"Treat Me Nice" is a very well written and thoroughly researched book which looks at the influence, good and bad, of the individuals and circumstances that helped shape the career of Elvis Presley, a career which contained many triumphs but also many missed opportunities. The author Howard Jackson's lifelong fascination with American popular culture and music, in particular that which originated in the South, is evident throughout the book and he makes a convincing case for Elvis' place at the very heart of that culture and music. The comparison he draws with the creature in "Frankenstein" in explaining the career of Elvis is particularly fascinating, and although a fan, he doesn't exempt Elvis from criticism where he considers it appropriate.
Although his career lasted just over twenty years, Elvis made a great many recordings (as well as appearing in a lot of films) and the author's detailed knowledge of his catalogue has enabled him to draw the reader's attention to the many lesser known, yet still great, records which are often overlooked. This is particularly well illustrated by the teriffic cd that comes with the book.
I would definitely recommend the book to both dedicated and casual Elvis fans alike.