The most recommended books about The Beatles

Who picked these books? Meet our 58 experts.

58 authors created a book list connected to The Beatles, and here are their favorite The Beatles books.
When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

What type of The Beatles book?

Loading...
Loading...
Shuffle

Book cover of Musts, Maybes, and Nevers: A Book About The Movies

Glenn Frankel Author Of Shooting Midnight Cowboy: Art, Sex, Loneliness, Liberation, and the Making of a Dark Classic

From my list on Hollywood memoirs that tell the truth.

Why am I passionate about this?

I worked for 27 years at The Washington Post, where I won a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. But when I returned home in 2006, I wanted to write about my own country, and what could be more American than the movies? Theyā€™re a wonderful looking glass into the past, and my books explore the making of an iconic movie and the historical era in which it was created. My recent ones have recounted the making of The Searchers, starring John Wayne, and High Noon, the Gary Cooper classic and its connection to the Hollywood blacklist, a time of vicious conflict eerily similar to our own troubled era.

Glenn's book list on Hollywood memoirs that tell the truth

Glenn Frankel Why did Glenn love this book?

As Hollywoodā€™s Golden Age sputtered to a close and the old studio behemoths collapsed, United Artists became the Little Studio That Still Could, thanks largely to the discerning eye and risk-taking appetite of David Picker, its young head of marketing and production. Under his leadership, UA made deals that snagged the James Bond series, the Beatlesā€™ two feature films, and Woody Allenā€™s best movies. Pickerā€™s formula was simpleā€”sign the most intriguing filmmakers in America and Europe to low-budget, one-movie contracts and then leave them alone to do their finest work. Picker praises his pals and lacerates his foes, including Robert Altman, Otto Preminger, and most especially Bill Cosby, whom he despised long before the sexual assault allegations. Anyone recall Cosbyā€™s woeful Leonard Part 6?

Book cover of Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s

David Browne Author Of Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970

From my list on why the maligned Seventies were pretty awesome.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m a senior writer at Rolling Stone, where I cover a wide range of music-related topics. But as a child of the Seventies, I was shaped by the defining and enthralling pop culture of that era, from singer-songwriters, Southern rock, and disco records to Norman Lear sitcoms. In some of my work, Iā€™ve chronicled the highs and lows of that era, perhaps as a way to answer a question that haunted me during my youth: Why did my older sisters and their friends keep telling me that the Sixties were the most incredible decade ever and the Seventies were awful? What did I miss? And how and where did it all go wrong?

David's book list on why the maligned Seventies were pretty awesome

David Browne Why did David love this book?

What happened to the individual members of the Beatles in the years after the group dissolved? Many books have been devoted to that part of their saga, but few gripped me as much as this detailed, well-researched story of McCartney and his band Wings. Written with the cooperation of Maccaā€”who gave several interviews to Doyleā€”Man on the Run makes you realize how chaotic, unstable, and (to use a period phrase) wild and crazy Wings were, despite the banality of some of their music. In that regard, itā€™s a perfect Seventies story: Beneath the seemingly mellow vibes and image lie a far more turbulent saga, reflecting the way McCartney himself repeatedly grappled with redefining himself after his tenure in arguably the greatest pop group of all time. 

By Tom Doyle,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Man on the Run as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The most famous living rock musician on the planet, Paul McCartney is now regarded as a slightly cosy figure, an (inter)national treasure. Back in the 1970s, however, McCartney cut a very different figure. He was, literally, a man on the run. Desperately trying to escape the shadow of the Beatles, he became an outlaw hippy millionaire, hiding out on his Scottish farmhouse in Kintyre before travelling the world with makeshift bands and barefoot children. It was a time of numerous drug busts and brilliant, banned and occasionally baffling records. For McCartney, it was an edgy, liberating and sometimes frightening periodā€¦


Book cover of Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles

Glenn Dixon Author Of Bootleg Stardust

From my list on the Beatles (from someone who loves them).

Why am I passionate about this?

The first record I ever bought was Magical Mystery Tour when I was no more than twelve or so. Itā€™s what made me want to be a musician myself. Iā€™ve got every Beatle record and I am the kind of guy to study carefully who played what, who wrote what, and how they put it all together. Just before Covid shut down everything, I even went to Abbey Road studios where we recorded some of the songs for my novel (we wrote and recorded all the songs of the fictitious band Downtown Exit). Working in Abbey Road was a dream come true ā€“ to record in the same rooms that the Beatles used. Imagine that. It was wonderful.

Glenn's book list on the Beatles (from someone who loves them)

Glenn Dixon Why did Glenn love this book?

The author is the thing here. Geoff Emerick was the sound engineer at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of the later Beatle albums ā€“ Sgt. Pepper, the White Album, and, yes, Abbey Road. Of course, every Beatle fan knows that George Martin was the Beatleā€™s producer but it was Emerick who set up the microphones and the tape loops. It was Emerick who captured Ringoā€™s drumming the best (pillow in the bass drum) and to a large degree, it was he who helped the Beatles shape their legendary sound.

By Geoff Emerick, Howard Massey,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Here, There and Everywhere as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An all-access, firsthand account of the life and music of one of history's most beloved bands--from an original mastering engineer at Abbey Road
Geoff Emerick became an assistant engineer at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in 1962 at age fifteen, and was present as a new band called the Beatles recorded their first songs. He later worked with the Beatles as they recorded their singles ā€œShe Loves Youā€ and ā€œI Want to Hold Your Hand,ā€ the songs that would propel them to international superstardom. In 1964 he would witness the transformation of this young and playful group from Liverpool intoā€¦


Book cover of Good Day Sunshine State: How the Beatles Rocked Florida

Richard D. Driver Author Of That Was Me: Paul McCartney's Career and the Legacy of the Beatles

From Richard's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Historian Professor Beatles and Paul McCartney fan Pop music enthusiast Dad

Richard's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Richard D. Driver Why did Richard love this book?

In this engaging narrative, Bob Kealing explores the Beatles' first trips to the United States, civil rights activism, and changing political dynamics within the nation.

I was familiar with the Beatles and their trips to Miami, Florida, in February 1964 and Key West in September 1964, and this book revealed more to me about the intersections of their popularity. Kealingā€™s discussion of the St. Augustine Movement and the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr., which challenged segregation in Florida ahead of the passage of the Civil Rights Act, added valuable context for my love of the Beatles and teaching courses in U.S. history.

Kealingā€™s narrative is riveting and brought the Beatles and their fans to life with opportunities gained challenging systems of segregation and cultural division in mid-1960s America.

By Bob Kealing,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Good Day Sunshine State as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The musical and cultural impact of the Fab Four in Florida

In 1964, Beatlemania flooded the United States. The Beatles appeared live on the Ed Sullivan Show and embarked on their first tour of North America-and they spent more time in Florida than anywhere else. Good Day Sunshine State dives into this momentous time and place, exploring the band's seismic influence on the people and culture of the state.

Bob Kealing sets the historical stage for the band's arrival-a nation dazed after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and on the precipice of the Vietnam War; a heavily segregated, conservativeā€¦


Book cover of Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970

Liisa Kyle Author Of Be More Creative: 101 Activities to Unleash and Grow Your Creativity

From my list on the early lives of rock stars.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a life coach and author of two dozen self-help books, Iā€™ve spent the past twenty years helping people to be more creative. I love reading about the early lives of artists because it is an engaging way to learn about the creative process. Even rock stars have doubts, insecurities, regrets, and setbacks. Yet, fueled by their passions, they persist. They overcome their obstacles and pursue unique paths to success. These books are inspirational and informative for anyone with a creative dream.

Liisa's book list on the early lives of rock stars

Liisa Kyle Why did Liisa love this book?

In the space of one year (1970), the Beatles broke up, James Taylor became an overnight star, and Simon and Garfunkle reached the height of their popularity, Crosby Stills Nash & Young formed a wildly successful group and then disbanded. Their stories intertwine in unexpected ways, embroidered with interactions of dozens of other rock icons who would shape the music of the seventies. 

By David Browne,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Fire and Rain as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Set against a backdrop of world-changing historical and political events, Fire and Rain tells the extraordinary story of one pivotal year in the lives and music of four legendary artists, and reveals how these artists and their songs both shaped and reflected their times. Drawing on interviews, rare recordings, and newly discovered documents, acclaimed journalist David Browne allows us to see,and to hear,the elusive moment when the '60s became the '70s in a completely fresh way" (Mark Harris, author of Pictures at a Revolution ).


Book cover of The Beatles: An Illustrated Record

Daniel de VisƩ Author Of King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King

From my list on music books to build a record collection.

Why am I passionate about this?

Music has obsessed me since I got my first record player, around age five, and learned how to play the stack of used Beatles records that seeded my collection. I could probably pick a favorite music book from every decade of my life, and this list isnā€™t far off.

Daniel's book list on music books to build a record collection

Daniel de VisƩ Why did Daniel love this book?

This floppy paperback matched the dimensions of an actual record, a geometry that made you feel you were flipping through your Beatles albums as you read it. It came to me as a birthday or Christmas present, probably around age eight. I read it cover to cover, over and over, memorizing entire passages like biblical verses. It was pretty much my only book until I discovered Mad magazine, around age ten. You could do a lot worse.

By Roy Carr, Tony Tyler,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Beatles as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A comprehensive critical guide to the recordings of the Beatles includes over two hundred photographs tracing the lives and careers of these legendary rock stars


Book cover of Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS

Katta Kis Author Of Love in the Liner Notes

From my list on for pop star lovers.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve had a love-hate relationship with pop music since I was a kid singing Britney Spearā€™s ā€œLuckyā€ with my friends. Eventually, I evolved into a punk-ass cynical teenager who disavowed my love of pop, but the fascination remained. In college, I started a pop star romance that wouldā€“many, many years laterā€“become my debut book Love in the Liner Notes. In the process, I read an obsessively large number of books touching on music, celebrities, musicians, and the entertainment industry. I hope you enjoy a selection of my favorites, mostly romances (what can I say, I have a type) that brought me the kind of joy only a pop star can. 

Katta's book list on for pop star lovers

Katta Kis Why did Katta love this book?

I love reading about pop culture history and this was a technicolor burst of educational joy.

Written by a fan, this book was not a critical examination on the boy band industry but it was a delightful high-level look at male vocal groups from the Beatles to BTS. As someone with a fascination with fan culture, celebrity culture, and pop music, this book filled in some of the gaps in my knowledge, made me giggle, and brought back memories of my neighborā€™s Tiger Beat posters.

By Maria Sherman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Larger Than Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The music, the fans, the choreography, the clothes, the merch, the hysteria... the hair. The pop phenomenon that dominated the 1990s and 2000s has left a long-lasting mark on culture, yet no book has fully celebrated them. Maria Sherman has a deep love of boy bands and has written extensively on them for Jezebel, where she currently works, as well as in Rolling Stone, Vulture, and more. In this book, her first, she celebrates the boy band revolution with a mix of serious fandom and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. Larger Than Life begins with a brief look at the history ofā€¦


Book cover of The Pepper Effect: Tap into the Magic of Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation

Ryan Rydzewski and Gregg Behr Author Of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids

From my list on teaching creative, curious, caring kids.

Why are we passionate about this?

For more than five years, weā€™ve been asking ourselves a question: How? How did Mister Rogers help millions of kids feel accepted, special, and safe? Was there a method to what he did? Was there a blueprint he left behindā€”one that we might continue to learn from today? The answer, of course, is yes. In fact, weā€™re only scratching the surface of what we can learn from Fred Rogers and the incredible educators, researchers, and authors who are following in his footsteps. We hope youā€™ll find echoes of the Neighborhoodā€”and the feelings that Fred inspiredā€”in each of the books weā€™ve listed here.

Ryan's book list on teaching creative, curious, caring kids

Ryan Rydzewski and Gregg Behr Why did Ryan love this book?

This book combines a few of our favorite things: creativity, collaboration, andā€¦The Beatles?!

Using one of the best albums of all timeā€”Sgt. Pepperā€™s Lonely Hearts Club Bandā€”author Sean Gaillard shows educators what it takes to build the kind of school that every child deserves. Can you imagine walking into a schoolhouse thatā€™s bursting with the energy of Sgt. Pepper?

Gaillard shows itā€™s possible, and he makes sure we have some fun along the way.

By Sean Gaillard,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Pepper Effect as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Make Your School a Masterpiece Can you imagine starting a school day with the festive, circus-like nature of the Beatlesā€™ music? That kind of positivity, says authorā€“educator Sean Gaillard, is the attitude ā€œall schoolhouses must be rooted in, as we are in the collective agency for world-changing work.ā€ In The Pepper Effect, Gaillard uses Sgt. Pepperā€™s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles as a template for inspiring the educators and principals to become more positive, innovative, creative, and collaborativeā€”and for encouraging students to do the same. The book explores the four steps necessary for creating the conditions for motivation,ā€¦


Book cover of The Beatles: The Only Ever Authorised Biography

Spencer Leigh Author Of Little Richard: Send Me Some Lovin'

From my list on the Beatles.

Why am I passionate about this?

We all know Little Richardā€™s great hits like "Long Tall, Sally", "Tutti Frutti" and "Good Golly Miss Molly" and Little Richardā€™s life was as wild as his records. Itā€™s excess all areas as Spencer Leigh tells the story of Little Richard in Send Me Some Lovin. It is a biography of someone who transformed popular music. Spencer Leigh was born in 1945 and hearing Little Richard for the first time in 1956 changed his life. He is a world expert on the Beatles and he has written a series of music-based biographies ā€“ Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel ā€“ all of which are full of facts and opinions.

Spencer's book list on the Beatles

Spencer Leigh Why did Spencer love this book?

Published in 1968, this is the only authorised biography of the Beatles.

Davies was in the room when Lennon and McCartney were songwriting, providing insights worth the price of admission alone. He could have interviewed more of the outriders but on the other hand, this is a brilliant account of their claustrophobic world.

By Hunter Davies,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Beatles as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

There's only one book that ever truly got inside the Beatles and this is it. The landmark, worldwide bestseller that has grown with the Beatles ever since.

During 1967 and 1968 Hunter Davies spent eighteen months with the Beatles at the peak of their powers as they defined a generation and rewrote popular music. As their only ever authorised biographer he had unparalleled access - not just to John, Paul, George and Ringo but to friends, family and colleagues. There when it mattered, he collected a wealth of intimate and revealing material that still makes this the classic Beatles bookā€¦


Book cover of A Women's History of the Beatles

Nicholas Tochka Author Of Rocking in the Free World: Popular Music and the Politics of Freedom in Postwar America

From my list on making you rethink everything about rock ā€™nā€™ roll.

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi, my name is Nick, and Iā€™m a recovering rockist. Iā€™ve collected records and vintage gear; Iā€™ve owned Ray Coleman biographies. Iā€™ve played in garage bands that did terrible punk-rock covers of songs like Creamā€™s ā€œSunshine of Your Love.ā€ I even used to subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine. And most embarrassingly, I believed in the power of rock ā€“ to effect political change, to free peopleā€™s bodies and minds. But if once I was a true believer, today Iā€™ve become a rock ā€™nā€™ roll skeptic. And I hope that this list might help you rethink everything you thought you knew about rock, too.

Nicholas' book list on making you rethink everything about rock ā€™nā€™ roll

Nicholas Tochka Why did Nicholas love this book?

Over the past few decades, so much writing about rock has sought to overturn received wisdom about the music.

Feldman-Barrettā€™s excellent, funny, and beautifully written book ā€“ re-examining the Beatles in relation to the lives of women ā€“ is the best kind of alternative history. She turns the story of the Beatles upside down, and makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about the group.

By Christine Feldman-Barrett,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Women's History of the Beatles as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner of the 2022 Open Publication Prize by the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM-ANZ) A Women's History of the Beatles is the first book to offer a detailed presentation of the band's social and cultural impact as understood through the experiences and lives of women. Drawing on a mix of interviews, archival research, textual analysis, and autoethnography, this scholarly work depicts how the Beatles have profoundly shaped and enriched the lives of women, while also reexamining key, influential female figures within the group's history. Organized topically based on key themes important to the Beatles story, eachā€¦


Book cover of Musts, Maybes, and Nevers: A Book About The Movies
Book cover of Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s
Book cover of Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,690

readers submitted
so far, will you?