The Philosophy of Modern Song

By Bob Dylan,

Book cover of The Philosophy of Modern Song

Book description

The Philosophy of Modern Song is Bob Dylan’s first book of new writing since 2004’s Chronicles: Volume One—and since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016.

Dylan, who began working on the book in 2010, offers his extraordinary insight into the nature of popular music. He writes over sixty…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Philosophy of Modern Song as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Not surprisingly, Bob Dylan isn't interested in expectations. Instead, readers go into his mind and off-road as he riffs on 50 songs. Each song gets a retell of his own, which is a bit of a roller coaster ride of voice, almost like he's a medium and the song speaks to us from the dead. Sometimes he adds musical history that most readers will find interesting and surprising. Whether you find it delightful or annoying, sometimes both at the same time, if you stick with it, this book will change your brain.