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Surf's Up: Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys
“Particularly poignant ... tasteful and compassionate”
Shindig
Capturing all the pain and glory of this incredible family saga, Surf’s Up is the definitive tribute to a remarkable band - and the genius who made it all possible.
If any man in pop history deserved the tag of genius, it was Brian Wilson. As leader, producer and chief composer of the Beach Boys, he displayed an instinctive command of melody, harmony and arranging skills. The result was a run of hits that included many of the most sparkling and creative records of the 1960s.
But there was a dark side to this seemingly effortless success, rooted in his tortured family background. No sooner had Brian masterminded such gems as the Pet Sounds album and Good Vibrations than his psychological demons began to derail his life.
The Beach Boys were left struggling for survival, grasping for salvation from such bizarre figures as TM guru the Maharishi and cult leader Charles Manson. Their story could have ended there, but somehow the band survived. Ahead lay decades of trauma, triumph and tragedy, as the band members all developed as songwriters but also found themselves increasingly at odds with each other. Through it all the music survived, as Brian’s younger brother Dennis Wilson emerged as an equally creative but troubled presence.
Surf’s Up sees lifelong Beach Boys fan Peter Doggett capture all the glory and pain of this complex family saga. He celebrates the band’s array of musical gems, and also explores many of their passionate obsessions , from surfing and cars to politics and food.
Filled with drama and pathos, Surf’s Up is the ultimate tribute to a remarkable band - and the genius who made it all possible.
Capturing all the pain and glory of this incredible family saga, Surf’s Up is the definitive tribute to a remarkable band - and the genius who made it all possible.
If any man in pop history deserved the tag of genius, it was Brian Wilson. As leader, producer and chief composer of the Beach Boys, he displayed an instinctive command of melody, harmony and arranging skills. The result was a run of hits that included many of the most sparkling and creative records of the 1960s.
But there was a dark side to this seemingly effortless success, rooted in his tortured family background. No sooner had Brian masterminded such gems as the Pet Sounds album and Good Vibrations than his psychological demons began to derail his life.
The Beach Boys were left struggling for survival, grasping for salvation from such bizarre figures as TM guru the Maharishi and cult leader Charles Manson. Their story could have ended there, but somehow the band survived. Ahead lay decades of trauma, triumph and tragedy, as the band members all developed as songwriters but also found themselves increasingly at odds with each other. Through it all the music survived, as Brian’s younger brother Dennis Wilson emerged as an equally creative but troubled presence.
Surf’s Up sees lifelong Beach Boys fan Peter Doggett capture all the glory and pain of this complex family saga. He celebrates the band’s array of musical gems, and also explores many of their passionate obsessions , from surfing and cars to politics and food.
Filled with drama and pathos, Surf’s Up is the ultimate tribute to a remarkable band - and the genius who made it all possible.
- GenresNonfiction
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2025
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Peter Doggett
48 books57 followersPeter Doggett has been writing about popular music, the entertainment industry and social and cultural history since 1980. A regular contributor to Mojo, Q and GQ, his books include The Art and Music of John Lennon, a volume detailing the creation of the Beatles’ Let It Be and Abbey Road albums; the pioneering study of the collision between rock and country music, Are You Ready for the Country? and, most recently, There’s a Riot Going On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of 60s Counter-culture.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 19, 2025
Surf's Up: Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys is objective, comprehensive, & authoritative, and will surely come to be regarded as the definitive biography of The Beach Boys. Unless, that is, you want a book that focuses purely on session dates and technical recording data. Conversely, if you want to understand the humanity, the family dynamics, and the cultural impact of the Beach Boys beyond the "sun and surf" myth then look no further.
Peter Doggett, a lifelong fan, keeps it fresh and interesting throughout and this superb history works as well for a superfan as someone who knows little or nothing about the group.
5/5
Peter Doggett, a lifelong fan, keeps it fresh and interesting throughout and this superb history works as well for a superfan as someone who knows little or nothing about the group.
5/5
November 24, 2025
This is not your standard biography, but it is thoroughly researched. The band's story from beginning to Brian Wilson's death is told in unflinching detail, and it is unsettling yet engrossing. Another amazing work by Peter Doggett.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews