Miracle and Wonder

Conversations with Paul Simon

De: Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam

Narrado por: Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, Paul Simon

*For a more up-to-date version check out Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon (Special Edition)

What happens when Paul Simon, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in music history, and Malcolm Gladwell, the best-selling author, 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 1940s 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.

©2021 Pushkin Industries and Paul Simon (P)2021 Pushkin Industries and Paul Simon

A great audio book.

Was a wonderful story of Paul Simon with a chance to hear how songs developed. What made this book special was listening to the music. Not only Paul’s music but where he got his ideas from other artists.

A great listen . . . with a bit too much Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam's "Musical Biography" of Paul Simon is an amazing accomplishment. If, like me, you are a lifelong fan of Simon's, you'll learn a lot about where his inspiration comes from and how he follows his ear to create sounds that resonate and move people. The authors asked the right questions and then assembled the resulting audio in ways that creates, not really an audiobook, but an audio documentary, including music from Simon solo and with Garfunkel, and commentary from the likes of Sting and Rosanne Cash.

I do have one quibble. Gladwell sets out to "solve the mystery" of Paul Simon's genius. In this typical fashion, this is a riddle he tracks down and seeks evidence to understand. His point is that Simon is an experimenter and tinkerer, more like Cezanne than Picasso, and that his constant seeking is what accounts for his incredibly longevity in producing amazing music. The thing is . . . I don't care so much about WHY Simon is a genius, and if you listen to Simon himself, he's not really all that interested either. He just follows the sound. But we have to listen to Gladwell prattle on about this, and that prattling is the least interesting part of this amazing accomplishment.

You do have to wonder if there is a message here about Gladwell and the longevity of his own genius, which has a little less shine on it based on his last two books. Gladwell wants us to know that he's so consistently creative, just as Simon is, that now he can pioneer a new art form, the musical audiobook that has no print book behind it.

So go ahead and listen to this one and enjoy it -- it brought me to tears in several places, including the resonance of Simon's "American Tune," which is as relevant as ever in this fraught moment in America. You don't need to be driven to solve Paul Simon as Gladwell is. Forget the purported destination. You can just enjoy the ride.

Paul Simon is fantastic!

Malcolm Gladwell not so much. He does not seem insightful or smart to me at all. I found him very annoying. But Paul Simon made it worth it!

Spellbound

Everyone MUST listen to this! I was spellbound by this story about a musical master. Listening to his process and hearing the music through Audible was a delight! I didn’t want it to end.

Compelling look at a genius

Having read a great biography of Paul Simon, I was unsure of what I would take away from this. Oh, me of little faith. The questions and observations that Malcolm and Bruce lead Simon through are compelling, and there were so many wonderful surprises. I can’t recommend this enough.

Excellent

Paul Simon was outstanding. It was fantastic to listen to his insights and thoughts. He brought his iconic songs to life and I found the evolution of his career fascinating.

Finally the deeper story we have been waiting for

I have seen many interviews of Paul Simon, and his videos promoting upcoming albums. Yet all of them left so much lacking of the depths that is his artistry. This finally brought that depth. Malcolm Gladwell amazingly intertwined theory, artistry, and reality as Paul shared his thoughts and thought process over the full span of his artistry.

I am now ready to re-listen to the albums after Rhythm of the Saints, because now, I get it. Now, I see the continual artistry, and meaning that is still there, but more challenging to access.

For anyone who has ever heard a Paul Simon song and felt it's meaning, this is a MUST listen to. It brings so much, and so much more. For me, it brings intertwining philosophies and ideas that give me the new insights that will benefit my soul, my business, and my contribution to humanity.

A Must-listen for Anyone Curious about Creative Process

This was an amazing listen. A deep dive into the creative process of one of the world’s most treasured singer-songwriters. I loved Paul Simon before listening but to know the depth of his process is a gift.

Revelatory and Extraordinary

A well-crafted, intimate look at our national treasure. I arrogantly thought I knew Paul Simon (as much as anyone could know a celebrity), and this beautiful conversation showed me just how much I look for granted. I am grateful to the authors for their care and courage to explore this genius.

A wonderful treasure

I have always enjoyed Mr. Simon’s music. The interview with Malcolm interspersed with the music of Mr. Simon, was simply magic.