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Can't Buy Me Love
Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America | Jonathan Gould
10 posts | 2 read | 4 to read
Jonathan Gould's Can't Buy Me Love is more than just a book on the Beatles; it's a stunning recreation of the 1960s in England and America through the prism of the world's most iconic band. The Beatles, perhaps more than any act before or since, were a quintessential product of their time, and Gould brilliantly blends cultural history, musical analysis and group biography to show the unique part they played in the shaping of post-war Britain and America. Gould examines the influence of R&B, rockabilly, skiffle and Motown as the Fab Four forged a sound of their own; he illuminates the mercurial relationship the most productive and lucrative in recording music history between John Lennon and Paul McCartney; he critiques the songs they played and the movies they made, and their impact on competing bands and musicians, as well as on fashion, hairstyles, and humour; and he shows how events on both sides of the Atlantic created exactly the right cultural climate for the biggest music phenomenon of 20th century. Beautifully written, insightful, and wonderfully evocative, this is a magisterial biography by a popular historian of the very first rank.
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CSeydel
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Is it cheating to use the same book for two months? 😂

This book is packed with information and I‘m taking my time and savoring it, trying to absorb the cultural moment that Gould is describing. It requires my full attention (meaning I‘m not reading it in quick hits throughout the week) as it combines history, sociology, psychology, musicology, biography, and cultural analysis. Incredibly written and, at times, hilarious. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

36 likes1 stack add1 comment
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CSeydel
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My nonfiction winner this month is Jonathan Gould‘s excellent Beatles biography, Can‘t Buy Me Love. I haven‘t finished it yet, but it earned its spot by being extremely detailed and well written - and also the only NF I started this month. #readingbracket2024

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CSeydel
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Still working my way through this chunkster. It‘s very detailed and quite well-written. I‘m really enjoying it so far. Also tonight enjoying a peanut butter swirl brownie (Sally‘s Baking Addiction) with coffee in this awesome mug that I got from @Gissy years ago in my first Litsy swap! I still use it all the time.

How‘s everyone‘s #hyggehour this week?

TheBookHippie All of this looks good! 8mo
Soubhiville That brownie sounds like a delight! 8mo
Chrissyreadit I love the mug!!! 8mo
AllDebooks 💚 8mo
43 likes4 comments
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CSeydel
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#HyggeHourReadathon

Just drinking cold water tonight because I‘m feeling warm. Still drinking out of my snowflake mug, though, which I refuse to give up until March 20!

Reading this biography of the Beatles tonight and it‘s really well written. The author includes a lot of historical context for what was going on in the culture at large, very interesting so far!

TheBookHippie ♥️ 8mo
AllDebooks Sounds interesting x 8mo
Chrissyreadit 💛💛💛💛 8mo
50 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Minervasbutler
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Pickpick

Excellent one-stop account for anyone looking for a Beatles biography which places them in their cultural context and includes some knowledgeable yet readable musical analysis.

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MallenNC
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I wasn‘t alive when The Beatles were touring. I‘ve always said if I had a time machine I‘d use it to go back in time and watch shows, especially The Beatles, Elvis, and The Rolling Stones. This year I was finally able to see Paul McCartney in #concert which is the next best thing. I‘d like to read some of these books too. #LetsTravelJuly

OriginalCyn620 Can I go back in time with you and do all that? 😃 5y
MallenNC @OriginalCyn620 Yes! Let‘s go. 5y
31 likes2 comments
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Brooke_H
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Pickpick

This book has cemented itself into my top 5 books about the Beatles. Rather than just a biography of the band, Gould focuses on the music and historical-social events happening in England, the US, and elsewhere in the world, along with how those events had a probable influence on the Beatles' music...and vice versa. So interesting, and written very beautifully. I also really love Gould's occasional snarky asides and observations. Fascinating.

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TrishB
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#cantbuymelove #heyjune
Yay 🎉 there‘s a Beatles book with the title 😁

Tanisha_A Beatles! ♥ 6y
MemoirsForMe 😍 6y
Cathythoughts Perfecto 👍🏻🎉🎉 6y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 6y
Melissa_J Ha ha! I just picked the same book. Great minds think alike, right? 😉 Does your hubs have this one? 6y
TrishB @Melissa_J I couldn‘t see this one of his shelves - a few others but not this one! 6y
123 likes6 comments
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kspenmoll
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In light of the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, thought this book a nice match with #Smellsliketeenspirit #Junetunz
My husband was not quite a teen (12), my older older sister just 13, when the Beatles aired on Ed Sullivan & changed teen spirit forever...I was younger but their music permeated the house!
@Cinfhen

Cinfhen Excellent choice 😍😍😍 7y
33 likes1 comment