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Rating: 
Summary: Most Complete Beatle Book
Review: 1- Hertsgaard has nothing new to say2- He repeats himself 3- the majority of what is in here is the author's opinion 4- Very negative view on John Lennon for some reason 5- He isn't an inside source
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-HAVE FOR EVERY BEATLE-FAN
Review: Hertgaard's book is one of the best beatlebooks I've ever read... and I've read quite a few! (ca. 40). It's secret is in the way he handles with facts and just facts, but not forgetting to review some other musical aspects as well, what makes its reading very very easy, yet not simplistic. Very good, and together with LEWISOHN's Complte Chronicle, the best guide to the Beatles.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Hertsgaard has done his research well, and analyzes the music of the Beatles with imagination and depth. All too often have we seen some Beatle songs dismissed as "good music with intelligible lyrics" (Strawberry Fields comes to mind), and Hertsgaard never does this. His analysis of the music is insightful and not overly technical (a serious flaw of some other well written books). My only complaint (and this may be too strong a word for it) is that occasionally he becomes too involved with his subject and his obvious love of Beatle music emerges (not that this is a bad thing, but it does detract from an objective, critical study). All in all, a very good piece of Beatle literature.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling, insightful and well-written account.
Review: Hertsgaard obtained what ardent Beatle fans dream of. He lets us in on what no Beatle fan can accomplish (besides Lewisohn, who, as an employee, is restrained in nuance) : Verbatim accounts of original recording sessions, coupled with his nuanced and informed interpretations of the ORIGINAL SESSION TAPES of a sadly limited number of recording sessions. Will he be rewarded for this fine work with return visits? I cautiously anticipate a sequel. This is The Beatles portrayed as much like us all, their greatness aside. The author seems to care about the subject and the players without veering into worship or condemnation. This is a wonderful, balanced and informative contribution to the already large body of material dedicated to The Beatles. I love the intimate climate of this work. DON'T PASS THIS ONE BY....
Rating: 
Summary: An insightful look at the world's greatest pop band
Review: I've been searching for a good book about the fab four for some time. I didn't want a book that was written before the Anthology series, so when I came across A Day in the Life, I was pleased to note the date (after the Anthology series). I got it almost entirely on that basis.As it turns out, this book is very well written, and extremely insightful. The author goes to great lengths to document all of his findings, sighting that previous Beatles authors often do not. So most, if not all of his "facts" about this band are acurate. The basic concept of this book is to look at the Beatles, and their music as one might look at Bach or Brahms and their music. He gives us his own personal annalysis of some of the better known songs, and describes some of the behavior and mannerisms of the Beatles. The book is at it's best when the author sticks to the facts about the band. When he gives his own opinions (and he does this often) the reader may begin to disagree with his views on the greatness or lack-there-of of some of the songs. I recommend it, if only because there is a great deal of info contained within. But I think we can all form our own opinions about which songs deserve the most praise.
Rating:
Summary: Must have for Beatle fans!
Review: If you are tired of all the "who was sleeping with or sueing who" type Beatles biographies and are more interested in learning about their music and artistry, it's creation and inspiration, then you will enjoy A Day in the Life.
Rating:
Summary: Insights into lives and creative process of The Beatles
Review: If you only buy one book on the Beatles, this is as good as any. I found it immensely readable, and had trouble putting it down. It's one of the few books I've read more than twice. Hertsgaard gleaned much of his information from old interviews with the Beatles and those of their inner circle such as producer George Martin and sound engineer Geoff Emerick, along with Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor, and many others, as detailed in the nearly 100 pages of notes.
What comes out is a nuanced telling of the Beatles story, much of it already known to fans, but with the addition of notes on the recording session and almost every song they recorded, along with tunes like "Besame Mucho" that showed up on bootlegs and many that appeared in the Anthology Series.
After each chapter, I found myself popping in a disk and listening on the headphones to discover things on the songs I'd never noticed before.
A worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: Insights into lives and creative process of The Beatles
Review: If you only buy one book on the Beatles, this is as good as any. I found it immensely readable, and had trouble putting it down. It's one of the few books I've read more than twice. Hertsgaard gleaned much of his information from old interviews with the Beatles and those of their inner circle such as producer George Martin and sound engineer Geoff Emerick, along with Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor, and many others, as detailed in the nearly 100 pages of notes.
What comes out is a nuanced telling of the Beatles story, much of it already known to fans, but with the addition of notes on the recording session and almost every song they recorded, along with tunes like "Besame Mucho" that showed up on bootlegs and many that appeared in the Anthology Series.
After each chapter, I found myself popping in a disk and listening on the headphones to discover things on the songs I'd never noticed before.
A worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: If anything can get as good as the Beatles it's this book!
Review: The best book ever written about the fab four. No sex, no drugs (well almost),only pure rock. Mark Hertsgaard is perhaps the first writer who has done justice to the lads' remarkable talent. From the initial Hamburg days to the London days of Please Please Me to the acid trip of Pepper to the grim reality of Let It Be, Hertsgaard gives a true analysis of the most imoportant aspect of the Beatles -- the music. If you have atleast one Beatle album (otherwise you would not be listening to music anyways, would you?) this is the book you must have for a better understanding of the works of the greatest musicians on this planet. What are you waiting for?
Rating: 
Summary: A Dull Tribute
Review: This is a book for people who know little about the Beatles. It was much praised by critics for focusing on the music, but really most of what is said is descriptive - you can find out this stuff for yourself by simply listening to the albums, which I recommend doing rather than reading about it -or perhaps with the books "A Hard Day's Write" by Steve Turner and "The Beatles Recording Sessions" by Mark Lewisohn on hand, if one really wants to shed light on the music.
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