- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (20 Mar 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747577455
- ISBN-13: 978-0747577454
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 537,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
The Times
This funny, cool book about an obsessive odyssey in music will give hope and joy to other would-be guitar men.
Review
'A compelling odyssey, by turns hilarious and informative' Observer Music Monthly
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
OK, if I'm honest, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book when I was given it, being neither a guitar player nor having any aspirations to learn. However, I was really surprised when I found that I enjoyed it so much I didn't want to put it down - reading on into the night to find out if the author did really achieve what he set out to do - which, frankly seems to be impossibility when he starts out.
Here's the thing though, not only does this book turn out to be a really interesting read, it's also very funny, making you laugh out loud as you find out more, not only about the famous guitar players and their views, but the authors' friends and family (am full of admiration for the long-suffering NJ, don't think I would be so tolerant if my husband dedicated his every waking minute to learning an instrument) and the effect that this new found passion has on their lives.
Can definitely recommend this book, whether or not you have any interest in the guitar.
Here's the thing though, not only does this book turn out to be a really interesting read, it's also very funny, making you laugh out loud as you find out more, not only about the famous guitar players and their views, but the authors' friends and family (am full of admiration for the long-suffering NJ, don't think I would be so tolerant if my husband dedicated his every waking minute to learning an instrument) and the effect that this new found passion has on their lives.
Can definitely recommend this book, whether or not you have any interest in the guitar.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was bought this as a present and, as a budding player was slightly dubious as to what Mr Hodgkinson, (who's hardly a guitar meister), could add to my experience... Well, loads, it transpires! He soon began to feel like a travelling companion who was as enthusiastic about music as me but at the same time as wary of the frustrations of learning. And it was great to see that all guitarists struggle on certain things - even the likes of Roger McGuinn from the Byrds! You also learn a lot about the origins of guitar music and find out about some really interesting musicians (whose music I lok forward to searching out - particularly Bert Jansch who sounds great.) And I won't spoil it for anyone by saying that the book's finale - when the author plays in front of a live audeince - is brilliantly tense, very funny and strangely uplifting. It felt like it would make a great TV documentary.
The writing style is very funny, imaginative and free-flowing, and I found myself racing through it. A must for any aspiring guitarist but more than that, a great read for anyone interested in music and how it is made.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a man who is in his 30s set out to learn guitar for the first time, I was intrigued to hear that a book had been written on that very topic. So before I begin, I readily admit that I was going to read this book and most likely enjoy it no matter what, but what a joy it turned out to be. Every finger-fumbling error, misconception, realisation of ineptitude and repeated failing through gradual, sometimes tortuous, painstaking improvement to the sweaty-handed nerve-wrecking climax elicited a "Yep... been there" time and time again from me. As someone who felt an immediate affinity with the author and his travails, I absolutely loved the read. It was a total page turner yet I found myself trying not to read too quickly so that it I wouldn't finish the book too quickly. The man writes with such honesty and complete lack of pretension, the book is completely accessible and you feel at the end that you just want to sit down and jam with him. But if you don't play guitar or indeed any instrument, the sheer likeability of Hodgkinson and the sympathy we all feel with someone trying hard to overcome obstacles, with no-one there to criticise if you give up, will grip you anyway. In the end, I got not only a brilliant read and a book I shall keep to revisit many times over the years, but the inspiration to go on with my own string plucking and to continue to take joy in the instrument regardless of my level of (in)expertise. For that, I give Mr. H. many thanks.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Guitar Man
Bought second hand and was surprised at the quality, it was virtually new. I really enjoyed the book and had read the follow up book first (Song Man) so was keen to read this and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Delta
Somewhat disappointing
I am in a similar situation (dreaming of being a "guitar man" for a long part of my life) - after looking at the cover i expected an entertaining story about the writers... Read more
Published 19 months ago by ein Kunde
OK to pass the time with...
I really wanted and expected to like this book a lot. I play a bit of guitar and have always loved guitars and guitar music- Denmark Street is a bit of a Mecca for me- but although... Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by John Woodcock
Terrible book, factually inaccurate, intolerably smug.
I'm a guitar player. I've been playing for years, and I teach, record and gig regularly. I was looking for a book to read on holiday, and based on the reviews on Amazon, I bought... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by Mr. B. J. Smith
Misleading
As a book about guitar history this was ok. However my biggest gripe is the biased view of the author (Hodgkinson) on guitar music. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2009 by Mercury
A bit boring but I quite liked it
Yeah this was quite good, I quite liked it. Bit boring but I quite liked it.
Published on 8 Mar 2008 by Grape Nuts
Great Fun !
At the age of 34 the author, Will Hodgkinson, embarks on a quest to learn, from scratch, how to play guitar like his heroes. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2008 by A. M. Turner
Great book!!
This book was a great read and a source of info on different styles of guitarists too. It introduced me to davy grahams song 'anji' which i have now started to learn. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2007 by the busker
A fab book
As a guitarist of over 16 years, I learnt a lot from this book.
It is an entertaining and informative read well written by Will. Read more
It is an entertaining and informative read well written by Will. Read more
Published on 31 May 2007 by Mr. A. Akhtar
Rocking for wordcount.
The 'do something whacky in order to get a book out of it' genre is a very tedious genre indeed, as anyone who can't stand Tony Hawks' books can attest. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2007 by A. Miles
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