Careless Love

The Unmaking of Elvis Presley

By: Peter Guralnick

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Careless Love is the full, true, and mesmerizing story of Elvis Presley's last two decades, in the long-awaited second volume of Peter Guralnick's masterful two-part biography.

Last Train to Memphis, the first part of Guralnick's two-volume life of Elvis Presley, was acclaimed by the New York Times as "a triumph of biographical art". This concluding volume recounts the second half of Elvis' life in rich and previously unimagined detail, and confirms Guralnick's status as one of the great biographers of our time.

Beginning with Presley's army service in Germany in 1958 and ending with his death in Memphis in 1977, Careless Love chronicles the unraveling of the dream that once shone so brightly, homing in on the complex playing-out of Elvis' relationship with his Machiavellian manager, Colonel Tom Parker. It's a breathtaking revelatory drama that for the first time places the events of a too-often mistold tale in a fresh, believable, and understandable context.

Elvis' changes during these years form a tragic mystery that Careless Love unlocks for the first time. This is the quintessential American story, encompassing elements of race, class, wealth, sex, music, religion, and personal transformation. Written with grace, sensitivity, and passion, Careless Love is a unique contribution to our understanding of American popular culture and the nature of success, giving us true insight at last into one of the most misunderstood public figures of our times.

©1999 Peter Guralnick (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Wow

The life of Elvis Presley, Elvis was before my time for the most part. I was a child when he died there was so much talk about his death I wanted to know the truth. The way they talk about Elvis one would think he walked on water. This story is as depressing as it was refreshing. Depressing because his life was so stilted, probably because of his mother, read the first installment The Last Train to Memphis, and refreshing because he is seen as a human being. This story made me cry at places, honestly I think Elvis spent life looking for his mother. I would recommend this book that is the second installment and the first book I mentioned above for both fans and detractors of Elvis Presley you will not be disappointed by them no matter what camp you are in.

Made me want to cry like 15 times, but a must read

As sad as this book can be, it is a wonderful insight into the comeback, regaining of the throne, and heartbreaking downhill slide of the King.

Even with all of the terrible things you will learn about Elvis, you will somehow love him even more at this book's conclusion.

A must

Elvis Fans! This is the one! What a book! So detailed…. I could not stop listening to this audiobook.. Long live the King! TCB⚡️

Excellent book.

This book was well researched and narrated. It’s a sad book but I still enjoyed reading about one of my all time favorite entertainers.

Story dates should have included the year of events

I have listened to both Elvis Audible presentations and enjoyed the early Elvis more.
I wish the narrator would have included the year, whenever a date was given, as it was hard to follow the story without knowing what year events were occurring.

Careless Love

Excellent account of a phenomenal talent I have enjoyed since I was thirteen years old and always will. Thank you Mr. Guralnick for your insight of a talent I don't think will ever be again.

Very Well Detailed.

an amazing account of the King's life from the time he got out of the army up until his last days. Mind you this book details highly in Elvis' time in the movies and coping with the loss of his mother, along with the Comeback Special and putting the TCB Band together and all the awesome music they went on to play at the International and on the American tours. In this book you learn of Elvis' demons with pills and trying to cope with all the madness of his divorce with Priscilla along with his relationships with his best friends, "The Memphis Mafia." Its honestly a very sad book compared to the 1st book "Last Train to Memphis." In Last Train its all excitement and fun. in Careless Love its truly the beginning of the end for you learn about Elvis' habits of spending, obsession with law enforcement and become a certified Federal Narcotics Agent through President Nixon but I found his obsession with Karate interesting. This book details in heavy description his neediness for women and struggle with loneliness. His doctors aren't forgotten here with detailed descriptions of they're rolls in the King's downfall. One thing I never knew that I learned through this book was that the Colonel was considering selling Elvis' contract due to Elvis' poor health and performances on stage toward the end. Whether it was truth or just thought or something Parker said off the cuff it caught my attention because it showed how business is never personal. The detail of the King's death made me choke up along with the outpouring grief millions had when Elvis passed was heart wrenching. Elvis to me is the man who influenced my love for blues greats such as Arthur Gunter, Arthur BigBoy Crudup and of course being that I'm a guitar player, it was through that voice on the very first Sun recordings I developed my obsession for Scotty Moore along with Sam Phillips brilliance to get those sounds on the records. and it is important to mention I gained my obsession for James Burton through Elvis' career in the 70s! if you read Last Train to Memphis then you have to read Careless Love. They are the rock n' roll grail to The King.

Loved this book

The best I have read on the life of Elvis. It is also very sad to read of his decline. Loved him as a child of the 50's?

Must read/listen to

Some is hard to hear but oh the understanding of how he left us such joy of his music and unique love of his fans shines through. No one will ever impact to the degree he did ever again

Thorough and Elvis has lost his luster.

I'm not sure there was anything left out of this biography. I've loved his music. Boy have my eyes been opened. If you watched the movie Elvis recently you think the Colonel was to blame for everything. I'd say the blame for Elvis untimely death was his own self destruction. I'm saddened by it. He had weird hokey religious beliefs presumably centered in the enlightenment a truly sad state of his spiritual life. I have to admit I fumed over the sex and drugs. Eye opening and Elvis was definitely leveled.