with Traveling Wilburys, and his posthumously released masterpiece Brainwashed, either don't count or Norman hasn't heard.
While reading about times in McCartney's life about which I know little, I'm reluctant to put any stock in what is being written.
Norman is correct that McCartney is deserving of a definitive biography. Sadly, Norman chose not to make the effort of producing one.
69 people found this helpful
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Pretty mediocre. Toward the end a major slog - ...

Pretty mediocre. Toward the end a major slog - all the details of his divorce etc. Zzzzzzz. The guy's Lennon book was better but that one wasn't great either. Never seemed to put much energy into analysing/explaining at length the relationship Paul had with the individuals in the group - during its existence and after. Very little on that put endless drivel about stuff that most people aren't really going to care much about - like the Liverpool Institute project. Great project but not looking for a lot of detail on it. Want to know what the relationships were really like. Positives: it did shed light on Paul's immersion in all things artistic/cultural in the mid 60s - things he never got full "credit" for. Also learned more about Linda and she certainly comes off smelling like a Red Rose Speedway for sure.
22 people found this helpful
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No, this is not the book for those wanting to learn about McCartney - don't believe the hype.

If any fan (or even non fan) wants to know anything about McCartney simply pick up any Mark Lewisohn book. This book does nothing other than reiterate other sources, and if you've already read Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now you've heard all this book has said before. McCartney is the source of McCartney, so if you really want to know about him you would also be better served with "In His Own Words (In Their Own Words) Audio CD – Audiobook, CD, Unabridged". Ultimately, Mark Lewisohn is the foremost authority on all things Beatles including solo work, so Mark Lewisohn's books are the ones to choose. This book will teach you nothing, I promise.
21 people found this helpful
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It was narrated by Jonathan Keeble who is an excellent reader. He reads the quotation in the accent ...

I just finished the audiobook of Philip Norman’s Paul McCartney: The Biography. It was narrated by Jonathan Keeble who is an excellent reader. He reads the quotation in the accent of the person being quoted and he is outstanding at it. He does a good impression of Paul McCartney and does a quite creditable American accent.

I have fond memories of Norman’s book about The Beatles, Shout. And I I enjoyed his John Lennon book, John Lennon: The Life. I have read literally hundreds of books about The Beatles and I was surprised at how much new information there was in the Lennon book. I thought The Biography would be a great way to start a summer where I would be seeing Paul live twice and Ringo once. The Biography is an almost total disappointment. If you have read other books about Paul and The Beatles you will find nothing new of any substance in this one. I was repulsed by Norman’s nasty comments about Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono, and occasionally Paul. He complains over and over and over about Linda’s appearance. This is blatantly sexist.

His bitchiness towards Linda extends to a bizarre attack on her work to promote vegetarian foods. He implies that her death from cancer undercuts claims about the health benefits of a vegetarian diet. The scientific evidence about the health benefits of a vegetarian diet are well documented and most of the scientific documentation comes from scientists who are neither vegetarians nor animal rights activists. Anyone who understands science, knows that what the science indicates is that vegetarians have a reduced risk for some types of cancer and some types of heart disease. That does not mean they have no risk. And anyone who knows anything about Paul and Linda knows that they were both heavy smokers which certainly counter acts some of the health benefits of their diet.

The book ends with Norman traveling to a Paul McCartney concert in Liverpool. His account is all about Norman. Norman is included in a Meet & Greet with members of Paul’s family. He actually takes offense at being included among those having their photos taken with Paul.
Norman goes to the concert and then says he has had enough and leaves six songs before the end. I can’t imagine having so little interest in the subject of a biography you have written that you would leave before the end of their live performance. What a jerk.

There were a couple of moving sections in the book, most notably the sections about Paul’s father Jim, and about the deaths of Linda and George Harrison. But these are way too few.

There are plenty of outstanding books about Paul and about The Beatles that are well worth reading. There is absolutely no reason to waste your time on this one.
19 people found this helpful
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Norman glows about Paul while dismissing George

Philip Norman, in his 3rd Beatle-related biography, has proven that he is unable to write about one Beatle without diminishing another. He all but eliminates George Harrison from the story of McCartney’s life. When Harrison is mentioned, it is often in a way that belittles his role in the Beatles, dismisses his talent, and misinterprets his character. In discussing the Beatles’ interest in transcendental meditation, Norman describes Harrison as “leaving behind most of his sense of humour.” And later, in the 1970s, he says “it was becoming clear that whatever talent George possessed had largely rubbed off them [Lennon and McCartney] and, without their stimulus, was already fading fast.” These statements are not merely unnecessary, they also show a gross misunderstanding of Harrison as a man and musician.

Unlike some other reviewers, I actually applaud Norman’s decision to not detail every event of the Beatles’ career during the 60s, but rather to focus on McCartney’s personal life during that time. For one thing, this is a biography of the man, not of the band. But also, the story of the Beatles has been told in great detail by so many writers before. That said, there was very little new information—or even old information with a new perspective—in the first 400 pages.

As Norman states in the introduction, this is the first “serious” biography of McCartney that covers his entire career. Because of that, I was primarily interested in the discussion of his post-Beatles life. Norman does a good job of detailing McCartney’s philanthropic work and giving an overview of his musical career after 1970, but it still doesn’t feel like it is quite enough. And often the weight he puts on certain aspects of McCartney’s life seems out of balance. For instance, Norman devotes approximately 100 pages to the seven years McCartney was married to Heather Mills. This leaves 300 pages for the other 35+ years. The McCartney-Mills relationship/debacle was certainly an important, if difficult, period in his recent life, but that ratio seems out of proportion to the importance of Wings, Linda, the Anthology, etc.

If you have never read a book about McCartney or the Beatles before, this is a reasonable place to start. If, however, you are looking for new insights or a fresh perspective on the man or the band, you probably need to look elsewhere.
16 people found this helpful
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Don't get taken for your money with this WACK JOB AUTHOR

Can you trust a Paul McCartney bio written by a man who once published a death threat poem about McCartney? I mean literally. That's the kind of nut case Philip Norman is. Mascarading under the guise of an intellectual rock n' roll writer, this parasite has spent years making money off of peddling his so-called Beatles expertise while living out some kind of sad, pathetic agenda to level the very musicians he writes about.
9 people found this helpful
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Phillip Norman Strikes Again

Another sack full of lies by miserable excuse for a biographer. As if you'd expect different after his John Lennon bio. I feel terrible that Paul McCartney has to deal with this garbage. Phillip Norman is a disgraceful behemoth who lives on misinformation and greed. Don't give this man your money. The text is not worth the paper it's printed on.
9 people found this helpful
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Tbe whole truth?

Interesting but not accurate on dates. Stories differ from what I have read before but then again, I was not there. Norman tiptoes around some information and I suspect he is trying not to tic Paul off. Interesting tho.
7 people found this helpful
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Very Disappointing

The Beatles have had a profound impact on music and on society. So writing a book about them is a kind of sacred act. Unfortunately, this author misses the mark entirely. He is focused on telling his own story with the Beatles as a backdrop. The overall tone is shallow and self-serving.

For example, “George found Indian religion and lost his sense of humor . . . John dumped his pleasant wife for a Japanese performance artist and went off on weird tangents.”

This is an authorized biography?

If you want a serious book on the Beatles, start with Mark Hertsgaard’s A Day in the Life or any of the biographies by Ray Coleman; or Tim Riley, who dissects the songs brilliantly in Tell Me Why.
7 people found this helpful
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I would recommend Paul Du Noyer's Conversations with McCartney if you are ...

I would recommend Paul Du Noyer's Conversations with McCartney if you are interested in getting some real insight into Paul. As unlike this tired book that just rehashes the same old same old, Conversations with McCartney is Paul talking extensively about his life in his own words. I gave that book 5 stars
7 people found this helpful

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