George Harrison

The Reluctant Beatle

By: Philip Norman

Narrated by: David Holt

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Unprecedented in scope, this rich biography captures George Harrison at his most multi-faceted: devoted friend, loyal son, master guitar player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian mysticism, self-deprecating comedian, and, ultimately, iconic artist and man beloved by millions.

Despite being hailed as one of the best guitarists of his era, George Harrison, particularly in his early decades, battled feelings of inferiority. He was often the butt of jokes from his bandmates owing to his lower-class background and, typically, was allowed to contribute only one or two songs per Beatles album out of the dozens he wrote.

Now, acclaimed Beatles biographer Philip Norman examines Harrison through the lens of his numerous self-contradictions. Compared to songwriting luminaries John Lennon and Paul McCartney he was considered a minor talent, yet he composed such masterpieces as “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Here Comes the Sun,” and his solo debut album “All Things Must Pass” achieved enormous success, appearing on many lists of the 100 best rock albums ever. Modern music critics place him in the pantheon of sixties guitar gods alongside Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, and Jimmy Page.

Harrison railed against the material world yet wrote the first pop song complaining about income tax. He spent years lovingly restoring his Friar Park estate as a spiritual journey, but quickly mortgaged the property to help rescue a film project that would be widely banned as sacrilegious, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Harrison could be fiercely jealous, but not only did he stay friends with Eric Clapton when Clapton fell in love with Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, the two men grew even closer after Clapton walked away with her.

Unprecedented in scope and filled with numerous color photos, this rich biography captures George Harrison at his most multi-faceted: devoted friend, loyal son, master guitar player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian mysticism, self-deprecating comedian, and, ultimately, iconic artist and man beloved by millions.

©2023 Philip Norman (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Superb! An author and narrator team at the top of their game

Superb writing can be beset by bad narrating (and vice versa). But this pairing is as exceptional as the other. By George! This one’s a banger.

Info about Patti

Well researched. Reaches into areas of George’s life that have always been closely hidden. Could do without the unnecessary snide asides sprinkled throughout

Couldn't finish it: Unlistenable Narration

Only got a third of the way through, and didn't hear anything I haven't read before. I couldn't finish because the narration is unlistenable. If cotton candy could narrate a book, it would sound like this guy.

Fantastic

Very detailed excellent I really enjoyed it. I love George even more than ever. Any Beatle game would appreciate it.

Lots of Beatle info, thought needed more George

Lots of Beatle info in droves but wish more of a Georgecentric bio. Narration is a bit grating. wish less drugstore British voice

What an achievement the Beatles made/so young,so determined,so far reaching.

I liked that the writer spent time on each of the Beatles,the group and ;of course on George-certainly the most egmatic.the Narrator has a great voice very easy to listen to. Certainly the “music mogals “ came off as the biggest deceiving crooks/not all, but- so so many. Also a reminder how dangerous and addictive drugs are/ and so many deaths related to drugs and alcohol.

Excellent Biography

Covered most of what I was interested in though some Beatles centered interested were not addressed as thoroughly as I would have liked.

A Deep Dive into the Life of George Harrison

Always a fan of George, I enjoyed this telling of his life story.
I began listening to it while I was home sick an had plenty of time in my hands. I was stunned to find that I had finished the book on the anniversary of his death. Thank you George.

Not good

If you’re expecting insights that reveal George’s personality and soul, impressive research or interesting accounts of his music, don’t even try.

This is not a book about an important musician whose vision helped shape popular music as we know it today, or the pop culture figurehead who brought Indian culture to Western hippies.

It’s about a nondescript, grumpy, slightly hypocritical character who almost by accident happened to be in a band with two more impressive people (and Ringo).

While Norman’s Lennon biography starts with detailed accounts of his genealogy going back generations and every single detail of his pre-fame life seems to be there, in this book you basically learn George hated school and got a guitar from his parents. Well, so have I and so did I.

Then, we get the same cookie cutter Beatles biography you’ve read elsewhere. Sometimes George is mentioned briefly. Perhaps less than John and Paul even. Seems like Norman just recicles his previous Beatles work as filler here to compensate for his failure to write an actual biography of George Harrison.

Then we have hours on the Patti/Clapton triangle thing, which, again, seems to be more about the other two angles than about George.

At some point he records an album called “All Things Must Pass”, which is very successful. We don’t learn much about it, there’s no explanation on its uniqueness, its songs, the creative drive behind it, etc…

Later, when the Beatles and the Clapton thing get out of the way we hear a lot about finance and lawsuits.

Then he dies and we’re almost happy, because this terrible hatchet job is finally over.

Well, to be honest, in the epilogue, the author finally shows some reverence towards the music… of Prince.