Miracle and Wonder (Special Edition)

Conversations with Paul Simon

By: Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam

Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, Paul Simon

A musical biography unlike any you’ve ever heard: Paul Simon in conversation with Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam, discussing Simon’s greatest hits, artistic struggles, and what it means to move people through music, now with a new epilogue that finds Paul in Texas continuing to wrestle songs from the universe including for his latest album Seven Psalms.

What happens when Paul Simon, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in music history, and Malcolm Gladwell, the bestselling author and podcast host, sit down together, with a tape recorder and a guitar?

Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon is part memoir, part investigation, and unlike any creative portrait you’ve ever heard before. Recorded over a series of 30 hours of conversation between Simon, Gladwell, and Gladwell’s oldest friend and co-writer, journalist and Broken Record podcast co-host Bruce Headlam, the conversation flows from Simon’s music, to his childhood in Queens, NY, to his frequent collaborators including Art Garfunkel and the nature of creativity itself. Gladwell and Headlam traveled from the mountains of Hawaii to Simon’s own backyard studio to record an artist they’ve idolized since childhood.

Woven throughout the audiobook is distinctive commentary about Simon’s songwriting alongside archival audio footage and never-before-heard live studio versions and original recordings of beloved hits including “The Boxer,” “The Sound of Silence,” and “Graceland”. Between conversations, Gladwell deploys his signature blend of historical research and social science in an attempt to understand how a boy from 1940’s Queens conjured near-perfect songs over an incredible 65-year career. Along the way he gathers reflections on Simon’s particular genius from the likes of Sting, Herbie Hancock, Renee Fleming, Jeff Tweedy, Aaron Lindsey, and Roseanne Cash.

The result is an intimate audio biography of one of America’s most popular songwriters. Brimming with music, and conversation, Miracle and Wonder is a window into Simon’s legendary career, what it means to be alive as an artist, and how to create work that endures.

©2023 Pushkin Industries and Paul Simon (P)2023 Pushkin Industries and Paul Simon

Makes me want to buy Simon's entire catalog

Gladwell weaves an interesting quilt of insights some of which are offered directly to listeners but others appear to have been gifted to Simon given Simon's endorsement of their discerning novelty.

Worry not about restrictive copyright reducing music because this is not YouTube. All but one referenced recording seamlessly accompanies each conversation.

Someone unfamiliar with Paul Simon would hard pressed to date this audiobook given Simon's energy and compassion Gladwell thankfully captured in this time capsule.

The Listener Completes the Song

The conversations about the creative process and Simon’s eternal search for new and interesting sounds were fascinating. His storytelling about the numerous collaborations he has participated in was also very entertaining. Paul Simon’s efforts to elevate diverse voices and honor all people and cultures exemplify the concept “music is the universal language.” The book goes beyond just the personal experiences of one musician and presents his body of work as a valuable gift to the world.

Pretty darn good!

Fun to hear the machinations of the artist. A long career nicely reviewed with Malcolm.

A must for Paul Simon fans

Paul Simon’s music has been a thread through my life. These conversations make sense of why his melodies and lyrics have found permanent real estate in my heart. Thank you for sharing this!

Listen asap & often!

ABSOLUTELY ABOVE AND BEYOND MIRACULOUSLY WONDERFUL! You’ll enjoy it over and over and over and over again!