Music

Denk, one of the world’s greatest living pianists, shares his story and his passion for classical music in this completely engaging memoir. I enjoyed this book from the introduction to the bibliography. It was so friendly and relatable, and all of my own music-learning memories found a place in his story. With the music references at the beginning of each chapter and sprinkled throughout the book, it felt like there was a soundtrack playing the whole time. Whether you’re a musician or just a music appreciator, you’ll love the lessons in this well-written memoir.  —Jenny

A queer girl believing in and dreaming of music from the start, Brandi Carlile has written a memoir that easily moves through years and miles, vibrant memories intertwined with songs and lyrics. Carlile’s own words palpably bring the people and moments who shaped her to life, documenting her search for success, love, and health; the tension with her lifelong Christian faith, and her hope in music and good people. Broken Horses made me cry more than once, albums on repeat, smiling all the while.  —Jocelyn

Early in this new biography, Maria Golia calls Ornette Coleman “zeitgeist incarnate,” and a better description could not possibly be found. As a vanguard and architect of the free jazz movement, Coleman’s radical approach to sound and improvisation had a profound influence on 20th-century art as a whole. Golia deftly navigates the vast territories that Coleman’s music explored, leaving us with a vivid portrait of his groundbreaking life.  —Travis

A perfect intersection of music and literature, This Woman’s Work highlights the complexity of female artistry in the modern century. Filled with work by grade-A authors like Maggie Nelson, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Leslie Jamison, this collection captures sadness, joy, and anger with the fluidity and dynamism of a well-made mixtape. Though a collective focus on music drives the narrative of these carefully crafted essays, their core seems to scream “Why shouldn’t women want more?” Ideal for lovers of punk rock, a good cry, introspective looks on female relationships, and self-cut bangs.  —Caroline

Ignore promised photos and ephemera; you just need to know that Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl is a phenomenal writer. Each essay—stories and streams of consciousness, ranging from growing up to activism to rock stardom and, always, music—stands alone. But Grohl knows exactly what he’s doing, his prose and points nailing it like the perfect chord at the end of your favorite song, the whole an album of a singular life you’ll read again and again.—Jocelyn

If you know everything about hip-hop, Shea Serrano will give you a brand-new way to look at it. If you know nothing about hip-hop, you will learn so much and be entertained the whole time. Serrano absolutely loves what he is writing about and would like nothing more than to keep talking to you about it forever. Read just one essay, full of sly humor and sincere passion, and you just may let him.  —Jocelyn

The perfect gift for music lovers, history lovers, and story lovers, Music Is History covers it all. Questlove takes favorite and familiar songs, one essential track from each of the past 50 years, and illuminates them with his unique, personal connection to the music as well as to issues of race, gender, politics, and identity. This book made me want to load up the playlists Questlove includes and listen with new ears and new understanding.—Jenny

From impoverished sharecropper to global music ambassador, B.B. King’s story is nothing short of legendary. But this is also a story of the Black experience in America, of the Great Migration, and of Jim Crow. It is the story of a man reaching out to his people in the language of their own music. And it is also a story about commodification and cultural appropriation. Telling this story is quite an undertaking, and de Vise accomplishes it with a wit and charm to parallel King’s own.—Travis

In this very entertaining anthology, 50 writers describe their relationship with the album that has most influenced their life. The great diversity among those included—Marlon James, Rachel Kushner, David Mitchell, Esi Edugyan, George Saunders, etc.—yields an equally diverse collection of albums. Rachmaninov, Miles Davis, the Beatles, Warren G, Kraftwerk, and Lizzo are all represented. As fun as it is to follow along as your favorite author geeks out on their favorite band or musician, the book offers surprising insights on the ways artists from one genre take inspiration from artists of another.—Rico

Told by the legend herself through songs she has written, Dolly Parton, Songteller gives us a peek into the life of Dolly. Including full-color pictures from the very beginning of her fascinating story, this book is a must-have for any fan of Parton or her work. This season is great for Dolly fans, as She Come By It Natural, a more narrative-form biography by Sarah Smarsh, has also been released, which gives a more in-depth look into the trials and triumphs of this musical powerhouse. — MJ