The Beatles

The Biography

By: Bob Spitz

Narrated by: Alfred Molina

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Even before the Beatles hit the big time, a myth was created. This version of the Beatles legend smoothed the rough edges and filled in the fault lines, and for more than forty years this manicured version of the Beatles story has sustained as truth, until now.

The product of almost a decade of research, hundreds of unprecedented interviews, and the discovery of scores of never-before-revealed documents, Bob Spitz's The Beatles is the biography fans have been waiting for.

Never before has a biography of musicians been so immersive and textured. We are there in the McCartney living room when Paul and John learn to write songs together; backstage the night Ringo takes over on drums; in seedy German strip clubs where George lies about his age so the band can perform; and at the Ed Sullivan Show as America discovers the joy and the madness. From Shea to San Francisco, through the London night, on to India, through marmalade skies, across the universe, all the way to a rooftop concert and one last moment of laughter and music.

It is all here, the highs and the lows, the love and the rivalry, the drugs, the tears, the thrill, the magic never again to be repeated. Bob Spitz's masterpiece is, at long last, the biography the Beatles deserve.

©2005 Bob Spitz (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

• Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Non-Fiction, Abridged

"As with all great history writing, Spitz both captures a moment in time and humanizes his subjects. While some will blanch at the unsettling dark sides of the Beatles, most will come to appreciate the band even more for knowing the incredible personal odysseys they endured." (Publishers Weekly)

Fabulous - but abridged

I loved hearing this story deeply — but was frustrated halfway through to find that it was abridged. I ended up buying the book in order to read all the juicy details dropped from this recording.

Audible, why do you hide this rather critical detail?

A personal account of gifted musicians

Engaging from the start, new stories abound almost every few mins. I had to pause to digest the info more than once.

This is must-have. And I think, must listen.

Learned a lot -Loved it

I have listened to other Beatles books. I really enjoyed this book because it starts from the beginning to the end.
I will listen to it again and again to learn new things about my fav band!

History of the Beatles

There is a lot of info on the beginning and the breakdown of the group. It goes into details of how they became so successful. There are a lot of facts here to process. The sad thing is Yoko Ono single handedly broke this amazing group up.

Great Bio Of The Greatest Band Ever!

Going into it I was just a fan without knowing much of their back story. Was really informative and can appreciate their music more knowing the back story to some of the best songs ever created.

The Beatles

Spoke the truth! Covered every aspect of the history surrounding the group well written, keeps the reader engaged.

Well Narrated & Interesting tale of the Beatles

Very well narrated by Molina. Starts great with fine details of how the Beatles came to be, initial days before fame is captured in great detail. Captures the essence and atmosphere quite well. Keeps it interesting and never a dull moment. But I wish the last few years of the band was more detailed. Their time in India, work on the White Album, Abbey Road and Let it be album are just glanced and especially the details of rift between Paul and John could have been more detailed. Really enjoyed this and will highly recommend !

Couldn't stop listening, and learned something new

I gave this book five stars because I kept finding reasons to be in my kitchen to listen to it, because I was surprised and mostly pleased to learn things I didn't know, because it was well-orchestrated, well-read and well-narrated...and because in the ending conclusion, I had tears trickling down my face. In huge retrospect, I think they are like brothers to me, though distant ones, and their music is as glorious as it gets/as it got. Plenty of other bands I adore and songs that are more glorious, but as a body of work, this band--just different and the most special of all. An essential ingredient of my life.

I adored the first half, when I was astounded at the new things I was learning, despite my 17 books on the band and their lyrics, growing up with them, following them so closely. But it almost hurt to be reminded how very mean John was, as I have missed him greatly. And after all these years of forgiveness and casting Yoko in a nice light, in my head, well, I had forgotten how dreadful she behaved and how instrumental she was in breaking up the band. It was worse than I ever remembered.

My only gripe is this was abridged for Audible, and I didn't notice. (I never buy abridgments.) Highly recommended from Audible, anyhow.

Amazing....couldn't stop listening

This book was the most amazing historical account of the rise and fall of the Beatles ever. ANYONE who even has a remote interest in the
Beatles should give this book a litsten. They won't be disappointed.

The Beatles

I think if you grew up with the Beatles or are a big fan of their music you will find this well written biography excellent listening.