Author:Peter Doggett
No artist offered a more incisive and accurate portrait of the troubled landscape of the 1970s than David Bowie. Cultural historian Peter Doggett explores the rich heritage of Bowie's most productive and inspired decade, and traces the way in which his music reflected and influenced the world around him. From 'Space Oddity', his dark vision of mankind's voyage into the unknown terrain of space, to the Scary Monsters album, Doggett examines in detail Bowie's audacious creation of an 'alien' rock star, Ziggy Stardust, and his increasingly perilous explorations of the nature of identity and the meaning of fame.
Mixing brilliant musical critique with biographical insight and acute cultural analysis, The Man Who Sold The World is a unique study of a major artist and his times.
Thrilling...takes its place next to Revolution in the Head on the short shelf of necessary reading about pop. Praise doesn't come any higher
—— ObserverA meticulous and engaging insight into the golden years of one of pop's true innovators. For those who love Bowie - a must
—— Mark RadcliffeAn astonishing and absorbing work that expertly unpicks this explosively creative time in Bowie's life... Ultimately, Doggett's insight and enthusiasm should send you back to the music. If you do so the book will ensure you experience something entirely new
—— Sunday TimesCompels you to listen to Bowie's best-known songs afresh and his less obvious songs anew
—— Time OutThis is a book, which can be dipped into as a fine song-by-song guide, but even more so, as an excellent cultural history
—— MojoA forensic analysis of the songs that helped forge his many myths...an impressive, exhaustive account
—— Times Literary SupplementAn exemplary introduction to a star in the making...excellent at placing the sexuality-stretching Bowie within the context of a decade struggling to find its identity
—— MetroPart historical commentary, part fanboy's breakdown of every Bowie song from the era
—— The TimesDoggett exhaustively chases Bowie's inspirations and intentions as he morphs from the gender-bending glam rock Ziggy Stardust to the plastic soul-spinning Thin White Duke
—— Daily TelegraphThis book tracks Bowie's ever changing masks and alter egos... [and] helps answer the question that most Bowie fans have asked at one time or another: what the hell is he on about?
—— Irish TimesDoggett is no uncritical fan – his intimate knowledge of the industry lends him a cool eye when assessing the extent of Bowie’s originality… Overall it will leave readers of a certain age yearning for the days when they could throw their homework on the fire and take the car downtown
—— Sally Morris , Daily MailSuperb
—— The Wordan eminently readable and richly entertaining journey through Rod’s life...with a real sense of fun pervading...a rollicking read
—— Beat Magazinewonderfully written...a page-turner
—— Pat KennyRidiculously funny and astonishingly candid, Rod Stewart's memoir is the rock autobiography of the decade
—— Daily MailOne of the most entertaining, revealing, captivating books of the year
—— IndependentIt’s impossible not to warm to him in this account of booze, drugs and blondes…The tales of on-the-road bad behavior…leave nothing to the imagination…his painful admission of how ex-wife Rachel Hunter broke his heart reveal a man happy to wear his heart on his sleeve….And he wears it well…
—— Daily MailIn Rod Stewart’s raucous, laddish autobiography….his attitude towards women in his life is frequently indefensible but otherwise it’s often laugh-out-load funny
—— HeraldRod Stewart reveals all in a hilarious and, at times, moving book…A brilliant read—you’ll be hooked.
—— Best[Rod] has warm good humour and a nice line in self-deprecation...He wears it well—and tells it even better.
—— Daily MailBy some distance the most entertaining of last year’s...rock star memoirs.
—— Uncut OnlineThis book takes readers on an adventure, that is at times deeply moving, through the life of one of the UK's greatest singers.
—— Hello! onlineRuthlessly entertaining
—— telegraph.co.uk