Rating: 
Summary: Don't Buy!
Review: A horrible book by a man who only wants to make money by discrediting and dramatizing The Beatles. I truly wonder how this book ever got published. If you want a good book about George pick up "I Me Mine" instead, it's a masterpiece and George wrote it himself.
Rating:
Summary: More pap from the infamous opportunist
Review: A reader once wrote that "Geoffery Guiliano makes it his life to put out as much as he can about the life of The Beatles..." Well, actually, Guiliano makes it his life to try and dig up dirt and when he can't, just makes it up as he goes along.Guiliano has long been known as the very worst kind of Beatles opportunist; somehow, likely by sheer volume, he's developed a reputation as an "expert", but he's traded on his friendships with Fab Four hangers-ons to pump out cheap low-brow books (mostly picture books, appropriately) and talk CD's on the group and the various members. Clearly, he doesn't really LIKE the group that much, as he is hell-bent on demystifying them. With "Dark Horse" he's set his sights on George Harrison. As usual, he has little actual primary research, looks to limited press/media accounts for fodder, and then takes his common negative "demystifying" spin to the proceedings. If there's a negative character flaw anywhere in Harrison's persona, that's the one Guiliano settles on as his thesis. No one would ever assume Harrison to be perfect, but in this "author's" hands the quiet Beatle is simply a lazy lout. Look folks...really...there is absolutely NOTHING whatsoever of value, historical interest or entertainment on this lightweight piece of junk. It's just designed simply to separate the casual Beatles fan from more of his hard-earned money. You're smarter than that, I just know you are. Don't buy this - if the public avoids this miserable type of garbage, hopefully Guiliano might someday go away. Oh...don't buy his CD's or videos either.
Rating:
Summary: -0 stars!
Review: Being a real Harrison fan for over 35 years I can safely say that this book isn't worth the paper it is printed on. Made up stories, inacurate details and dramas. No one could possibly have this much information about someones life, especially a Beatles private life. I find it hard to even justify writing this review. I am doing so only to warn others that they will be very disappointed if they read this book. Please do not purchase this book. Wait until "I Me Mine" (written by George himself) is re-issued. Hopefully coming out in the fall of 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: Author drowns out music with religious info
Review: Giuliano has written many books about the Beatles, and while he has been rightfully accused of being a little too interested in the private lives of the Fab Four, it's worth admitting that the author knows his subjects to some degree. Overall, Giuliano's "Dark Horse" focuses more detail on Harrison's religious beliefs more than anything else. It is well known (of the very few things that are actually known) that Harrison was a very spiritual man; but the extent to which Giuliano documents Harrison's evolution as a Hare Krishna may stem from the fact that the author and his subject practice very similar religions. Certain readers may get bored reading on and on about the history of some of George's spiritual teachers. I wonder if Giuliano thinks he and Harrison are connected in some way? On the back of the book where the review excerpts are listed, Harrison is quoted as saying "This guy knows more about my life than I do." I believe George was being a little sarcastic here, something the obsessed author didn't pick up on. Still, the book is detailed in trying to document Harrison's post-Beatle life; his seclusion, his isolation, and his business ventures. I would Giuliano credit for attempting to investigate a man who successfully remained elusive and out of the public eye for most of his entire adult life, but he didn't have to go the length of describing how women felt he performed in bed. When reading a jealous, envious or overly-critical biography on the Beatles, one only needs to remember that one day these books will be out of print, but the world will ALWAYS have the music of the Beatles.
Rating:
Summary: Is George Dead or Disappeared?
Review: Giuliano's book is not particularly well written and has numerous inaccuracies but it's not "bad" or mean spirited. His intent is to deromanticize the Fab Four, maybe, and he paints a seemingly honest picture of a man who is not a superman nor a yogi but a flawed seeker of his own higher spiritual self. What is exceptional in this work is its insight and research into Harrison's Indian spirituality, detailing the various gurus and teachers whose paths he was drawn to and followed. Far more is revealed in this work about Harrison's relationship to the Krishna Conscousness movement from 1969 through the end of his life. Giuliano met Harrison briefly once in the early 1980's through his own friendship with "Legs" Larry Smith - ex-Bonzo Dog Band drummer, graphic artist, and alcoholic jester to close friends like Harrison. Giuliano ends a 1997 updated final chapter wondering whether Harrison would ever have the strength to disappear from the material world, to truly leave being an ex-Beatle, and pursue the Krishna devotee's ultimate goal of ending his days wandering among the holy sites in India (which Harrison last visited publicly in 1996, but allegedly revisited in September 2001). Anyone interested in the incredible rumors that Harrison faked his death to spend his last months or years in full spritual devotion should read this book. Harrison is revealed as sincere, humble and good-spirited, if often weighed down the responsibilities of wealth, fame and having been fab.
Rating:
Summary: Book is adequate
Review: Harrison is an interesting figure, and this book deserves a read for that reason alone. Giuliano gives some new insight into Harrison's recent life, however the veracity of some of the information is suspect. I did read recently that Harrison, or more particulaly his wife Olivia, has taken issue with the book. In any event, while not a "must read", I do recommend the book to anyone interested in the subject. Those of us who are Harrison fans are always clamoring for as much material as we can, and despite some obvious shortcomings, this book does deserve attention from anyone wanting to learn more about the "Dark Horse".
Rating: 
Summary: God Bless You George Thank You Geoffrey!
Review: Harrison was a great man. Giuliano is a great writer and a greater fan. What more can you say? I loved this book. A rich tapestry of a wonderful man and musician.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, if a little biased...
Review: I am starting to realize that Beatles Bios tend to be written by people who start out with a particular allegiance to their subject matter of choice. So the George Bios are very pro-George and the Paul Bios likewise. The only character who escapes this kind of rose-colored fog is John Lennon, whose legendary crankiness seemed to make him cherished yet abhorred. This book was written by a pro-George person. It does shed some light on George's reclusive lifestyle (if a bit speculatively) and on the man's lifelong quest for God. This is an area most people are not familiar with. They know only of the Maharishi and a reference or two to Krishna. That's about it. Here is George's spiritual journey revealed. So read it for that if nothing else. Otherwise it's definitely a fond remembrance of the now sadly deceased "Quiet One". Deborah
Rating:
Summary: Dark Horse: The Life and Art of George Harrison
Review: I opened this book with idle curiosity about the subject and finished it (barely) with contempt for the research and writing. It reads as idle and sometimes nasty gossip. There are glaring inconsistencies, and clumsiness with dates, which, considering it's many reprints, is simply unforgivable. The book concludes with a catalogue of dates that shed extraordinary light on the writer's egotism and ludicrous attachment to the subject of the book. I am grateful to the author at least for curing my interest in biography. From now on I'll just stick to the music. To say the book does not do justice to this immensely talented musician is a gross understatement. I am embarrassed that I bought this book. I eventually threw it away - just couldn't bear to think that someone might pick it up at the second hand shop.
Rating: 
Summary: TIRED CLICHES
Review: I read this book because as an inveteterate Beatles fan, I was interested in the subject and treatment of guitarist, George Harrison. Instead of being a serious and comprehensive biography, I found this work to be little more than innuendo and hearsay. Mr. Guiliano tends to rely heavily upon cliches such as "the Quiet One" and gives a very surfacy overview of the man's talents and musical contributions. He does not provide substantial facts and many of his statements appear to be more of his subjective opinions rather than objective, factual (and hopefully) informative statements about his subject. Read the Beatles' Anthology instead. You will be glad that you did.
| 
