Popular Music Book

Ned Rorem is (was?) a twentieth century raconteur and music composer, a guy who rubbed elbows (and apparently a bit more than that) with many famous and near-famous cultural figures. His memoir is a feast, something you read while curled up in a chair with a cup of filthy jasmine tea.

In the hands of a lesser writer, this kind of thing would amount to little more than narcissistic grandstanding. But Rorem's insights are keen and his prose is somehow lyrical and muscular at the same time. You don't have to know anything about music to enjoy his expositions on the subject. In fact, you don't have to know much about anything. Rorem will fill you in.