100 Books - Three Books about Bob Dylan, His Music, Literature and Art

One Hundred Books. This is a short list of 100 books I have read, listed here in no particular order. 

Bob Dylan Chronicles - Volume One

 

I'm a fan of all things Dylan. The man and his work are fascinating and relevant to our culture and world in so many ways. To talk about Dylan is like embarking on a long voyage. You'll have to listen to music and read the lyrics during the journey. You'll discover his odd and playful relationship with the press and the media, his deep love for words and rhymes, and his cleverly disguised, even overly obvious, meaning. You'll have to look at multiple sources to get an accurate picture of Dylan and anyone. Another great resource to appreciate the depths of Bob Dylan's art is one of the many books containing his lyrics. 

The Definitive Dylan Songbook

I've spent hours listening to Dylan songs, reading the lyrics to learn from the master. Dylan is a master of words, painting vivid pictures of real-life situations and events, relationships, and twists of fate. It's no wonder he was selected for the Nobel Prize for literature. Even though his primary medium is songs and lyrics, there is no doubt that his words have and continue to contribute to the literature of our world. After a while, it becomes easy to think like Dylan regarding phrasing and tone of voice. When I begin to feel like Dylan, my lyrical writing also improves. Not to copy Dylan by any means, but to be inspired by his skill and unique voice can only enhance one's artistic gifts. An in-depth look into Dylan and his work can enrich one's soul and, for me, is amazingly inspirational.

Dylan's Visions of Sin

This third book referenced here is probably one of the best books I've ever found on lyric writing. The author, Christopher Ricks, does a fascinating deep dive into Bob Dylan's lyrical creations and comes up with a significant theory of Dylan's work. He asserts that Dylan is cleverly playing with words, rhymes, with meaning in a way that expresses truth, irony, and complexity like few other lyricists have done. Unsurprisingly, so many musical artists have covered a Dylan song, two, three, or more. Ricks looks at a Dylan lyric and rips it apart in order not only to understand what it means, but to see and hear how it works, why it works, and why it's so significant. Not an easy read, but there is great value in digging into this book, mainly if one also participates in writing lyrics and making music. Dylan's Visions of Sin is an extraordinary contribution to the literary aspect and appreciation of what Bob Dylan has given us over the years.