It just seems a shame he never seemed able to enjoy that success -- and very sad that his life ended the way it did.   So perhaps "pitiable" is a better word than "pathetic" -- less judgmental.   

Brian was also a failed thespian/actor who throughout his time of management retained a desire to succeed in that art, tho was never deemed good enough. 

For someone with absolutely no experience in pop management to achieve such success as a manager, not only with the Beatles, is quite remarkable.  

But Epstein was nevertheless pathetic in the literal sense of the word - deserving of pity or empathy.

He was gay and Jewish - not a good combination in the UK of the 1960s. Tortured, probably craving for some acceptance and recognition, and living a punishing underground sex life.

For such an accomplished, honest, and giving man I'd say he was worthy of empathy.

IMDeWalrus said:

Still, this book has a lot of first-hand information about a guy who really did seem to be "pathetic" — Brian Epstein, as well as the goings-on at Apple… how accurate it is, you never know, but it's interesting reading, and like I say, I'm a bit less negative about the book as a whole than I was when it was new.   

Why was Brian "pathetic"? He was naive in many of his business deals looking back but he deserves a heck of a lot of credit for bringing The Beatles onto the global market. Brian gets far more stick than deserved. A tortured ...]]> Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:17:22 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/beatles-books/the-love-you-make-by-peter-brown-and-steven-gaines/#p44552 Beatles books http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/beatles-books/the-love-you-make-by-peter-brown-and-steven-gaines/#p44552 I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of this book, although I'm not quite as negative about it as I was when I first bought it back in the early 80's.   At that time, I was tremendously disappointed, because I expected a good insider look at what The Beatles were like and how it felt to be in the middle of Beatlemania (after all, Brown is the only one of that crowd mentioned by name in a Beatles song).   Instead, it was as much gossip as it was actual observation -- and Brown seemed to sneer ...]]> Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:36:15 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/beatles-books/the-love-you-make-by-peter-brown-and-steven-gaines/#p43350 Beatles books http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/beatles-books/the-love-you-make-by-peter-brown-and-steven-gaines/#p43350 Definitely a good book. It was a major reference for mine.

(Mothernaturesdaughter, my wife's family is from Indiana - great place)

You would have to be really desperate. It's not that bad, from what I remember. It's nothing new.

I have plenty to read, i just found a copy for £2. There are so many books that ive started and never finished or never got around to. This very well could be another thats added to the boxes.

I was more intriqued by it after George Martin said whats in it is true.

Which suggests whatever is in The Love You Make is true.

I havent read it yet but plan to after finally finishing Jonathan Gould's Cant Buy Me Love.

Any thoughts?

I think Paul's "wishful thinking" remark was uncalled-for.

Same year as Shotton's book then. Not sure which came first. But I presume the Epstein/Lennon tales were well known anyway - they were all over Liverpool back in 1963.