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3.51pm
29 December 2009
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I ordered this from Amazon this morning after dithering for quite a while, and I was just wondering if anyone here has read it. Given that the subject matter is the Beatles finances and personal relationships post-split, I'm hoping for an enlightening if not particularly enjoyable reading experience. Normally I'd give a book like this a wide berth but I'm familiar with Doggett's magazine work, and he seems a pretty level-headed sort of writer. So I doubt it'll be a muck-raking hatchet job!
Anyway, all thoughts and opinions welcome; even if you haven't read it 
4.29pm
14 October 2009
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Yes I got it a few months back and read it very quickly. I enjoyed it because Doggett wasn't trying to 'kiss ass' with any particular Beatle; he was just plain honest in some of their weaknesses – and there were many!
He kicks off with the death of Lennon and all that meant in terms of The Beatles as a whole and then takes up the story from the onset of Apple. Without giving too much away I came out of reading the book by thinking that no one was really solely to blame for the absolute catstrophe that was Apple in terms of all the money lost. Everyone played their part at being utter fools and if it hadn't been for some pig-headedness on both John, Paul and George's part, then maybe, just maybe, things would have worked out differently. I've read it before and it gets told again here in this book – John & Paul came soooooooo close to getting back together only for it to be stopped by Yoko.
I am sure you will enjoy it. I look forward to your views once you have!
7.29pm
29 December 2009
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Thanks so much for that mjb; you've probably told me just what I wanted to hear! And my appetite is certainly whetted now 
I'll be sure to get back to you after I've read it.
2.44pm
31 March 2008
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I've been thinking of getting this for a while. I've seen it in a couple of shops but it's a bit pricey at the moment. I'll probably pick it up when it comes out in paperback. I've got another of Doggett's books, the Art & Music of John Lennon, and he's a very good writer.
3.10pm
14 October 2009
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Joe said:I've been thinking of getting this for a while. I've seen it in a couple of shops but it's a bit pricey at the moment. I'll probably pick it up when it comes out in paperback. I've got another of Doggett's books, the Art & Music of John Lennon, and he's a very good writer.
I got mine from eBay!
4.25am
28 November 2010
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I like this book.
3.33am
8 April 2010
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9.31pm
4 December 2010
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I have it… in paperback.
It was good, and I loved some of Doggett's dry comments, but I wish I hadn't read it. There's that old phrase "never meet your heroes"- this is "never research your heroes".
"You'll stay on the fucking label. Hare krishna."- George Harrison (to Paul McCartney)
9.40pm
31 March 2008
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I got it for Christmas, and I'm about 100 pages in. It's a brilliant book, and Peter Doggett is one of the best Beatles writers around right now – very thorough and level-headed, getting to the heart of the story. Here's a flavour of his writing: http://peterdoggettbeatles.blogspot.com/
11.40pm
4 December 2010
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I read this last summer and enjoyed it. Doggett really is unbiased and shows the devils and angels of each Beatle without proving a favorite. A lot of interesting and real insightful points about their demise. He made it as clear as possible concerning the whole Eastman/Klein debacles.
The prologue is what got to me. I started tearing reading about how John's death affected everyone. Quite sad and thoughtful the way he wrote it.
I recommend it to anyone though it was a long read. Totally worth it.
1.42am
1 May 2010
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The Walrus said:
I have it… in paperback.
It was good, and I loved some of Doggett's dry comments, but I wish I hadn't read it. There's that old phrase "never meet your heroes"- this is "never research your heroes".
"You'll stay on the fucking label. Hare krishna."- George Harrison (to Paul McCartney)
Awesome quote. Now I want to read these books.
As you say, never research your heroes. But I like that. The Beatles were not sweet angels, I wouldn't mind knowing their flaws. 
1.26pm
13 November 2009
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I just got this in the mail yesterday, and if the prologue is any indication, it's going to get interesting. 
2.03pm
19 September 2010
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skye said:
I just got this in the mail yesterday, and if the prologue is any indication, it's going to get interesting.
So, Tell us how it is!!!! I need To Know.
2.15pm
31 March 2008
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I've almost finished my copy, currently midway through the lengthy afterword. It's a fantastic book and is thoroughly recommended – easily in my top 10 Beatles books.
It helps put a lot of stuff in context, and Doggett has done a good job of cutting through the myths and uncertainties to get to the facts. On the downside, nobody comes out of it looking good, particularly (IMO) McCartney (too concerned about his public image and unable to set aside past disagreements) and Harrison (dour, bloody hard work, petulant, ungrateful). Starr (alcoholic, though otherwise on the periphery) and Lennon (obstinate, inconsistent, under the thumb of Yoko) were no angels either. It's clear, though, that they came close to reforming quite a few times prior to Lennon's death, but events kept conspiring against them.
If you can get past the idea that your heroes may have feet of clay, it's a brilliant book.
8.56pm
28 May 2011
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I currently have this with Geoff Emerick's book as the two best Beatle books I've read.
Dogget takes a difficult subject (Beatles finances) and makes it easy reading.
As great as the 60s were for the Beatles, the 70s were equally as bad.
8.48pm
18 August 2010
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looks like this is moving up on my beatle-booklist
9.21pm
19 September 2010
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I just picked this up today. I hadn't given it more then a quick glance, but I got it cheap, so I'm happy.
9.28am
10 May 2011
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3.37pm
12 August 2011
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I borrowed this from the local library…it's a great book. 
6.28pm
7 November 2010
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Joe said:
I've almost finished my copy, currently midway through the lengthy afterword. It's a fantastic book and is thoroughly recommended – easily in my top 10 Beatles books.
What's your favourite, just out of interest?
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