Psychoanalytic studies of the sighted and the blind Book

Superb documentation on Central Avenue life in the 1940s, as well as the personalities and sounds that came out of West Coast Jazz. Often regarded as "cool jazz," this was a remarkable period of California culture - as it produced brilliant music by such people as Chet Baker, Art Pepper, Charles Mingus, Shelley Manne and many others. Also the greats Miles Davis and Charlie Parker also made a dent in the Californian landscape as well.

Ted Gioia's nerdy and obsessive research is an entertaining read. One is consistently, while reading the book, made to check out the music on a daily reading basis. A win-win situation. Clearly a jazz literature classic, with great bios on the musicians and nice analytical insight in specific albums made at that time. Great reference, and "West Coast Jazz" captures a beautiful series of moments in the sunshine land.