The Philosophy of Modern Song

By: Bob Dylan

Narrated by: Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Jeffrey Wright, Renée Zellweger

The Philosophy of Modern Song is Bob Dylan’s first book of new writing since 2004’s Chronicles: Volume One—and since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. The audio is narrated by an all-star lineup including Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Jeffrey Wright, and Renée Zellweger!

Dylan, who began working on the book in 2010, offers his extraordinary insight into the nature of popular music. He writes over sixty essays focusing on songs by other artists, spanning from Stephen Foster to Elvis Costello, and in between ranging from Hank Williams to Nina Simone. He analyzes what he calls the trap of easy rhymes, breaks down how the addition of a single syllable can diminish a song, and even explains how bluegrass relates to heavy metal. These essays are written in Dylan’s unique prose. They are mysterious and mercurial, poignant and profound, and often laugh-out-loud funny. And while they are ostensibly about music, they are really meditations and reflections on the human condition. Running throughout the book are a series of dream-like riffs that, taken together, resemble an epic poem and add to the work’s transcendence.

In 2020, with the release of his outstanding album Rough and Rowdy Ways, Dylan became the first artist to have an album hit the Billboard Top 40 in each decade since the 1960s. The Philosophy of Modern Song contains much of what he has learned about his craft in all those years, and like everything that Dylan does, it is a momentous artistic achievement.

©2022 Bob Dylan. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fun and Instructive

The audiobook is what this book is mean to be. I can imagine just reading words on a page, but hearing them is far more fun at least, if not more interesting. The choices of who would read each part was brilliant at times and, at times, questionable. But always good in the sense of not haven’t all these stories and insights tied to one voice. It’s good Dylan’s own voice is the default reader throughout, but also good that he’s not the only reader. The writing is unexpectedly Dylanesque in that is clear and concise, strong with images and in its phrasing The writing can verge on poetry without becoming syrupy or poetically obscure. It’s a well-written, well-thought out, well-executed audio and intellectual experience. It will also teach almost any serious music lover something new about music in general and the specific songs covered in particular.

Bob Dylan’s Narration is Very cool

Bob Dylan should have narrated the whole book. Entertaining and fun to listen to him read lyrics by other writers.

Are we fortunate and we are.

Our poet genius has given us something to cherish. This unique view of our lives is made for us to think about and to remember what was made to see. Thank you Bob.

Amazing book!!

This book is like a music appreciation class taught by 80 year old Bob Dylan

Wonderful walk through songdom

Beautifully produced with an ensemble of voices led by Bob’s. I read the book first and then listened to it combined with listening to the songs. It was a thoroughly fun and enlightening listen.

Brilliant

Bob Dylan can analyze a song as well as he writes one. I learned more about music in this book than in almost everything I've read or seen. And I am a former disc jockey! His brilliant and entertaining analysis of all genres of music is riveting. This book is as good as his songs!

Zimmerman Riffs on Song

Even though I'm a professional songwriter, I have never been a huge Bob Dylan fan. But while laid up in a cabin, with a busted foot and a bad cold, Bob's rap like readings were just the elixir I needed.
And a great cast of characters.
I listened to each song before the chapter started and it really brought it to life.
Loved!

Bob fans will like this

The breakdown of thoughts behind the songs gives insight to what some are thinking when listening or writing!

I lived all of this, just keeps getting better.

Dylan and I walked the same path together. I was his shadow. He never knew that was me ... on the wide streets, the alley ways, the mountain tops, the trees, the swamps. It was then, and it is now, still all about the song ... the poetry ... the meaning ... the depth, and no matter how close you get ... we are always reminded that space/time is a circle. It has no beginning. It has no end. When ears are turned on, it's like quicksand. You step out of the meadow, it sucks you in. Get ready for the back story told by your very best friend.

Story of Song I Loved It

After the first half dozen songs, I decided to be sure and listen to each song before the commentary. That turned out to be a good choice. Bob’s commentary is a personal music lesson from him to the listener. Plenty of tongue in cheek.

It’s about everything else around the music and in the music and with music. I loved it.