The Ballad of Bob Dylan

A Portrait

By: Daniel Mark Epstein

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a vivid, full-bodied portrait of one of the most influential artists of the 20th-century - a man widely regarded as the most important lyricist America has ever produced.

Acclaimed poet and biographer Daniel Mark Epstein frames Dylan against the backdrop of four seminal concerts - all of which he attended: Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C., 1963; Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1974; Tanglewood, Massachusetts, 1997; Aberdeen, Maryland, 2009. Recreating each performance song by song, Epstein places them within the larger context of Dylan's life, from his meteoric rise as a young folk singer through his reemergence in the 1990s and his role as the éminence grise of rock-and-roll today. He explores the star's private side, including marriage and fatherhood, and his struggle to overcome substance abuse. Epstein also traces the influences that shaped Dylan's career and offers a thoughtful analysis of his work and fresh interpretations of his lyrics. Here, too, are anecdotes and insights from those closest to the man, including D. A. Pennebaker, Allen Ginsberg, Nora Guthrie, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Dylan's sidemen throughout the years.

Beautifully written, The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a unique, eye-opening portrait of an artist who has transformed generations and continues to inspire and surprise today. A bonus PDF file of pictures from the book is included.

Download the accompanying picture file.©2011 Daniel Mark Epstein. All rights reserved. (P)2011 AudioGo

Excellent book, excellent narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, if they had an interest in subject matter.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ballad of Bob Dylan?

I was touched by some of the more personal anecdotes of Mr Dylan's often gentle and generous behavior towards others. That's really silly, i know, but I was touched.

What does Bronson Pinchot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Uh .. the ability to

Any additional comments?

Recommend to Dylan fans. Very enjoyable.

Enlightening. Honest. Invaluable.

I’ve read several Bob Dylan biographies. So many of us have. Often they feel as if the author has something to prove. This book had me from page one until the end. I appreciate the tone and the structure and the generosity. There are so many books about Bob Dylan, the greatest songwriter I have ever known. I hope this book lives on for decades to come, and I hope young songwriters will read it and grow, thanks to the insight and beauty presented here. Only a poet could write such a nuanced and careful book. If you love Bob Dylan, and if you love songwriting, this is the book you need. I’ll recommend this book for decades to come.

Mona Lisa must have had the highway blues

What would have made The Ballad of Bob Dylan better?

Stick to talking about Dylan. No one cares that you were the first to hear him. Bob PROBABLY(a word you should consider) would cringe when you tell us what timing his songs were in and why. Can you tell by the way he smiled?

What do you think your next listen will be?

War and peace

Which scene was your favorite?

When she gave the author a cookie.

What character would you cut from The Ballad of Bob Dylan?

Author

Any additional comments?

What would Dylan say to the following questions the author ?answers?
The crowed applauded extra loud to this song because we ALL felt...
Dylan blinked before playing this next song because(not an exaggeration)...
By the way just say you thought Dylan looked like the coolest guy ever, it's ok it's how you feel when you talk about how soft his cheeks are.

You're the kind of guy that can't do anything on his own so you give yourself the #1 hootenanny award and feel like you playing the song for someone is as important as Dylan playing it. I think it's called living vicariously but you're the author you tell me.

I bet you use to play George carlin for girls too!

Bob

Not a Walter Isaacson biography, that's for sure

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Couldn't get into this. It's scattered and feels like as if the author found all anecdotes and news articles on Bob Dylan, threw them all up in the air, and used the resulting structure. That is: there isn't one. No structure. Additionally, the author can apparently read the minds of the people he's writing about.

It makes it very very uninteresting to listed to. Imagine sitting next to an ego-tripping person at a wedding or birthday dinner. That would be almost unbearable, listening to such a person talk and talk and talk, for around 3 hours.

This book, is 15 hours. THAT is unbearable. Even at 2x speed;)