Rating: 
Summary: A real PAUL-position!
Review: Reading this book gives you shivers down the spine, the friendship between John, Paul, George & Ringo is a clear evidence that there is still hope for life! Pauls creativity around 1966/67 and the peaceful description of the visit to India gave me so much. I really hope Paul decides to give us the whole story about Wings and the 70s as well!!
Rating: 
Summary: First authoritative and thorough look at Paul McCartney
Review: This book seemed to be Paul's attempt to catch up with the large interview legacy that John Lennon left behind, without having to risk letting an interviewer select the questions. Barry Miles clearly loves Paul, and at no time challenges or pushes Paul's recollections or points of view. That said, the book is probably as close as the public will come to a look at the inner Paul McCartney, who has always appeared to be the most open and public-friendly, but is in fact the most guarded. I was annoyed at author Miles' few swipes at John Lennon, especially his snide "lying in a black bag" crack about John's method of protest. Whatever Miles might think about the effectiveness of such actions, it is John and not Paul that inspired and continues to inspire action against oppression and oppresors. In Eastern Europe, it is widely believed that public reaction to John Lennon's death helped mobilize the end of the iron curtain. But these are my only criticisms, I did enjoy the book, and I do love Paul, for all he's given and continues to give to us.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting to ex-Weybridge residents like me!!
Review: The book is clearly comprehensive in its handling of the life and work of Paul McCartney. Of specific interest to me are the details of how the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was inspired by Julian Lennon's drawing of Lucy O'Donnell (a story of which I was hitherto aware only in outline). You see, I, Michael Taylor (or Michael Taylor 2 as I was known in class there) am an ex-pupil of the said Heath House School, Weybridge, which I attended from 1965-1967!! (I still have my termly reports intact by the way.) I was born in 1960 and lived in Weybridge for a bit, but by the time I was at Heath House we had moved to nearby Walton-on-Thames. I am currently alive and, I suppose, well, and in deepest Lincolnshire, England. I shall proceed to re-look at the remainder of the book with the level of attention it clearly deserves, as soon as I am able.
Rating:
Summary: Well-researched, balanced, and terrifically interesting!
Review: This book told me more about the Beatles, about the Lennon and McCartney partnership, and about the political and artistic influences shaping the Beatles music than any other book I've read. It was honest about the players but not cruel. It was packed with information about the creative process and how the various songs came to be. All those interested in the Beatles (and not just McCartney)should read this great book.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for any serious beatle or McCartney fan.
Review: Miles starts from the beginning (a review of liverpool history) and develops the environment in which this genius developed. Book includes quotes from Paul that add insight into the relationship of John and fab four during their genesis and rise to fame and fortune. Covers Pauls opinions on who developed which song (plenty of suprises there!) i.e. Donovon helped Paul with ideas to develop elenoir rigby's lyrics after Paul developed the melody from a dream! I consider myself an average Beatle freak in that I have not attempted to read many books on the subject for fear of being ripped off (reading heresay/rumour). This book is the real deal and a wise investment.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: This is a great book, written by one of Paul's friends...which means so much more
Rating:
Summary: Paul's own words
Review: The idea that a musician could be an elegant writer is not so far-fetched, yet Barry Miles took Paul's thoughts and words and molded them into a compelling tale, more so than Paul would have done himself. Paul's is another story of how a man deals with being thrust into greatness.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing!!!...at one point
Review: The only thing that this biography needs to be really good is showing a bit of Paul's post-beatles career, his Wings-period, his incursions on classic music... all the things that a fan would REALLY like to know. Otherwise, this book is very good, the only thing being the fact that everybody knows a lot about Paul's life during the Beatles times.
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Summary: Relive the Fab 60's through the lives of the Beatles
Review: If you want to relive the sixties, this is a great book in which to do so. Can you remember the first time you heard a particular Beatles song? Where you were, what were you doing? The sixties were a time of peace and love, caring and sharing with our brothers and sisters. This book shows how they (the Beatles) were living their particular lives at the time. A good read. A bit too many details about certain things I found irelevant but throughly enjoyable with many new facts!
Rating:
Summary: Great behind-the-scenes biography!
Review: I really appreciated that the book was NOT about all of the things we usually read - concerts, ON STAGE personae, etc. It was very inside. It gave me a much different impression of Paul McCartney. I loved the way Paul described the way he and John would sit facing each other when they co-wrote their songs. I felt the intimacy of their eye contact - a sort of love affair, a magic that really clicked for a time. I'm hoping Barry Miles will do one book for each Beatle.
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