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Paul Simon: A Life
The definitive biography of legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon. Paul Simon, one of the country's most popular musicians, has been a dynamic creative force for more than half a century. Now New York Times bestselling biographer Marc Eliot draws on extensive research and original interviews to trace the incredible life and career of this iconic musician. Along the way Eliot examines Simon's early struggles to succeed as a singer-songwriter, the ups and downs of his decades-long collaboration with Art Garfunkel, his at-times obsessive admiration and competitive drive with Bob Dylan, his musical triumphs such as Still Crazy After All These Years and Graceland , the spectacular failure of his Broadway musical The Capeman , and much more.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2010
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104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 27, 2025
I have no real complaints about this book, just typos and grammar issues. The biography seems written with a slight bias and reads like a college research paper.
February 3, 2023
This is an actual, real, verbatim quote from this book, regarding the production of Paul Simon's terrible Broadway musical, The Capeman:
"Now, more than thirty years after West Side Story's controversial arrival and subsequent ascension to Broadway's musical pantheon, Paul was convinced that he and Walcott could write something even better. He had no idea of the kind of resistance he was about to find himself up against from the big-shot Broadway boys who ruled the street like it was their exclusive atoll set in the middle of Manhattan; apartheid would look like a fully integrated walk in the park."
WTF.
Fortunately the rest of the book wasn't quite that offensively clueless, but it's certainly one of the least valuable music bios I've read. It's mostly just a recounting of events, with very little examination of Simon's motives or creative process. Most notably, there's barely a word about his nasty habit of stealing other people's arrangements and compositions and taking the credit for himself. I don't regret reading it, because I love Paul Simon's music so much, but was probably a waste of time.
"Now, more than thirty years after West Side Story's controversial arrival and subsequent ascension to Broadway's musical pantheon, Paul was convinced that he and Walcott could write something even better. He had no idea of the kind of resistance he was about to find himself up against from the big-shot Broadway boys who ruled the street like it was their exclusive atoll set in the middle of Manhattan; apartheid would look like a fully integrated walk in the park."
WTF.
Fortunately the rest of the book wasn't quite that offensively clueless, but it's certainly one of the least valuable music bios I've read. It's mostly just a recounting of events, with very little examination of Simon's motives or creative process. Most notably, there's barely a word about his nasty habit of stealing other people's arrangements and compositions and taking the credit for himself. I don't regret reading it, because I love Paul Simon's music so much, but was probably a waste of time.
March 7, 2019
As much as I love Paul Simon, this book was just okay. It was interesting and well-written, but there was the constant comparison to Bob Dylan that got a little old. Also, there were times in the narrative where it felt like the author was just name dropping—literally—because at times there were just lists of names of “behind-the-scenes” people you wouldn’t know unless you were pretty well aware of 1970’s music culture. And finally, it just sort of ends. I know that it’s hard to wrap up a story about a LIVING legend who is still performing and making music—Paul has now put out four new albums since the publication of this book and completed his “farewell tour”—but it felt like the author just kept writing, and then wrote a single closing sentence because he just didn’t have any more material. But despite those things, did I like the book and like reading it? Sure. Even though I know a lot about Paul’s life and career, I learned some things I didn’t know. If you’re a big Paul Simon fan like me, you’ll definitely still be able to enjoy this book.
September 27, 2024
As a lifelong Simon and Garfunkel fan, meeting the real-life inspirations behind the iconic lyrics I’ve been singing for years was an incredible experience. Characters like Kathy, immortalized in the line “Kathy, I’m lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping” from the masterpiece America, or Tom, Artie’s alter ego in The Only Living Boy in New York (“Tom, get your plane right on time”), which reflected Paul’s separation from Artie, added a fascinating layer to my understanding of their music.
However, the book felt more like a collection of documents and anecdotes rather than an insightful exploration of Paul Simon’s creative genius. While it touched on his life and relationships, it missed an opportunity to go behind the scenes and reveal the deeper process behind the creation of timeless classics like Bridge Over Troubled Water or The Boxer. As a fan, I would have appreciated a more intimate look at how these masterpieces came to be.
In the end, I feel this book does not properly capture the true genius that is Paul Simon.
However, the book felt more like a collection of documents and anecdotes rather than an insightful exploration of Paul Simon’s creative genius. While it touched on his life and relationships, it missed an opportunity to go behind the scenes and reveal the deeper process behind the creation of timeless classics like Bridge Over Troubled Water or The Boxer. As a fan, I would have appreciated a more intimate look at how these masterpieces came to be.
In the end, I feel this book does not properly capture the true genius that is Paul Simon.
January 20, 2014
So if you are going to write a biography without the blessing or access to Paul Simon, Art, the wives and ex wives, what should you do? Since the whole success of Paul Simon rested on a fluke, that one disc jockey in Boston started playing Sound of Silence, wouldn't it be good reporting to at least give the name of that disc jockey? Maybe since the market for this is Paul Simon fans, not have an obvious factual error on page 3 which informs the reader that this is a hack who couldn't be bother to at least fact check? An absolute complete waste of time.
June 25, 2011
I've read a couple of books about this guy, always searching for some genuine insight into him. This is average and adds little to my knowledge or understanding. Perhaps Paul will provide one himself soon....
May 7, 2017
Not a bad biography of one of America's pop music songwriters. In fact, in places, I learned some new details about the life of Mr. Simon that I was previously unaware. The problem that I had as a reader was the fact that the author kept unfavorably comparing Paul Simon to Bob Dylan. It grew frustrating in the early chapters, then reared it's bias again later in the story when Paul Simon goes out on a late-career concert tour with the great Dylan. I happen to agree with the notion that Bob Dylan was the more prolific songwriter of his time. But Simon is undoubtedly the better singer, harmonizer and guitar player. No matter, I'm really not sure how this biography on one folk/pop legend turned into a constant comparison to another. Both men have had entirely separate careers and deserve to be judged on their own merit.
December 18, 2017
The biography is well-written and researched. It contains mostly well-known facts about the great singer-songwriter, along with a few tidbits that the average fan wouldn't otherwise know. It's balanced in terms of displaying the temperamental side of Simon. My hangup is that the author kept comparing Simon to Bob Dylan at every turn. At one point I wanted to slam the book shut and scream: Yes, we know Paul Simon isn't Bob Dylan! He's not, but he is undisputedly one of the greats in American songwriting. We don't need a Dylan measuring stick to compare every accomplishment.
November 20, 2024
I wanted to know about Paul Simon and Marc Eliot goes into great detail about Paul's writings, his music, his world tours, his attempt at creating a musical play, and the many times Simon and Garfunkel went their own ways. It's almost too much detail, but it was very interesting. Just wish there was more about his growing up with his family, and about Paul and his marriages and children.
April 2, 2024
Listened to the audiobook. Very insightful look at the life and songwriting of one of America's masters. I really enjoyed learning about Paul's association with the Dream Academy and his love of baseball.
March 8, 2020
From playing stickball and basketball at PS 164 school park to one of America’s legendary song writers.
September 14, 2021
#93 of 120 books pledged to read during 2021
March 20, 2025
Just because you can write a book about Paul Simon ,doesn’t mean you always should Marc Eliot! Snoozy
September 7, 2011
Heavily detailed, this biography covers Simon’s life from his earliest years through his current solo work. His complex relationship with Art Garfunkel sounds teenaged-girlish throughout the book-they are best friends, they argue, they don’t speak, they are best friends, and the cycle continually repeats. Eliot describes Simon’s obsessive drive to create solo music that bears no resemblance to the lush harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel. It appears, throughout Eliot’s descriptions, as though Simon reconciles with Garfunkel when he is bored and unable to write new material.
Although Eliot spends a great deal of time detailing Simon’s compulsive drive as a musician, the book spends too little time on the creative process. There is very little discussion of the actual process of writing, recording, or performing. Eliot does point out that unlike other musicians from the sixties, Simon was an astute businessman who realized the value of protecting his publishing.
Simon’s personal demons are touched on, with discussion of his insecurities, particularly regrading his short stature, and his difficulty with romantic relationships.
Eliot’s writing flows and is well-organized, which makes the book an enjoyable read.
Although Eliot spends a great deal of time detailing Simon’s compulsive drive as a musician, the book spends too little time on the creative process. There is very little discussion of the actual process of writing, recording, or performing. Eliot does point out that unlike other musicians from the sixties, Simon was an astute businessman who realized the value of protecting his publishing.
Simon’s personal demons are touched on, with discussion of his insecurities, particularly regrading his short stature, and his difficulty with romantic relationships.
Eliot’s writing flows and is well-organized, which makes the book an enjoyable read.
August 10, 2011
The author goes into detail to recreate the era Simon was in as his career progressed -- sometimes the detail is a bit too painstaking for my taste, but it does give a good feel for what was going on at the time. I have never been a huge Bob Dylan fan, but the author's discussion around how Simon competed with his nemesis and mentor is interesting, and has made me want to learn more about Dylan.
What's also interesting is that the author -- save his endless praise for Simon's "gorgeous fingerpicking" -- is very critical toward his subject, referring multiple times to Simon being short, insecure, and odd looking. Perhaps this is Eliot's perspective, but while Simon certainly may not be tall, I've always thought he had nice eyes and was in no way "odd looking." Besides, with such talent, what does it matter? Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and even Bob Dylan aren't stars for their sex appeal -- they're stars because their music is incredible and because their talent is awe-inspiring. What they look like, at least in my opinion, has no bearing on their appeal.
What's also interesting is that the author -- save his endless praise for Simon's "gorgeous fingerpicking" -- is very critical toward his subject, referring multiple times to Simon being short, insecure, and odd looking. Perhaps this is Eliot's perspective, but while Simon certainly may not be tall, I've always thought he had nice eyes and was in no way "odd looking." Besides, with such talent, what does it matter? Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and even Bob Dylan aren't stars for their sex appeal -- they're stars because their music is incredible and because their talent is awe-inspiring. What they look like, at least in my opinion, has no bearing on their appeal.
January 1, 2017
First of all, full disclosure: I reviewed this book earlier under an incorrect title, thanks to a mixup (my fault) in ordering from the library. That review has been deleted, I apologize to all concerned, and here is the correct review for the correct book:
Bios of entertainers are a semi-guilty pleasure of mine, and this was a good one. Generally positive but not above a few zingers (e.g., re The Sound of Silence, "Paul hated the remix but loved the success."). And re my man Woody Allen: "... image of the Jewish schlub who is really a genius and somehow irresistible to beautiful women but too neurotic to love them." Meanwhile, Things I Didn't Know Dept.: Simon wrote Red Rubber Ball, which was a hit back in the day for the Cyrkle, which was managed by Brian Epstein and named by John Lennon.
Bios of entertainers are a semi-guilty pleasure of mine, and this was a good one. Generally positive but not above a few zingers (e.g., re The Sound of Silence, "Paul hated the remix but loved the success."). And re my man Woody Allen: "... image of the Jewish schlub who is really a genius and somehow irresistible to beautiful women but too neurotic to love them." Meanwhile, Things I Didn't Know Dept.: Simon wrote Red Rubber Ball, which was a hit back in the day for the Cyrkle, which was managed by Brian Epstein and named by John Lennon.
Read
January 31, 2014This is a terrible book. I'm not sure if there is a better biography of Simon out but this is pretty bad.
The facts are there, and if read like a long Wikipedia entry, that's fine. In fact, it reads a bit like that with track listings of albums, names of session and touring musicians and other liner note material that is not developed at all. There are other weird bits like music criticism that is quoted, then retracted by the original author. That was a waste of a page.
But the book is padded out to make that 300 page book contract.
About Paul? He seems like a bit of jerk, unfortunately. Insecure, unable to form stable relationships, and with a huge ego. The character revelation here is Art Garfunkel who went to Columbia U and apparently would walk across nations as a hobby.
The facts are there, and if read like a long Wikipedia entry, that's fine. In fact, it reads a bit like that with track listings of albums, names of session and touring musicians and other liner note material that is not developed at all. There are other weird bits like music criticism that is quoted, then retracted by the original author. That was a waste of a page.
But the book is padded out to make that 300 page book contract.
About Paul? He seems like a bit of jerk, unfortunately. Insecure, unable to form stable relationships, and with a huge ego. The character revelation here is Art Garfunkel who went to Columbia U and apparently would walk across nations as a hobby.
September 7, 2016
This biography of one of America's greatest songwriters is beautifully written. Kind of like one of the songs by the subject of this story. There's a lot to learn in here about Simon's early failures during his earliest foray's into the music business. Some precious details about his family life from his Queens, NY upbringing. It cuts off around 2007, so it leaves off some recent history and accomplishments. An updated edition would be appreciated. What frustrates me is the way the author constantly felt the need to compare Simon to Bob Dylan throughout. It's like there is some kind of competition between the two music legends (there really wasn't), in which Simon always seems to come up on the short end in the opinion of the biographer.
February 26, 2014
Heavy on the People magazine gossip of failed marriages, and problematic friendships (read: Garfunkel.) Light on the musical knowledge, nothing about Simon in the studio, very little - next to nothing, really - about song writing. Not very well written - again, People level.
There are a few things to learn, here. Not many, though.
Here's from the jacket cover:
How a shoe store stockboy rose to the top...
How young Paul Simon struggled to emerge from the powerful shadow of his idol, Bob Dylan.
Paul's women, his marriages, his girlfriends, his difficult divorces.
and on...
Blather.
There are a few things to learn, here. Not many, though.
Here's from the jacket cover:
How a shoe store stockboy rose to the top...
How young Paul Simon struggled to emerge from the powerful shadow of his idol, Bob Dylan.
Paul's women, his marriages, his girlfriends, his difficult divorces.
and on...
Blather.
April 18, 2014
I like Paul Simon. I didn't know that much about his life. As such, reading this book was useful. I progressed slowly, even though it is a quick read, because I just took it with me when I went somewhere and might have a chance to kill some time. At home, I was slogging through a bio of well over 1,000 pages.
It's fine. It serves its purpose. The author didn't, or couldn't, interview the subject and relied on Simon's comments to other sources. It's balanced and professionally written. It isn't definitive, and it doesn't eliminate the market for a more ambitious work on this significant figure in American and international music.
But, given that I bought it at Dollar Tree, it was a bargain.
It's fine. It serves its purpose. The author didn't, or couldn't, interview the subject and relied on Simon's comments to other sources. It's balanced and professionally written. It isn't definitive, and it doesn't eliminate the market for a more ambitious work on this significant figure in American and international music.
But, given that I bought it at Dollar Tree, it was a bargain.
December 14, 2010
I wouldn't consider myself a die-hard Simon fan, but I've enjoyed his music over the years. This biography, I thought, seemed rather sympathetic toward Simon - I picked it up initially because I wanted to read about Simon's relationship with Carrie Fisher, which was highly publicized back in the day. The book seems to gloss over it, as it does with the allegations that Simon had ripped off Los Lobos and taken credit for their work.
As a bio, it's a very quick read. If you're an avid fan, you will likely enjoy it.
As a bio, it's a very quick read. If you're an avid fan, you will likely enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2011
A decent overview of Paul Simon's life. I was sometimes confused why the author would provide so much detail in some areas and gloss over others, but I guess those are the choices you have to make as a biographer. The focus on the music made it easy to place events in the timeline based on which album was being worked on at the time. Not the best biography I've ever read, but not the worst either. It kept my interest, but would probably be a dull read for someone less interested in the musician.
April 19, 2015
I've been playing through my Paul Simon piano book, and had an urge to find out more about him. I cut my teeth on Simon and Garfunkel and love Simon's song-writing, and this book helped me see why I enjoy the music so much. Eliot is obviously a fan (though not fawning), and he provides beautiful descriptions of the songs and their origins. I had no idea of the breadth of Simon's work. The book goes all the way up to 2010, so now I feel very current in my knowledge.
December 10, 2013
A very quick overview of Paul Simon's life, about the depth I wanted. I wanted to know a little about his childhood and how he got into music, how he and Art got along and didn't get along, and details about his projects. I walk away satisfied and not overwhelmed. Were I doing actual research, this book would leave me disappointed. As a casual interest read for a fan, it's great.
December 31, 2010
While the book was a little heavy on Paul's music history (album release dates, factual info) and not as in-depth on Paul's creative processes, it was a good read and something I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about one of the greatest songwriters of our time!
August 28, 2012
Enjoyable for its detail of what was happening when Paul and Art were creating folk magic. He followed through with descriptions of Graceland and Paul's mishap on Broadway. I would probably consider other Biographies before this one, if you haven't read about Paul yet.
October 21, 2014
Interesting enough if you like the music of Paul and Paul & Artie. Not a page turner, but I always find it interesting to see that regardless of wealth and fame, we all struggle with our relationships, meaning and purpose as we travel through this world.
August 24, 2015
A weird reading experience, the author seems pretty dismissive about the significance of much of Simon's work. Beyond this, the book is pretty standard fare and offers an ok if not particularly insightful overview of Simon's life and career.
November 2, 2011
Quite good actually, but often seems like liner notes. Other times it reads like it's compensating for the fluff. Lots of editing/proffing problems.
April 16, 2014
I was disappointed at how little insight this book gave me into Paul Simon's thoughts or music; it provided a fairly thorough chronology of his life but not much more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews