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George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle
From the author of the million-copy selling Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation and the bestselling John The Life comes a revealing portrait of George Harrison, the most undervalued and mysterious Beatle.
Despite being hailed as one of the best guitarists of his era, George Harrison, particularly in his early decades, battled feelings of inferiority. He was often the butt of jokes from his bandmates owing to his lower-class background and, typically, was allowed to contribute only one or two songs per Beatles album out of the dozens he wrote.
Now, acclaimed Beatles biographer Philip Norman examines Harrison through the lens of his numerous self-contradictions. Compared to songwriting luminaries John Lennon and Paul McCartney he was considered a minor talent, yet he composed such masterpieces as ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ and ‘Here Comes the Sun’, and his solo debut album ‘All Things Must Pass’ achieved enormous success, appearing on many lists of the 100 best rock albums ever. Modern music critics place him in the pantheon of Sixties guitar gods alongside Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards and Jimmy Page.
Harrison railed against the material world yet wrote the first pop song complaining about income tax. He spent years lovingly restoring his Friar Park estate as a spiritual journey, but quickly mortgaged the property to help rescue a film project that would be widely banned as sacrilegious, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Harrison could be fiercely jealous, but not only did he stay friends with Eric Clapton when Clapton fell in love with Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd, the two men grew even closer after Clapton walked away with her.
Unprecedented in scope and filled with numerous colour photos, this rich biography captures George Harrison at his most devoted friend, loyal son, master guitar-player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian mysticism, self-deprecating comedian and, ultimately, iconic artist and man beloved by millions.
Despite being hailed as one of the best guitarists of his era, George Harrison, particularly in his early decades, battled feelings of inferiority. He was often the butt of jokes from his bandmates owing to his lower-class background and, typically, was allowed to contribute only one or two songs per Beatles album out of the dozens he wrote.
Now, acclaimed Beatles biographer Philip Norman examines Harrison through the lens of his numerous self-contradictions. Compared to songwriting luminaries John Lennon and Paul McCartney he was considered a minor talent, yet he composed such masterpieces as ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ and ‘Here Comes the Sun’, and his solo debut album ‘All Things Must Pass’ achieved enormous success, appearing on many lists of the 100 best rock albums ever. Modern music critics place him in the pantheon of Sixties guitar gods alongside Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards and Jimmy Page.
Harrison railed against the material world yet wrote the first pop song complaining about income tax. He spent years lovingly restoring his Friar Park estate as a spiritual journey, but quickly mortgaged the property to help rescue a film project that would be widely banned as sacrilegious, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Harrison could be fiercely jealous, but not only did he stay friends with Eric Clapton when Clapton fell in love with Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd, the two men grew even closer after Clapton walked away with her.
Unprecedented in scope and filled with numerous colour photos, this rich biography captures George Harrison at his most devoted friend, loyal son, master guitar-player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian mysticism, self-deprecating comedian and, ultimately, iconic artist and man beloved by millions.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2023
406 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
August 25, 2023
My ultimate favorite Beatles biography is "Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation" which was published in 1981 by this author. My son read it a few years ago and savored it also, finding its depth of information useful prior to his interview as a Beatles historian. My elder brother is reading it now, and commented to me in wonder at the research that must have gone into it. So I approached this reading of his George Harrison biography with a lot of expectation.
Roughly the first half of the book is comprised of George's birth, inclusion into The Beatles and their rise to fame. Because of Norman's previous incredibly detailed 1981 biography of The Beatles, I was comparing this portion and finding it less dense and rich than I remembered. In hindsight this had to be- because when the prior Beatles biography was written it was 1981, so imagine the breadth of facts crammed into an entire book covering just that 20-year period. Here it is over forty years later, and Norman had to flesh out Harrison's later solo musical career, second marriage, involvement with making movies (HandMade Films), home invasion/murder attempt, extra-marital affairs, and two bouts with cancer- which ultimately took him from us. As a hardcore Beatles fan, I confess I was so unimpressed with the beginning section that had I not been reviewing this I might have put it aside. However, a casual Beatles fan probably would ingest this as a first primer on the subject, and not find it boring.
The second half of the book was a game changer for me. The focus on George Harrison commenced and blossomed for the remainder of the book. I learned a lot of new George Harrison minutiae and loved it. The intense recounting of a deranged fan that broke into his home Friar Park and stabbed him 40 times was riveting and horrifying. The coverage regarding his medical travails with cancer and acceptance of impending death was very informative and poignant. As I closed the book contentment settled over me and I was grateful for the ride.
Thank you to the publisher Scribner who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
November 11, 2023
A hundred pages in. So far, so familiar. No surprises, which in itself shouldn't be a surprise. It's a story that's been told a hundred times before. I haven't read Norman's books on Lennon and McCartney, but this one feels like an afterthought. Shame, as I've always found Harrison the most interesting of the Fab Four. The book might improve. But my expectations are not high. At least you can read it quickly. Clinton Heylin's Dylan biography that I've just finished was the intellectual equivalent of wading through treacle.
Philip Norman is like a novelist who writes the same story book after book until it becomes so refined the writing becomes effortless. This effortlessness can sometimes descend into the insubstantial. And there's a slick, almost facile, feel to it. But it's still a fascinating story well told.
I always thought the phrase 'a hard day's night' came from Ringo, not Lennon. I'm sure I read/heard an interview with McCartney stating this. And then Lennon used it.
It was Robbie Robertson who invited Harrison to Woodstock. And Harrison stayed with Dylan's manager, Albert Grossman, not Dylan. According to Robbie Robertson, at least.
No part of Apple was based in Friar Park, was it?
In the only video I've seen of Frank Sinatra singing Something, he definitely attributes it to George Harrison. Maybe he attributed it to Lennon and McCartney somewhere else, but I've only heard him attribute it to Harrison.
I have to be honest, this is a pretty flimsy affair. It might do if you've never read anything about George Harrison and you want a basic introduction. But if you've read other biographies of Harrison, then this is pretty underwhelming stuff. I'll read it to the end because it isn't that demanding a read. But a masterpiece it most definitely is not.
Norman's going to cover everything from Harrison's release of Living in a Material World (1973) to Harrison's death in 2001 in a little over a hundred pages?! It's getting flimsier and flimsier. I'm struggling to see the point.
All I can say as I get towards the end is: George Harrison deserves better than this. The kindest thing you can say is, to include the whole story and all the details, a multi volume biography would be necessary.
From the last two books I've read - this and the Dylan book - one thing is clear. Just about everything on these subjects has been said. Repeatedly. All that's left now is to repackage it in a different way and keep the money rolling in. Well, except for the Lewisohn Beatles trilogy, I for one am done.
Credit to Norman, though, for his apology at the end. He said he made a mistake. He's apologised. And for that he should be given some credit.
Philip Norman is like a novelist who writes the same story book after book until it becomes so refined the writing becomes effortless. This effortlessness can sometimes descend into the insubstantial. And there's a slick, almost facile, feel to it. But it's still a fascinating story well told.
I always thought the phrase 'a hard day's night' came from Ringo, not Lennon. I'm sure I read/heard an interview with McCartney stating this. And then Lennon used it.
It was Robbie Robertson who invited Harrison to Woodstock. And Harrison stayed with Dylan's manager, Albert Grossman, not Dylan. According to Robbie Robertson, at least.
No part of Apple was based in Friar Park, was it?
In the only video I've seen of Frank Sinatra singing Something, he definitely attributes it to George Harrison. Maybe he attributed it to Lennon and McCartney somewhere else, but I've only heard him attribute it to Harrison.
I have to be honest, this is a pretty flimsy affair. It might do if you've never read anything about George Harrison and you want a basic introduction. But if you've read other biographies of Harrison, then this is pretty underwhelming stuff. I'll read it to the end because it isn't that demanding a read. But a masterpiece it most definitely is not.
Norman's going to cover everything from Harrison's release of Living in a Material World (1973) to Harrison's death in 2001 in a little over a hundred pages?! It's getting flimsier and flimsier. I'm struggling to see the point.
All I can say as I get towards the end is: George Harrison deserves better than this. The kindest thing you can say is, to include the whole story and all the details, a multi volume biography would be necessary.
From the last two books I've read - this and the Dylan book - one thing is clear. Just about everything on these subjects has been said. Repeatedly. All that's left now is to repackage it in a different way and keep the money rolling in. Well, except for the Lewisohn Beatles trilogy, I for one am done.
Credit to Norman, though, for his apology at the end. He said he made a mistake. He's apologised. And for that he should be given some credit.
January 19, 2024
I'm impressed by the thoroughness of Norman's research. He covers all aspects of the life of George Harrison, warts and all. I learned some things despite the plethora of material available on all the Beatles.
Success has a way of changing everyone who achieves it, and the members of the Beatles were a good example of rags to riches. George wasn't perfect, but this biography helped me to understand his mindset, and how events in his life affected his character. He definitely deserved a bigger spotlight when performing with the Beatles. Too often his contributions were made light of, and the songwriting talents of Lennon and McCartney left little room for his compositions.
He was indeed a trailblazer. "Taxman" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" are personal favorites.
Success has a way of changing everyone who achieves it, and the members of the Beatles were a good example of rags to riches. George wasn't perfect, but this biography helped me to understand his mindset, and how events in his life affected his character. He definitely deserved a bigger spotlight when performing with the Beatles. Too often his contributions were made light of, and the songwriting talents of Lennon and McCartney left little room for his compositions.
He was indeed a trailblazer. "Taxman" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" are personal favorites.
May 12, 2025
My earliest music memories heavily feature The Beatles. My guitar playing dad could not get enough of them. I shared that love until my teen years, when his (and my sister’s) obsession burnt me out on their music. It became a topic I avoided until this book appeared in my house. Seeing it stirred up the past and I realized I was in a place where I did want to listen to the band again and that I wanted to know more about them. I also wanted to know why my husband favored George Harrison (he was the one that bought the book). After reading it, I can confidently say I agree with him. The man was interesting as hell.
This book covers George Harrison’s life from birth to death, with a focus on his music career. I loved the detailed information it provided. I did question the validity of some of it because of the way it was stated, so more research is needed. Which brings me to the writing style, it was not my favorite. I am not sure I would read more books by this author because of it.
Things I learned:
- George’s connection to Monty Python. Another thing my dad introduced me to. I will forever quote lines from their comedy skits and movies.
- George’s connection to Eric Clapton. I am going to sound like a broken record here, but my dad was also a huge fan of Eric Clapton. I really like his music, I do not like the person he has shown the world that he is.
“It was a dark time for someone who, in his ex-wife’s words, had ‘never bumped into life before.’ It saw Clapton, in an abyss of sorrow and guilt, write ‘Tears in Heaven,” a requiem for Conor that, paradoxically, became his bestselling single ever and won a clutch of awards bringing him no more joy than so many coffin nails.”
- George’s connection to Oasis. When I ventured out on my own music journey, this was a band I listened to a lot. One of the bands my dad labeled “not talented enough” to compare to the greats he listened to.
“The biggest by far were Oasis from Manchester, fronted by two brothers, songwriter Noel and vocalist Liam Gallagher, virtually a Beatles tribute band who’d even named one of their mega-selling singles ‘Wonderwall” after George’s first solo album, Wonderwall Music.”
Quotes with reasons:
I always felt Yoko Ono got blamed for a thing that took two people to create. He chose her, she chose him. The blame for what came of that was equal.
“As the one currently on best terms with Yoko, Paul was deputed to ask her approval of the project but received much more. She gave him a cassette tape on which John had recorded four demos during his supposed retirement from ‘the game,’ when in reality he’d never stopped watching and competing with his old songwriting partner.”
“The others were given license to overdub their accompaniments to these home recordings without Yoko being present or any creative input from her. Thus the woman universally accused of breaking up the Beatles was to be responsible for bringing them back together, musically if not corporeally.”
One of my favorite Harrison songs happens to be “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.
“That day George had been musing about the I Ching (Book of Changes), the ancient Chinese text which holds that everything happens for a pre-ordained reason and there are no such things as coincidences. Then, opening a book at random, the first words he read were ‘gently weeps’”.
I have watched the tribute video that included Prince more times than I can count. Prince is another musician I reached for with open arms during my teenage years when I was searching for my own musical identity.
“The book gets comprehensively rewritten, however, when a slight figure walks onstage unannounced, wearing a pink trilby hat, an explosion of pink shirtfront, and a charcoal-gray frock coat, thigh-high length on one side, knee-length on the other. It’s the artist who, despite his change of name to an unpronounceable hieroglyphic, will always be known as Prince.”
I end this review with a request. The next time you have a free moment and feel like jamming out to a good tune, give “End of the Line” by the Traveling Wilburys a listen.
“Well, it's all right, even if the sun don't shine
Well, it's all right, we're going to the end of the line”
This book covers George Harrison’s life from birth to death, with a focus on his music career. I loved the detailed information it provided. I did question the validity of some of it because of the way it was stated, so more research is needed. Which brings me to the writing style, it was not my favorite. I am not sure I would read more books by this author because of it.
Things I learned:
- George’s connection to Monty Python. Another thing my dad introduced me to. I will forever quote lines from their comedy skits and movies.
- George’s connection to Eric Clapton. I am going to sound like a broken record here, but my dad was also a huge fan of Eric Clapton. I really like his music, I do not like the person he has shown the world that he is.
“It was a dark time for someone who, in his ex-wife’s words, had ‘never bumped into life before.’ It saw Clapton, in an abyss of sorrow and guilt, write ‘Tears in Heaven,” a requiem for Conor that, paradoxically, became his bestselling single ever and won a clutch of awards bringing him no more joy than so many coffin nails.”
- George’s connection to Oasis. When I ventured out on my own music journey, this was a band I listened to a lot. One of the bands my dad labeled “not talented enough” to compare to the greats he listened to.
“The biggest by far were Oasis from Manchester, fronted by two brothers, songwriter Noel and vocalist Liam Gallagher, virtually a Beatles tribute band who’d even named one of their mega-selling singles ‘Wonderwall” after George’s first solo album, Wonderwall Music.”
Quotes with reasons:
I always felt Yoko Ono got blamed for a thing that took two people to create. He chose her, she chose him. The blame for what came of that was equal.
“As the one currently on best terms with Yoko, Paul was deputed to ask her approval of the project but received much more. She gave him a cassette tape on which John had recorded four demos during his supposed retirement from ‘the game,’ when in reality he’d never stopped watching and competing with his old songwriting partner.”
“The others were given license to overdub their accompaniments to these home recordings without Yoko being present or any creative input from her. Thus the woman universally accused of breaking up the Beatles was to be responsible for bringing them back together, musically if not corporeally.”
One of my favorite Harrison songs happens to be “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.
“That day George had been musing about the I Ching (Book of Changes), the ancient Chinese text which holds that everything happens for a pre-ordained reason and there are no such things as coincidences. Then, opening a book at random, the first words he read were ‘gently weeps’”.
I have watched the tribute video that included Prince more times than I can count. Prince is another musician I reached for with open arms during my teenage years when I was searching for my own musical identity.
“The book gets comprehensively rewritten, however, when a slight figure walks onstage unannounced, wearing a pink trilby hat, an explosion of pink shirtfront, and a charcoal-gray frock coat, thigh-high length on one side, knee-length on the other. It’s the artist who, despite his change of name to an unpronounceable hieroglyphic, will always be known as Prince.”
I end this review with a request. The next time you have a free moment and feel like jamming out to a good tune, give “End of the Line” by the Traveling Wilburys a listen.
“Well, it's all right, even if the sun don't shine
Well, it's all right, we're going to the end of the line”
March 31, 2024
My Top 5 George Harrison Songs
1. Something
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Here Comes the Sun
4. Got My Mind Set on You
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
First of all justice for Pattie Boyd. Anytime I've heard of this woman she's been painted as this awful slut who left her husband George Harrison for his best friend Eric Clapton. She's a villian...but if anything Pattie was a woman married to an emotionally abusive husband who fell in love with his emotionally abusive friend. Pattie deserves respect for the Hell she went through and for being the inspiration behind 2 of the greatest Rock & Roll songs of all time Something by the Beatles and Layla by Eric Clapton.
Moving on...
I'm not a big fan of the Beatles. I like a couple of their songs but I mostly think they're overrated. Most of my favorite Beatles songs are either covers or written by George Harrison...therefore George is my favorite Beatle. A couple years ago I watched the Beatles doc Get Back on Disney+ and while it was entirely too long I thought it was a good documentary. George seemed way too shy to be such a huge star.
As I read this biography I got the feeling that the author didn't really like George. It was just the way he seemed to always question George's motives in a way he didn't with John & Paul....I won't even comment on how he treated Ringo like child without any agency. I didn't know anything about this author but I just felt like he had a disdain for George. I was proven right when in the acknowledgement he apologized for writing a rude obituary for George after he died. It was so rude and disrespectful that he had to write George's widow and son a letter of apology. The author claims his opinions of George have changed but I don't know if that's true.
George Harrison was a complicated man. He was a talented songwriter and guitarist but he probably never should have been famous. He wasn't built for fame. He was a shy and easily annoyed man who didn't seem to enjoy being around people. He made lots of mistakes in life including having an affair with Ringo's wife but he was also a great friend. He and Ringo remained friends as did he and Eric Clapton. On his death bed he offered to go be with Ringo while Ringo's daughter fought cancer.
I probably won't recommend this book but this author has written other books about the Beatles so he is in some ways a Beatles expert. I think I would have preferred it if he just admitted he doesn't like George Harrison. I think then you can properly weigh the information he's giving you.
1. Something
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Here Comes the Sun
4. Got My Mind Set on You
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
First of all justice for Pattie Boyd. Anytime I've heard of this woman she's been painted as this awful slut who left her husband George Harrison for his best friend Eric Clapton. She's a villian...but if anything Pattie was a woman married to an emotionally abusive husband who fell in love with his emotionally abusive friend. Pattie deserves respect for the Hell she went through and for being the inspiration behind 2 of the greatest Rock & Roll songs of all time Something by the Beatles and Layla by Eric Clapton.
Moving on...
I'm not a big fan of the Beatles. I like a couple of their songs but I mostly think they're overrated. Most of my favorite Beatles songs are either covers or written by George Harrison...therefore George is my favorite Beatle. A couple years ago I watched the Beatles doc Get Back on Disney+ and while it was entirely too long I thought it was a good documentary. George seemed way too shy to be such a huge star.
As I read this biography I got the feeling that the author didn't really like George. It was just the way he seemed to always question George's motives in a way he didn't with John & Paul....I won't even comment on how he treated Ringo like child without any agency. I didn't know anything about this author but I just felt like he had a disdain for George. I was proven right when in the acknowledgement he apologized for writing a rude obituary for George after he died. It was so rude and disrespectful that he had to write George's widow and son a letter of apology. The author claims his opinions of George have changed but I don't know if that's true.
George Harrison was a complicated man. He was a talented songwriter and guitarist but he probably never should have been famous. He wasn't built for fame. He was a shy and easily annoyed man who didn't seem to enjoy being around people. He made lots of mistakes in life including having an affair with Ringo's wife but he was also a great friend. He and Ringo remained friends as did he and Eric Clapton. On his death bed he offered to go be with Ringo while Ringo's daughter fought cancer.
I probably won't recommend this book but this author has written other books about the Beatles so he is in some ways a Beatles expert. I think I would have preferred it if he just admitted he doesn't like George Harrison. I think then you can properly weigh the information he's giving you.
August 8, 2023
This biography starts with George's childhood in Liverpool, in a loving but poor family. George wrote some great songs, but apparently felt marginalized by John and Paul. They all got into Eastern religions, but that didn't deter George from his fondness for cocaine and women, including Ringo's wife, and the way he treated his wife Pattie was just sad. I was very surprised when I read in the afterward that the author had interviewed neither George's wife Olivia nor his son Dhani. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
March 23, 2024
Interesting book about the youngest beatle in some detail
January 28, 2024
Another solid bio from Norman detailing the birth, incredible life, and passing of the “quiet” Beatle George Harrison.
The only band member to grow up with parents who didn’t divorce or pass on early in the band’s career, George grew up playing the guitar and though always in the shadow of John and Paul, he grew into a competent and solid songwriter.
Norman runs through the highs and lows and into all the solo albums. More pages going into some of the latter solo albums in depth would have been appreciated, but as it is I would highly recommend this book to all George fans.
The only band member to grow up with parents who didn’t divorce or pass on early in the band’s career, George grew up playing the guitar and though always in the shadow of John and Paul, he grew into a competent and solid songwriter.
Norman runs through the highs and lows and into all the solo albums. More pages going into some of the latter solo albums in depth would have been appreciated, but as it is I would highly recommend this book to all George fans.
August 21, 2024
A totally enjoyable read about my favorite Beatle. To be as fantastic a human as he was while making it clear he was the Reluctant one just shows how far-reaching and acute his talents were. Bonus that readers also get a run down on his non-Beatle buddies. . .the Erics, Idle and Clapton.
Philip Norman presents a fair and balanced overview of this remarkable man's life - he just wanted a normal life, a great guitar and to have fun. Everything else was serendipitous. If you are looking for a palate cleanser, this might be the one. Be sure to have tunes running in the background. His, of course.
*A sincere thank you to Philip Norman, Scribner, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*
Philip Norman presents a fair and balanced overview of this remarkable man's life - he just wanted a normal life, a great guitar and to have fun. Everything else was serendipitous. If you are looking for a palate cleanser, this might be the one. Be sure to have tunes running in the background. His, of course.
*A sincere thank you to Philip Norman, Scribner, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*
January 17, 2024
Everybody has their favorite Beatle, some like the cute one, Paul above all others, others prefer the smart Beatle, John. Some like the tapping Beatle Ringo. And others prefer the French, non-talking Beatle Marcel Marceau who always seems to find himself trapped in an invisible box, or endlessly pulling on a rope that no one can see. On my end, my favorite was George whose solo album, All Things Must Pass touched parts of my heart that I had long ago bricked away so nobody could ever hurt me again.George said that he would like to be remembered as a gardener who had a few hits. He was always looking for enlightenment. But like knitting yarn haphazardly shoved into a bag, people can be a tangled mess of contradictions.While working to raise funds to stop the genocide in Bangladesh, George was also doing other unpleasent things. Such as sleeping with his good friend, Ringo's wife. People would have a strategy for dealing with chanting George or cocaine using George.I believe it was George Harrison's son My Sweet Lord that said we should not judge a person by their worst actions. Or maybe that was in the Chiffon's he's so fine. For some reason I always get those songs mixed up.Phillip Norman's George Harrison: The Reluctant ant BeatleIs an interesting read if you like the musical stylings of the Beatles, and honestly, who does not? Norman's foreshadowing can be a little much (when Traveling Wilburys Roy Orbison dies a young age , do we really need to read that he will not be the first to die so young and unexpectedly. We get it Phillip, George was a heavy smoker!But overall this was a good book for me, even during the times my favorite Beatle was not seen in the best light.
February 23, 2024
The life of George Harrison a man of many contradictions.
Warm but salty.
Loyal and friendly but could betray his best friend by sleeping with his wife.
A man of peace and love entrenched in Hinduism but with a viscous streak many would be lashed with.
A terrible businessman often cheated.
But in the end for me it's the Beatles story and his music that captures my heart.
A good read.
Warm but salty.
Loyal and friendly but could betray his best friend by sleeping with his wife.
A man of peace and love entrenched in Hinduism but with a viscous streak many would be lashed with.
A terrible businessman often cheated.
But in the end for me it's the Beatles story and his music that captures my heart.
A good read.
November 8, 2024
“Mi vida es la música. Solo soy yo cuando tengo una guitarra en las manos. La música me ha dado muchas cosas. También me ha quitado otras tantas.” –George Harrison.
Es indiscutible que Philip Norman es garantía en lo que respecta a The Beatles. Una joya de libro que nos muestra la vida del ‘beatle callado’, mismo que tenía muchas cosas por decir. El libro te atrapa desde el principio y es imposible dejar de leer. El autor desentraña las capas de la cebolla que fue George Harrison, revelando un alma compleja y contradictoria.
Lo que hace especial a la obra es la objetividad con la que narra; no es una vanagloria falsa de una personalidad ni es un detractor. Es lo que es. George fue una persona como todos, con claros y oscuros (incluso muy oscuros); con aciertos y errores; con fortalezas y miedos; mezcla interesante que, definitivamente, fue parte importante de su genio artístico.
Obras como ésta logran quitar el ‘bronce a la estatua’ del personaje y lo humaniza. Siempre será importante recordar que las personas más admiradas son también de carne y hueso. Obra cien por ciento recomendada y obligatoria para todos los Beatlemaniacs como yo.
Es indiscutible que Philip Norman es garantía en lo que respecta a The Beatles. Una joya de libro que nos muestra la vida del ‘beatle callado’, mismo que tenía muchas cosas por decir. El libro te atrapa desde el principio y es imposible dejar de leer. El autor desentraña las capas de la cebolla que fue George Harrison, revelando un alma compleja y contradictoria.
Lo que hace especial a la obra es la objetividad con la que narra; no es una vanagloria falsa de una personalidad ni es un detractor. Es lo que es. George fue una persona como todos, con claros y oscuros (incluso muy oscuros); con aciertos y errores; con fortalezas y miedos; mezcla interesante que, definitivamente, fue parte importante de su genio artístico.
Obras como ésta logran quitar el ‘bronce a la estatua’ del personaje y lo humaniza. Siempre será importante recordar que las personas más admiradas son también de carne y hueso. Obra cien por ciento recomendada y obligatoria para todos los Beatlemaniacs como yo.
December 20, 2023
More like an extensive timeline without feeling or insight
October 1, 2024
Good stuff mostly. I’m a bit of a fan though so I guess I hoped for more of the nuance of his post Beatles life, the less well documented stuff.
November 26, 2023
Brilliant. Not just warts and all, but the hairy unsightliest of warts are on full display here. Sometimes the context allows you wiggle room to be a little understanding, and yet sometimes you consider his actions spiteful, juvenile, and utter shit. But he was GH. Still love me some GH.
I was 15 years old when I first started reading the Bhagavad-Gita. My sister had returned from visiting family and, with a layover in Chicago, she found herself chatting with a follower of Krishna Consciousness, led by A.P. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabuphada; the young man gifted her with some books, one of which was the BG. She gave them to me when she got home, almost apologetically, as though she had done something contrary to our family's lack of spirituality. I really enjoyed what I read, and when I learned that GH was not only a serious devotee of Hinduism, but had also written the forward to this edition of the BG, I was deeply sold. I read a lot of eastern "mystical" literature, as it was known stateside back then, and drifted into reading Buddhist tracts as well. My life was changed.
What's this mean? Not much. But in the fabric of humanity and the atmosphere of life, GH and I had walked down the same thread and breathed the same air for one small slice of time. And I came to appreciate him all the more, warts and all. Even those hairy, very unsightly warts.
Outstanding book.
I was 15 years old when I first started reading the Bhagavad-Gita. My sister had returned from visiting family and, with a layover in Chicago, she found herself chatting with a follower of Krishna Consciousness, led by A.P. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabuphada; the young man gifted her with some books, one of which was the BG. She gave them to me when she got home, almost apologetically, as though she had done something contrary to our family's lack of spirituality. I really enjoyed what I read, and when I learned that GH was not only a serious devotee of Hinduism, but had also written the forward to this edition of the BG, I was deeply sold. I read a lot of eastern "mystical" literature, as it was known stateside back then, and drifted into reading Buddhist tracts as well. My life was changed.
What's this mean? Not much. But in the fabric of humanity and the atmosphere of life, GH and I had walked down the same thread and breathed the same air for one small slice of time. And I came to appreciate him all the more, warts and all. Even those hairy, very unsightly warts.
Outstanding book.
December 9, 2023
I'm sure if this was the first biography you've read about one of the Beatles, you'd find this to be fine. I enjoyed learning about George's time as a solo artist and in his later years in particular, though I do also feel like it really sped through that part of his life in comparison to the earlier parts (though those early years are obviously necessary to spend time in). I personally find it kind of baffling that Philip Norman continues to incorporate stories and reasoning that have been disproved or disregarded since his years writing the John and Paul biographies--for example, why are we still talking about whether or not Brian Epstein was in love with John Lennon in 2023? Or saying that Pete Best was probably ousted for being better-looking than Paul? I found Pattie's contributions to be the most enlightening and interesting parts and my favorite part of the read, but without input from Olivia or Dhani, much of the material here in his post-Beatle life is likely sources and quotes you've already encountered. Tune In this is not.
July 25, 2024
For many casual Beatles fans, George Harrison is the The Quiet One, the one who people just don't know too much about. With this detailed biography, readers get to know much more about Harrison within the band and in the aftermath of the breakup, the lawsuits, and finding his way to contentment.
Unlike Lennon and McCartney's stories where people had already heard most of the details, Harrison's story is a bit different. This biography tells of his childhood, which similar to the rest of the band, had provided with Harrison far more support in terms of his musical ambition. And once The Beatles were finished, it was exciting to see a deeper exploration of his solo career and how he managed to pull off one of the first charity concerts in history, although not without a few bumps in the road. This is a must-read for any Beatles fan.
*Book provided by NetGalley
Unlike Lennon and McCartney's stories where people had already heard most of the details, Harrison's story is a bit different. This biography tells of his childhood, which similar to the rest of the band, had provided with Harrison far more support in terms of his musical ambition. And once The Beatles were finished, it was exciting to see a deeper exploration of his solo career and how he managed to pull off one of the first charity concerts in history, although not without a few bumps in the road. This is a must-read for any Beatles fan.
*Book provided by NetGalley
August 1, 2023
A worthwhile addition to the Beatles book canon, this tome pays homage to the inner world of George Harrison. Especially for Beatles completists, there is little new information, but a greater depth to his contradictions is clarified.
His individuality is not highlighted until almost halfway through the book. The first part is a history of the Beatles as a group, and he is definitely given the feeling that his is underappreciated and often mocked. Possibly as a result of this, and other factors, his varied characteristics play out clearly in the 2nd part of the book, which is about him, his life after the Beatles, and his varied interests and dichotomies.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.
His individuality is not highlighted until almost halfway through the book. The first part is a history of the Beatles as a group, and he is definitely given the feeling that his is underappreciated and often mocked. Possibly as a result of this, and other factors, his varied characteristics play out clearly in the 2nd part of the book, which is about him, his life after the Beatles, and his varied interests and dichotomies.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.
October 4, 2023
I read this author’s previous book on Paul McCartney and loved it. I didn’t like this one on George Harrison quite as much, but still enjoyed reading it. Philip Norman wrote an obituary for Harrison that was less than flattering and was hoping this book would make up for it (according to the author’s note). Maybe it did? Harrison still comes off as prickly and resentful (and not a great husband), but it did highlight the ways in which he succeeded in a career post-Beatles. There are better books if you want a Beatles chronology but if you are interested in the “quiet” Beatle, this is a good biography. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
August 6, 2023
It's a book about George. Of course I loved it!
May 14, 2024
He's one of my favorite Beatles.
October 1, 2024
A terrific addition to rock history.
December 27, 2023
Having read (and really enjoyed)
Shout!
as well as Norman's books on both Lennon and McCartney. I've also read his books on the Stones and Jagger, and even Clapton, back before Clapton lost his mind.
I do find that, while Norman can craft a decent story, and does give a lot of information, there's times when he makes mistakes, so the reader does need to take some of his facts with a grain of salt.
But overall, I likely enjoyed this one a little less than the others simply because I'd come to adore Harrison, and his legend has only grown in the two decades since his passing. He's not my favourite Beatle, but he'd been the one I'd most respected.
Norman tends to shatter a lot of the mystique around him, which is fine. I don't want a sugarcoated biography, I want an author that'll gimme some truth.
So, my disappointment is with the subject, not the author. Turns out, Harrison was as human as his three partners in the band.
I always find it fascinating how a person can hold such enlightened spirituality, or insight into the world and those who inhabit it, while also being so incredibly flawed and...well...human, I guess.
Overall, a decent book. I guess I just had one of those moments where I finally got to meet another hero up close and personal, and found out they're as flawed and confused as the rest of us.
I do find that, while Norman can craft a decent story, and does give a lot of information, there's times when he makes mistakes, so the reader does need to take some of his facts with a grain of salt.
But overall, I likely enjoyed this one a little less than the others simply because I'd come to adore Harrison, and his legend has only grown in the two decades since his passing. He's not my favourite Beatle, but he'd been the one I'd most respected.
Norman tends to shatter a lot of the mystique around him, which is fine. I don't want a sugarcoated biography, I want an author that'll gimme some truth.
So, my disappointment is with the subject, not the author. Turns out, Harrison was as human as his three partners in the band.
I always find it fascinating how a person can hold such enlightened spirituality, or insight into the world and those who inhabit it, while also being so incredibly flawed and...well...human, I guess.
Overall, a decent book. I guess I just had one of those moments where I finally got to meet another hero up close and personal, and found out they're as flawed and confused as the rest of us.
October 23, 2024
I was seven years old when the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. My siblings and I were all gathered around my grandmother’s old black and white television, and we sang whatever we could remember of their music all the way home. That was sixty years ago. I’ve been a fan of the Fab Four since then, so I was excited to read this biography. It was very comprehensive, you know, warts and all. The author did his research and now I will never be able to think about George Harrison in the same way that I did before I read it, which makes me sad. I will continue to listen to his music, but I just won’t feel the same way about him. I felt the same way after reading biographies of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. What I did learn from reading this book is that if there’s any biographies written about Jeff Lynne or the Bee Gees, I’m never reading them.
December 1, 2024
Quem me conhece, sabe o quão fã de Beatles eu sou. Algumas das minhas primeiras lembranças como uma criança que não entendia nada da vida, é de ouvir a música desses caras. Dito isso, é a primeira biografia de um Beatle que eu leio, que tipo de fã eu sou?
Eu não ouso dizer, pois nem mesmo eu sei, mas sempre me identifiquei com George. O “quiet Beatle” (mas nem tanto). Durante grande parte da minha vida, pensei que fosse por dividirmos o amor pelas 6 cordas da guitarra. Mas eu sempre soube que era algo a mais. A guitarra poderia nos unir, mas a admiração que eu sentia era maior.
Me lembro de assistir os filmes, as entrevistas e sempre achar George o mais legal. E esse livro mostra porque.
Em 2011, salvo engano, assisti ao documentário Living in the Material World. Ele me deu uma perspectiva maior da vida do George. Mas não tão grande quanto esse livro me trouxe.
Ele passa por toda a vida e carreira dele, por momentos especiais e, como pra quem já conhece a obra e vida do George, passa por momentos que todos queremos ver chegar. Claro que não é um livro perfeito. Deixa a desejar em algumas partes onde poderia se aprofundar mais e não vai, mas eu creio ter entendido o ponto do autor em não querer ir muito além em algumas histórias.
Esse livro só me fez amar ainda mais esse ser de tantas camadas que era George Harrison. Me fez entender alguns dos seus motivos, seus medos e suas dores. Fãs de Beatles devem ler esse livro. Fãs do George então, nem se fala.
ॐ
Eu não ouso dizer, pois nem mesmo eu sei, mas sempre me identifiquei com George. O “quiet Beatle” (mas nem tanto). Durante grande parte da minha vida, pensei que fosse por dividirmos o amor pelas 6 cordas da guitarra. Mas eu sempre soube que era algo a mais. A guitarra poderia nos unir, mas a admiração que eu sentia era maior.
Me lembro de assistir os filmes, as entrevistas e sempre achar George o mais legal. E esse livro mostra porque.
Em 2011, salvo engano, assisti ao documentário Living in the Material World. Ele me deu uma perspectiva maior da vida do George. Mas não tão grande quanto esse livro me trouxe.
Ele passa por toda a vida e carreira dele, por momentos especiais e, como pra quem já conhece a obra e vida do George, passa por momentos que todos queremos ver chegar. Claro que não é um livro perfeito. Deixa a desejar em algumas partes onde poderia se aprofundar mais e não vai, mas eu creio ter entendido o ponto do autor em não querer ir muito além em algumas histórias.
Esse livro só me fez amar ainda mais esse ser de tantas camadas que era George Harrison. Me fez entender alguns dos seus motivos, seus medos e suas dores. Fãs de Beatles devem ler esse livro. Fãs do George então, nem se fala.
ॐ
January 27, 2025
Early Days: George had a part-time job delivering meat for a butcher which led him to playing guitar chords behind The Stewart Quartet. Then he worked each day at Blackers Department Store learning electrical stuff. By the end of 1957, Paul had clocked a lot of hours on guitar, trumpet, piano and drums. He gets rid of the trumpet to buy a Framus Zenith 17. At first John and Paul couldn’t solo so with a gig in the offing, Paul said, “Oh, I know this fella.” And George was brought in the Quarrymen and third rhythm guitarist Eric Griffiths was out. Rock ‘n’ Roll then was considered blue collar music. Soon, the Quarrymen could play 50 numbers. Then the artsy Stu Sutcliffe joins on bass.
Fast Forward: The Beatles nicknamed their Rubber Soul LP, the “Pot Album” although George and John were already doing acid trips together. Acid mentally triggers thoughts of India for George; he kept having the thought “Yogis of the Himalayas”. George and Pattie go to India and go to the same four places I went: the Taj Mahal, New Delhi (where I bought my sitars and tambouras at Rikki Rahm where George got his), Jaipur, Varanasi (Benares - where I studied tabla and sitar and watched daily rites on the Ganges), and Lake Dal in occupied Kashmir where everyone moves around by paddling a boat. He reads books on Hindu religion and philosophy, which really resonated to him and introduced him to ideas distinct from being just a Beatle. Back then the Beatles main “communal recreation” was “having a laugh”. George’s song “If I Needed Someone” copied the 12-string feel of a Byrd’s song. The Beatles were only an international live attraction for three years. “John and I were on acid all the time, sitting in front of the ship, playing ukuleles.” Visiting San Francisco and seeing all the “horrible spotty dropout kids on drugs” put George “off LSD for good.” The Beatles tour manager Brian Epstein died at age thirty-two from a barbiturate overdose. He had been feeling very adrift once the Beatles stopped touring.
Sitar: George goes to Big Sur (where I lived for three years on a oceanfront property I sold to Esalen) to study with Ravi Shankar at Esalen – the Shankar documentary Raga is the only know footage of George playing a sitar, and was taken at Esalen. He didn’t get further into sitar because “I’ve seen a thousand sitar players in India who are twice as better as I’ll ever be. And only one of them Ravi thought was going to be a good player.”
Guitar: Clapton gives George a refin’ed 50’s red Les Paul, formerly owned by John Sebastian (who now lives in Woodstock New York).
Songs: The “Get back to where you once belonged” lyrics to get back came from a Tory politician’s rants against immigration Paul had heard, but came to mean musically getting back to the simplicity and spontaneity of their early years.
On the 1968 “Goodbye Cream” LP cover, the members hated each other so much their separately shot heads were superimposed on the bodies of others. As time goes by George stops acting like a rock star and instead spends his days in “old gardening clothes, shapeless hats, and rubber boots” talking largely about Friar Park. George visits Woodstock, NY twice the first time where he co-writes “I’d Have You Anytime” and “Behind That Locked Door” and the second trip where he co-writes “If Not For You”, all with Bob Dylan.
Friar Park was a wonderful rest stop for many stars to get away like Elton John, Clapton and Ringo. Friar Park had a “ballroom sized recording studio with its enormous mixing desk and fine old English woodwork.” George had a bunch of ukes there and Joe Brown taught him the George Formby scissoring strumming technique, so he’d sound more authentic. George would buy and play the Kamala six and eight string ukes (but this book strangely doesn’t tell you what Jeff Lynne told me: that he was much more apt to play the Wendall Hall banjo-uke made popular by George Formby – and so I bought two). Jeff Lynne co-wrote “When We Was Fab” with George (and his fellow Brit Jeff Lynne told me they both played a lot of Wendall Hall ukes when together). George turned Tom Petty onto ukes by showing up and having the trunk of his car “full of ukuleles”. “This is Love” George co-wrote with Jeff Lynne. Travelling Wilbury’s happened when accidentally, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne were all together leading to their first song “Handle with Care”. They wrote songs fast together because Dylan had only nine days before he went on tour. “Tom Petty would recall how, even after the longest day in the studio, ‘it was ukuleles till dawn’.” Their second biggest hit and “End of the Line” and their LP went triple platinum, and then Roy died.
Last Years: Marrying Olivia gave George a normal life. Maui islanders resented George restricting their access to the ocean next to his garden, and there were house break-ins. He bought a house in Australia on Hamilton Island and got too many tourists gawking. His house at Friar Park was broken into with the thieves stealing two bronze busts of friars worth fifty thousand pounds. And then of course at Friar Park one night he is stabbed 40 times by a loser who thought by doing his wanton act of violence he was doing God’s will (no doubt Netanyahu’s equally crazy explanation for his wanton acts of violence against Palestinians).
Anyway, this was a good book, but as you can see, I got almost zero usable musical information from it. If only actual musicians wrote these bios of musicians and not authors far more enamored by People Magazine style facts. I would have learned more by spending my reading time doing Nashville numbering harmonic analysis of George’s songs, his strum patterns, or learning/emulating one of his many great slide solos.
Fast Forward: The Beatles nicknamed their Rubber Soul LP, the “Pot Album” although George and John were already doing acid trips together. Acid mentally triggers thoughts of India for George; he kept having the thought “Yogis of the Himalayas”. George and Pattie go to India and go to the same four places I went: the Taj Mahal, New Delhi (where I bought my sitars and tambouras at Rikki Rahm where George got his), Jaipur, Varanasi (Benares - where I studied tabla and sitar and watched daily rites on the Ganges), and Lake Dal in occupied Kashmir where everyone moves around by paddling a boat. He reads books on Hindu religion and philosophy, which really resonated to him and introduced him to ideas distinct from being just a Beatle. Back then the Beatles main “communal recreation” was “having a laugh”. George’s song “If I Needed Someone” copied the 12-string feel of a Byrd’s song. The Beatles were only an international live attraction for three years. “John and I were on acid all the time, sitting in front of the ship, playing ukuleles.” Visiting San Francisco and seeing all the “horrible spotty dropout kids on drugs” put George “off LSD for good.” The Beatles tour manager Brian Epstein died at age thirty-two from a barbiturate overdose. He had been feeling very adrift once the Beatles stopped touring.
Sitar: George goes to Big Sur (where I lived for three years on a oceanfront property I sold to Esalen) to study with Ravi Shankar at Esalen – the Shankar documentary Raga is the only know footage of George playing a sitar, and was taken at Esalen. He didn’t get further into sitar because “I’ve seen a thousand sitar players in India who are twice as better as I’ll ever be. And only one of them Ravi thought was going to be a good player.”
Guitar: Clapton gives George a refin’ed 50’s red Les Paul, formerly owned by John Sebastian (who now lives in Woodstock New York).
Songs: The “Get back to where you once belonged” lyrics to get back came from a Tory politician’s rants against immigration Paul had heard, but came to mean musically getting back to the simplicity and spontaneity of their early years.
On the 1968 “Goodbye Cream” LP cover, the members hated each other so much their separately shot heads were superimposed on the bodies of others. As time goes by George stops acting like a rock star and instead spends his days in “old gardening clothes, shapeless hats, and rubber boots” talking largely about Friar Park. George visits Woodstock, NY twice the first time where he co-writes “I’d Have You Anytime” and “Behind That Locked Door” and the second trip where he co-writes “If Not For You”, all with Bob Dylan.
Friar Park was a wonderful rest stop for many stars to get away like Elton John, Clapton and Ringo. Friar Park had a “ballroom sized recording studio with its enormous mixing desk and fine old English woodwork.” George had a bunch of ukes there and Joe Brown taught him the George Formby scissoring strumming technique, so he’d sound more authentic. George would buy and play the Kamala six and eight string ukes (but this book strangely doesn’t tell you what Jeff Lynne told me: that he was much more apt to play the Wendall Hall banjo-uke made popular by George Formby – and so I bought two). Jeff Lynne co-wrote “When We Was Fab” with George (and his fellow Brit Jeff Lynne told me they both played a lot of Wendall Hall ukes when together). George turned Tom Petty onto ukes by showing up and having the trunk of his car “full of ukuleles”. “This is Love” George co-wrote with Jeff Lynne. Travelling Wilbury’s happened when accidentally, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne were all together leading to their first song “Handle with Care”. They wrote songs fast together because Dylan had only nine days before he went on tour. “Tom Petty would recall how, even after the longest day in the studio, ‘it was ukuleles till dawn’.” Their second biggest hit and “End of the Line” and their LP went triple platinum, and then Roy died.
Last Years: Marrying Olivia gave George a normal life. Maui islanders resented George restricting their access to the ocean next to his garden, and there were house break-ins. He bought a house in Australia on Hamilton Island and got too many tourists gawking. His house at Friar Park was broken into with the thieves stealing two bronze busts of friars worth fifty thousand pounds. And then of course at Friar Park one night he is stabbed 40 times by a loser who thought by doing his wanton act of violence he was doing God’s will (no doubt Netanyahu’s equally crazy explanation for his wanton acts of violence against Palestinians).
Anyway, this was a good book, but as you can see, I got almost zero usable musical information from it. If only actual musicians wrote these bios of musicians and not authors far more enamored by People Magazine style facts. I would have learned more by spending my reading time doing Nashville numbering harmonic analysis of George’s songs, his strum patterns, or learning/emulating one of his many great slide solos.
January 5, 2024
he’ll always be my favorite beatle
January 17, 2024
I love learning new things. Such an interesting guy, whose impact remains with us to this day! Truly shocked at how quickly beatlemania came about (after only 4 singles AND no social media) and am obsessed with the fact that George was basically the reason The Rolling Stones were signed to a record deal.
Fun fact, my dad’s least favorite Beatle is Paul!
Fun fact, my dad’s least favorite Beatle is Paul!
Read
May 1, 2025This was such an interesting biography about such an interesting man. Definitely worth a read if you love music
January 13, 2024
A very engaging biography but seems to have a bias against George on several occasions.
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