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Bob Spitz
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The Beatles: The Biography Hardcover – Nov. 1 2005

by Bob Spitz (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 1,086 ratings
4.1 on Goodreads
13,326 ratings
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Spitz restores the Beatles to what they were: a loud, angry rock and roll band, kids that became gods, not gods who happened to look like kids. This is a biography of the band in full, not merely the story of John and Paul and their two mates from Liverpool.
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  1. Print length
    992 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Little, Brown and Company
  4. Publication date
    Nov. 1 2005
  5. Dimensions
    15.88 x 5.4 x 24.13 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    9780316803526
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0316803526
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. “The worst pain is that of not being wanted,” John confessed, “of realizing your parents do not need you in the way you need them.”
    Highlighted by 89 Kindle readers
  2. Critics tend to credit “I Saw Her Standing There” and “All My Loving” with setting off the initial blast of Beatlemania, but “Please Please Me” was the spark that lit its fuse.
    Highlighted by 78 Kindle readers
  3. No nobis solum set toti mundo nati—You’re born not for yourself but for the whole world.
    Highlighted by 61 Kindle readers
  4. Precision and expression: between them, George and Paul had hit upon the elements that distinguished their future collaboration.
    Highlighted by 56 Kindle readers
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Product description

From Booklist

In just under 1,000 pages, Spitz offers a fresh, terrifically entertaining perspective on the world's most famous rock group. The book is packed with details and anecdotes that bring the Fab Four to life. Immensely talented but humanly flawed, they created remarkable music during an extraordinary time and were often caught up in events and circumstances beyond their control. At first amused by Beatlemania, their attitudes changed to horror when the roar of the crowds came to include death threats, and obligations became unrelenting. Spitz retells many familiar stories: when John met Paul, the triumph in America, the infamous "butcher cover" of ^Yesterday and Today, the debacle in Manila where the Beatles unintentionally jilted First Lady Imelda Marcos, the Beatles-are-more-popular-than-Jesus comment, the remarkable response to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, manager Brian Epstein's death, and the breakup. Good though less well known is the meeting with Elvis in the King's rented house in Bel Air, California; the Beatles, nervous in the presence of a boyhood idol, were unsure about how to act and resorted to embarrassing silence. Spitz's group portrait should now be considered the definitive Beatles biography, especially for new generations of Beatles enthusiasts. June Sawyers
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0316803529
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Nov. 1 2005
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 992 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780316803526
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316803526
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.41 kg
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 5.4 x 24.13 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: #723,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 1,086 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,086 global ratings
Arrived damaged 😡
1 out of 5 stars
Arrived damaged 😡
Book arrive damaged :( bought for my Mom for her university course. She was very disappointed when it arrived to see the front cover bent back from how it was placed in the bag.
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Top reviews from Canada

  • g..g..
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beatles Biography
    Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Great story, well written and filled with info that I had never heard. I was really surprised by the trip John took with Brian Epstein; maybe a little bi? Not many details about that. So much material to reference in there, very loooong book.
    Helpful
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  • Katie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very through
    Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Lots of perspectives shared
    Well written
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars one finds here a biography trying to do its best, done with taste
    Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Despite a previous review that focused on this work's factual errors, one finds here a biography trying to do its best, done with taste, and giving sensible data about how the early "ouuuuh" wanting-to-hold-your-hand Beatles songs were, in ther context, as innovative and revolutionary in the pop landscape than their more obviously experimental latest contributions to the Zeitgeist like Revolver and Sgt Pepper's would be only some 3 years later. A highly recommended eye and ear-opening read that will enlighten fans and detractors alike about how the Beatles are a cultural force to be reckoned with.
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  • Ronald Maheu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed episod of the group
    Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The author offers a very detailed view of the band and all the people involved as well, family, friends, employees, manager etc. From scratch until separation of the group. The financial aspects the ups and downs of each as well as together. I really learned a lot
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rachel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect gift for a Beatles fan
    Reviewed in Canada on July 3, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I got this for my uncle who absolutely loves the Beatles. He has read many biographies and books about them, but he said that this one was by far his favorite. He could not put it down and suggests it to everyone he knows!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reliable, quick delivery
    Reviewed in Canada on November 6, 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Quick delivery, excellent price as always. Thank you
    Helpful
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  • robert gibbard
    3.0 out of 5 stars kind of went on, to long
    Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    lots of detail I didnt need really. could have be 300 pages less
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  • Karie Ann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift
    Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Daughter was very pleased
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Palo
    3.0 out of 5 stars Excessivamente Detalhado
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Com uma narrativa que romantiza cada detalhe da história da vida dos membros dos Beatles, o livro acaba por cansar o leitor com uma pesada carga de histórias paralelas, desde descrições detalhadas das vidas dos avós de cada um, chegando quase na metade do livro antes mesmo de contar sobre a entrada do Ringo Starr na banda. Me incomodou também o endeusamento exagerado, como se a genialidade musical dos garotos de Liverpool transcendesse a divindade. Recomendo apenas para hardcore-fãs da banda.
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  • JC Davenport
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Beatles Origin Story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Setting aside music and the Beatles, I think this is worth reading just as an amazing post World War II history book of British and USA culture. But I do care about music and I "kinda like the Beatles" so this was a super enjoyable read for me. It is also long, with many stories - origin stories. The now legendary, iconic Beatles - were regular people at one time? Yes. In English society they and their world were considered the low folks. This book rewinds and turns legends back into regular people that at once have you not only rooting for them but wondering to yourself how can they ever remotely become what you know in your mind that they will . .

    Then there's the gradual against all odds building excitement and finally when they as a group just clearly reach the tipping point . . mayhem. Not kidding. The world went nuts. They seemed to be just the "outlet" the world was craving . .

    Then over the next 5 years - drama, more drama and music throughout all of it. Finally - relief that they break up in the end.

    To fully enjoy this book I had to take music breaks to listen to the songs as they come. Rock n roll roots. Everly Brothers harmonies turned into next level rockers. Then all of the experimentation. Reading this book is like consecutive podcasts of "Song Exploder" - breaking down how songs were made from the writers perspective. I think what's most cool are the collaborative songs. Despite the solo directions and break-up, they were collaborating up until the end. My favorite (at the moment) but kind of obscure Beatles song is called "You know my name look up the number" that starts off with Lennon, then comes McCartney . . then - well please give it a listen - it's the 4:20 version.

    If you're like me and you have always had the "Disneyfied" version of the Beatles, and you're not into tabloid drama, this book will likely startle. Matter of fact sex and drugs, to accompany the rock n roll does affect the squeaky clean image that, in fact was never true.

    Anyway I thought this would be the best Beatles book to read (if you're only reading one) - and maybe it is. The ending is kind of sad and abrupt, but I think that's the way it really was. I do think they all made some really great music after the breakup. And none of them were the type to go back. As Lennon says here "you can't be that hungry twice."

    Random post Beatles things I think are awesome: 1) The "Get Back" movie 2) SNL Chris Farley interviewing Paul McCartney 3) Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke with James Corden 4) Paul and Ringo still doing live shows in 2025 5) Just about every album George Harrison put out (minus the sitar music) 6) John Lennon's last songs - Watching the Wheels, Nobody Told Me and Just Like Starting Over.
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  • Wieslawa Ostrowska
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Amazing, can't stop reading
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend, thoroughly researched account of the Beatles as a group from start to end
    Reviewed in Australia on February 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    So many details that I never knew before about each of the fab four and those closest to them. I found myself having to look up the meaning of several words, amazing writing but can be heavy going on places. Enjoyed that where facts had been distorted over time and human error, these differences were explained.
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  • MILENA BATISTONI
    5.0 out of 5 stars Completo e interessante
    Reviewed in Italy on November 19, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Bellissimo libro, di piacevole lettura, pieno di informazioni e di analisi approfondite. Ottimo strumento per la conoscenza del gruppo nel contesto della sua epoca. Rende comunque l’atmosfera e l’entusiasmo di un momento indimenticabile.
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