AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Miracle and Wonder

Title:  Miracle and Wonder: Conversations

  with Paul Simon

Authors: Malcom Gladwell

Publisher:  Pushkin Industries

Genre:   Memoir

Format:  ALC

Narrators:  Malcom Gladwell; Bruce Headlam; Paul Simon

Length:  5 hrs 45 mins

Date of Publication:   November 16, 2021

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

What happens when Paul Simon, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in music history, and Malcolm Gladwell, the bestselling author and podcast host, sit down together, with a tape recorder and a guitar?

Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon is part memoir, part investigation, and unlike any creative portrait you’ve ever heard before. Recorded over a series of 30 hours of conversation between Simon, Gladwell, and Gladwell’s oldest friend and co-writer, journalist and Broken Record podcast co-host Bruce Headlam, the conversation flows from Simon’s music, to his childhood in Queens, NY, to his frequent collaborators including Art Garfunkel and the nature of creativity itself. Gladwell and Headlam traveled from the mountains of Hawaii to Simon’s own backyard studio to record an artist they’ve idolized since childhood.

Woven throughout the audiobook is distinctive commentary about Simon’s songwriting alongside archival audio footage and never-before-heard live studio versions and original recordings of beloved hits including “The Boxer,” “The Sound of Silence,” and “Graceland”. Between conversations, Gladwell deploys his signature blend of historical research and social science in an attempt to understand how a boy from 1940’s Queens conjured near-perfect songs over an incredible 65-year career. Along the way he gathers reflections on Simon’s particular genius from the likes of Sting, Herbie Hancock, Renee Fleming, Jeff Tweedy, Aaron Lindsey, and Roseanne Cash.

The result is an intimate audio biography of one of America’s most popular songwriters. Brimming with music, and conversation, Miracle and Wonder is a window into Simon’s legendary career, what it means to be alive as an artist, and how to create work that endures.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

This beautiful book, although only available in audiobook format, chronicles the remarkable career of Paul Simon. A delightful bonus to this audiobook is a PDF guide accessible on the author and publisher’s website. This must be one of my all-time favorite memoirs. Not only do we get to listen to Simon’s interviews throughout the book, but there are also snippets of his songs spanning the years. 

Simon’s musical depth is what truly makes this book extraordinary. He’s not just a songwriter; he’s a brilliant craftsman. His musical genius is nothing short of extraordinary. As we follow Paul’s musical journey, which has spanned decades, we learn how and why he crafted his lyrics, even if they were just “La la la Li la Li.” Another remarkable aspect of this wonderful book is the cultural musical differences Paul encountered and how he embraced his musical genius to explore those influences. This audiobook is highly recommended, and I eagerly anticipate listening to it repeatedly.

Many thanks to Pushkin Industries and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Malcolm Timothy Gladwell is a Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker. He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996. He has published seven books. He is also the host of the podcast Revisionist History and co-founder of the podcast company Pushkin Industries.

Gladwell's writings often deal with the unexpected implications of research in the social sciences, such as sociology and psychology, and make frequent and extended use of academic work. Gladwell was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011.

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