U2 Experience

by Brian Boyd

Over a career that now spans nearly four decades, U2 has produced one hit album after another and created the template for the giant global stadium tour that other bands now use. From their roots in post-punk, the band has grown and incorporated musical styles from synth pop to gospel, while always making socially and politically aware music that hits a nerve with fans. Written by a leading music journalist, U2 Experience documents all of the band’s mammoth achievements. The first interactive book to celebrate the legendary Irish rock group, it contains 20 items of removable facsimile memorabilia —including posters, tickets, flyers, and contracts—as well as numerous rare photographs.

Genres: Music

64 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Brian David Boyd is a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Auckland and a preeminent scholar best known for his definitive work on Vladimir Nabokov. After earning his PhD from the University of Toronto, Boyd was invited by Véra Nabokov to catalogue her husband's archives, leading to his award-winning, two-volume biography, The Russian Years and The American Years. His scholarship on Nabokov remains prolific, encompassing numerous edited volumes, verse translations, and the digital project AdaOnline. Beyond his expertise in Russian literature, Boyd is a pioneer in the field of "biopoetics," exploring the intersections of literature, evolution, and cognition. His landmark book, On the Origin of Stories, argues that storytelling is a biological adaptation rooted in play, applying evolutionary criticism to works ranging from Homer to Dr. Seuss. A versatile intellectual, he has also tackled the biography of philosopher Karl Popper and co-curated major exhibitions on the origins of art. In 2020, his contributions to the humanities were recognized with the Rutherford Medal, the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s highest honor.

Reviews

[Mary Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

No "new" information for those who really know this band's story, but what sets this book apart is the awesome reproductions of memorabilia spanning their careers. Cool posters, tickets, set lists from their first tour, etc. It's a very interesting, tactile glimpse into their nearly 40 years as a band.

[Anahí Aguirre Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

En lo sustancial, no hay nada nuevo. Un breve recorrido por la historia de la banda y la historia de sus integrantes.

Por otra parte, hermoso el material visual que trae (posters, flyers, etc). Vale la pena.

[Picueta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bien es cierto que la biografía no aporta nada que no se sepa ya, es muy básica e ideal para quien quiera empezar a conocer un poquito a la banda. Son los facsímiles los que hacen que este libro sea una experiencia que te lleva más lejos de la simple lectura de una biografía simple y llana.

[Hristo Serafimov · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beginners guide to U2. It's not deep enough and detailed enough even though it's visually pleasing. Overall, it didn't excite me as much as "40 years of Queen" which has the exact same format with memorabilia.

[Jenny Esots · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a career retrospective from a landmark band.
Each album is given the full gloss treatment plus a biography of each member.
It has lots of memorabilia and classic photos.
From the early origins to the now.
I have about half of their albums - the early ones.
What is lacking in this coffee table book is a track listing of each of the albums.
Plus all the album covers.
Has made me want to get all the old vinyl back on the turntable.