Rating: 
Summary: A Complete Insight to Life As a Beatle
Review: I have been a "Beatlemaniac" since 1964. This was by far, the most insightful description of everyday life from one of the world's most talented men. The pre-Beatles stories of the early day's with John sitting around their homes constructing songs was fascinating. I felt like a fly on the wall sitting there watching them construct some of today's classics. The descriptions of the drug culture of the mid 60's and how it affected each one of them was mind boggling. I never realized how overboard John went with his drug use. The song by song analysis of all the Beatle songs written by John and Paul was fantasic. I recommend this book any Beatle's fan who wants to learn more about them. This book is great!
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Summary: McCartney's Bio Lacks Brio
Review: There's something specious about "authorized biographies." Most people would prefer to have either unauthorized biographies where a subject's life can be treated more even-handedly or, better yet, an autobiography where the author can fashion his own apologia in his own words. Authorized biographies have the disreputable air of hackneyed propaganda -- as though the subject couldn't bother with telling his own story and hired some poor scribbler to do it for him. "Many Years From Now" sadly fulfills these low expectations. Here, Mr. Miles tries to compensate by quoting large swaths from interviews and press reports and stitching them together with assorted, and occassionally incorrect, facts and factoids. It doesn't wash. The book reads like a 570-page press kit for an upcoming album or TV show. Most of the information presented here is already well known and the few tidbits that Miles digs up aren't worth the effort to find. There's a lackluster quality both to the research and the writing as if either McCartney or his author really didn't care about how the book would read as long as the image Paul wanted to project of himself was present. McCartney certainly doesn't deserve the savaging which Albert Goldman gave Lennon some years back but he should expect more from a biography than this half-hearted approbation.
Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: I ordered this book on a whim, expecting the usual dry history lesson about the Beatles' beginnings, middle and end. However, instead I found myself mesmerized by the many (and sometimes surprising) details of Paul's life in London during the mid-60's. And I thought I knew it all. If half of what I read is true, Paul came through to me as much more intellectually curious and aware than I had previously thought. I disagree with the complaints of his 'whining.' It seemed to me he took great care to give John the respect he deserves. John clearly wasn't an easy man to love but Paul chose to see the sweet, vulnerable side of his friend -- even at the worst of times. I felt myself transported right back to the 60's as I read this book. It's a fascinating ride. Lots of fun.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone interested in the the Beatles
Review: This book really took me back to those years when his music became the milestones in our lives. Miles did a great job of bringing the personable side of McCartney right out to the readers. Yes there might have been a few inaccuracies but thats life especially when there are so many fans that have watched this man in detail over the years. Without a doubt it is the best biography I have ever read. Miles and Paul should feel pretty good about this one.
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Summary: The book is, simply put, an excellent history of The Beatles
Review: I'm not one for reading many biographies, especially when the size of the book can double as a doorstop when you're done with it. But, this one was different. It has a lot to do with being 44 yrs old,and growing up with these guys (and all the musicians referred to by Paul: Clapton, Mick and the Rolling Stones, Eric Burdon, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Marianne Faithfull,Jimi, Jackie Lomax, and the list goes on). I became immediately engrossed by the early years of Paul growing up, how he took to music at such a young age, and pursued it. What was truly fascinating was learning how the songs became reality,i.e., the lyrics, the references, the titles and the album concepts. What a gas to find out that Ringo suggested "After Geography" as the title for "Revolver," (this because the Rolling Stones had just come out with their album, "Aftermath"). This was fascinating. "Glass Onion, Julia, Why Don't We Do It In The Road," "Got To Get You Into My Life" (a reference to pot), "Yesterday," "Sgt. Pepper's.." all have a history. These are only a few. Just about every song, and its history is covered.It was sad to read about the beginning of the end of the Beatles, when John became so drug-induced and seemingly controlled by Yoko. The many many people behind the scenes, Mal, Epstein, George Martin, etc. and their roles was truly interesting, never boring. The only part of the book that I thought dragged a bit was the chapter on "Avant garde London." But that was a small dip in what was an otherwise fascinating and easily readable biography of Paul and history of the Fab Four. I will always remember this book whenver I hear a Beatles song from now on, many years from now. Read this book. You will be glad you did. Trust me.
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Summary: A memoir of fast moving times
Review: Many Years From Now is a wonderful source of memories and first person tales from McCartney. There are factual errors which many readers have already pointed out, but the Allen Klein saga and the formation and dreams behind Apple (besides being a tax shelter) and the Indica Gallery are first rate. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this for Christmas and am just now finishing it up. It is good to read in the man's own words that he and John had made up.
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Summary: McCartney: Master of 20th C Public Relations Strikes Again
Review: Once again, Paul McCartney illustrates why the Beatles were probably the best 20th century practitioners of marketing and public relations ever. Together and apart, they kept an iron grip on their "image", always in complete control over any information that reached their public, to the point of gleefully including information that belied their "fab" image when it suited them. This book carries on that fine tradition--factual errors? Serious Beatlemaniacs can easily dig up the "real" facts from other sources. So Paul's human--human memory is notoriously imperfect, and his just happen to be of some of the most culturally turbulent times in recent generations. I give this top rating for the exhaustive, first person interviews with Paul himself, the closest we may ever get to an autobiography from the much-misunderstood, much-maligned "Cute One". Armchair Beatles psychologists will derive years of entertainment trying to decipher the man's thoughts, presented verbatim.
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Summary: This is the BEST book I have ever read about Paul McCartney.
Review: This is the best book I have ever read about Paul McCartney, and for that matter about the Beatles. I really enjoyed reading it because it explains very detailed many aspects of Paul McCartney's life, such as when he met people, how some things and some people in Paul's life influenced him, how songs started, how an album cover was designed from the beginning, why a song was done the way it was made and many other interesting details about his career, leaving out the stupid gossip about his sex life, and things like that, that only the Enquirer would be interested on. Another interesting aspect of this book is that it explains the Allen Klein fiasco clearly, much better than all the other Beatles books that I have read. The only way this book would have been even better is if the author would have continued with Paul's solo career, album by album, year by year up to today, in the same format, but maybe Mr. Miles and Sir Paul McCartney are already working on that book! This is a book that should be in any Beatles fan's home. I would also recommend this book to anybody that wants to understand what went on in the 60's. Good work Mr. Barry Miles!! Please write Part II!
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Summary: Like Pizza and Fairy Tales
Review: The greatest aspect of this book is the way it makes Paul's life read like a fictional journey through music, love, London, and memory. The childhood section is magical. Paul's description of his house "at the end of the world" is a theme that carries through the book, to his life at the Ashers, and his recollections from today. Forget about Miles and read Paul's words for even the truths that he is trying to hide. Its a killer story.
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Summary: A book with historical significance
Review: Forget all of the whining about factual misstatements and inaccuracies. Sure, this book has a few, but that should not take away from what makes this book great: for the first time, Paul McCartney shares his memories and views of life with the Beatles in Swinging London in the Sixties. What Barry Miles has put together is what I consider a definitive account of the life of Paul McCartney. No other book out there is based on as many interviews with the man himself. Many other McCartney/Beatles books are based on newspaper reports, interviews with those in the Beatles circle, and other books. One sometimes wonders how much in these books is fact and how much is fiction. Some of these books almost have a tabloid-type of feel. Not this one. Here, Miles has turned the trick of getting McCartney to sit down and talk about what really went down. Even if you could care less about McCartney's childhood or his participation in the London avant-garde scene of the Sixties, his comments on the Beatles songs that he and John Lennon wrote are historically important, and make the book worth buying. Whether you are a Beatles fan, a McCartney fan, or both, this book is an absolute treasure and is a must for your library.
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