Rating: 
Summary: An intriguing, fascinating, & interesting source of info!
Review: I found this book to be fascinating! A great summary of the band and how/when they started. The 'story' of Syd Barrett. I was fully intrigued by this book from cover to cover. An excellent source of material. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Pink Floyd.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BIOGRAPHY I EVER READ!
Review: I have only read 1 other biography for myself and this 1.Ireally enjoyed this 1.It was a little slow up to chapter 10,"Shine On You Crazy Diamond". I Learned a lot about FLOYD.Great reading material!
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book that covers everything!
Review: I haven't yet run across a book as good as this one that goes so far in with the band. A lot of research went in and it is a great source for all articles written on Pink Floyd. It spends a lot of time on the band's beginings, but is touches everything that did, has done, or will do with Pink Floyd. It's a little out of date now and only goes up through the Delicate Sound of Thunder concert and does not touch on the Division Bell or the '94 Pulse tour. Other than that it's a good book.
Rating:
Summary: A bitter pill to swallow for Floyd fans
Review: I just finished reading this book and I really enjoyed it. The author gives excellent background on the early days of the group including the demise of Syd Barrett. Perhaps what is the most interesting are the paralells drawn between Pink Floyd and the Beatles. The demise and the reasons for the demise of both bands are similar. The author takes a very pro-Gilmour stance in the post-Waters era of the band. Although I may not agree with his view, he does an adequate job of supporting his argument. The only reason the I gave the book 4 stars is becuase it is dated material. The information on goes up to the Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour. No mention is made of the Division Bell or other exploits. This may be due to the death of the author several years back.
Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: I liked the book at finally convincing me that Roger was actually too much to handle. My negative comment is that the book concentrated too much on earlier Floyd (circa Syd) which is although is important in understading the later Floyd, was too lengthy. Consequently, it never delved enough in Floyd's golden years.
Good read nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed but also stimulating!
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who is at all interested in Pink Floyd. Yes, the book does tend to focus on Syd a bit much but you have to realize that he was founder of the band's rare talents. The book really gave me a feel for what the ideals the band was founded on and the origins of their work. This book is worth the small price!
Rating:
Summary: A must have for fans
Review: If you enjoy Pink Floyd you should definitely look into getting this book. It will help you better understand the band and their music. Pink Floyd is a very interesting band and this book really doesn't get boring. Schaffner has done his research and gathered quotes from anyone significant to the band. You will not regret buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: Most importantly, the guy knew how to write.
Review: If you're interested in this book at all, you're probably already on the "geek" end of Floyd fandom -- so you shouldn't buy this book JUST because it's packed with handy info, true insight, and behind-the-scenes boogaloo. No, you should buy this book because the late Nicholas Schaffner was one hell of a writer. The words just roll right off the page, turning into a gentle -- yet excited! -- little voice in your head. It's just like you and your buddy Nick are sitting on the couch (perhaps under a little influence of something or other), and he's telling you stories about this crazy band his friends put together . . . who just happened to become one of the most popular bands of all time. Get it? Not only is it informative and accurate, but it's a fun and easy read! I'll go a step further -- and I've never cared about this sort of thing -- but it's set in the nicest font I've ever read in my life. Nothing could be kinder to the eyes than whatever this type is. Reading this book will probably make you curious about other Floyd books. Some (like Cliff Jones' "Another Brick in the Wall") are total duds, while others (Phil Rose's "Which One's Pink?") are fantastic. But if you buy and read this book, you'll know that you've had the best.
Rating:
Summary: A great story! Not simply the antics of a Rock'N'Roll band.
Review: It's been awhile since I've read it, but it's the best account of the history (story) of the band that I have read to date. Some great coverage of Syd's pivotal role in the making and direction of the band.
Rating:
Summary: Would Someone Please Update This Book???
Review: Many years ago, Nicholas Schaffner, author of this excellent volume on that rocking band of space cadets known as Pink Floyd, wrote a book entitled The British Invasion, dealing with all the rock bands that came from John Bull's Island (an old, OLD term for Great Britain!)in the sixites and seventies, with several extended chapters on the most important bands, including the Floyd. Schaffner's writing was so lucid and intense, yet free-flowing, particularly concerning the madcap ex-guitarist named Syd Barrett, that I resolved there and then to someday pick up an entire, updated book of the Floyd. Well, in one respect, Saucerful of Secrets fills the bill nicely. Schaffner's writing is still wonderfully lucid and is an easy, entertaining read throughout, and as free from bias as any book of the FLoyd is likely to be. (If bassist Roger Waters seems to come in for more than his share of bashing, it merely confirms what I have learned from most of the other sources I have read to date.) Unfortunately, Schaffner is deceased; he died in 1991 and no one has seen fit to update his work as of this writing. He has done such a fine job covering all the bases of the band's founding, the early happenings with UFO, Syd's creativity, drug usage, and subsequent withdrawal, the formulation of a Syd-less group identity, the Golden Years of Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, the early fragmentation into two camps: Roger Waters and everyone else, the Wall and early solo projects, the Roger-less Floyd, and Water's final triumph at the Berlin Wall. All told very, very well indeed! Now, would some enterprising journalist or former band insider provide the needed updates, including such topics as Water's 2000 tour and Gilmour's escapades with one Sir Paul McCartney? Please?? Millions of Floyd fans would be most appreciative. In any case, for a great read of how the Floyd got to be Pink, get this book now and any subsequent updates as they are written. The secrets of this wonderful odyssey await you by the saucerful!!!
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