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Hunter Davies: The Beatles
11 December 2011
5.10pm
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BeatlesLover4Ever96
Penny Lane
A Beginning
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8 November 2011
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I'm actually reading this book right now and the chapter I'm on is John at Art College.I think it's a really great book so far.

"Why in the world are we here?Surely not to live in pain and fear" – John

12 December 2011
3.00pm
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Zig
The Toppermost of the Poppermost
Apple rooftop
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14 April 2010
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For anyone who has the latest edition, I found it best to start the book by reading the original text first, then the 1985 updates that appear at the end, then the newest updates that appear at the beginning.

Sounds confusing, but it flows better.a-hard-days-night-ringo-13

To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.

14 December 2011
2.57pm
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JaiGuruDevaOm
Amy
The Top Ten Club
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27 May 2011
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I was just reading my copy today and I was reading through the chapter about George and he says that George was born in 1943, then on the naxt page it says 1944. It's on page 117, about 4th paragraph down. Now I'm questioning my Beatle knowladge to weather George was born in that year of it it's just a typo. Either way, I'm hoping it's just a minor error.

See All Without Looking, Do All Without Doing 

14 December 2011
3.27pm
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meanmistermustard
Thankfully not where I am.
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Its a typo. George was born in 1943. It was also erroneously printed a long time ago that George was born on the 24th February when its the 25th. And then there is the date that Paul and John met, a whole host of wrong dates for that have appeared in various books, magazines etc.

There are errors in every book you read. Some serious, some, like this, less than minor.

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

5 September 2014
6.23pm
Rita Eleanor
Sitting in his nowhere land
London Palladium
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28 July 2014
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Hi! And I know you have enough time you do not speak of this book. I read it a while ago too. It’s a good book, despite misinformation (Bob Spitz demystifies some things in his book). But let me ask you: at the end of the book, Davies asks some questions like, “How are the Beatles now,” I felt myself anticipating the future, because I already knew what would happen. You also had this impression? How about we invent what could happen, following the thought of Hunter?

Nobody told me there'd be days like these!!

2 April 2016
5.10pm
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Expert Textpert
In bed.
Apple rooftop
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18 April 2013
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Picked up a first edition copy of this today. I don’t know why I didn’t already own it.

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Little Piggy Dragonguy

"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney 

24 March 2021
9.49am
Rorsontherun
A Beginning
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24 March 2021
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Hello, pretty new to the forum and reviving this thread in order to ask something about this book.

I thought of getting the 2010 edition that is available on Amazon. Nonetheless, I read a review saying that the 2006 illustrated edition is more enjoyable for reading (bigger font, images through the text).

Does anybody know if there are substantial changes between those two versions? I attach the pictures for better reference: 

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Image Enlarger

12 September 2021
11.05pm
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Mr. Moonlight
Royal Command Performance
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30 August 2021
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I’ve had the original edition pretty much since it came out. I’ve thought about getting one of the updated editions but it doesn’t sound like I’ve been missing much. I have other books that cover the latter days and the break-up.

"Nothing is Beatle-proof."

13 September 2021
10.35am
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Rube
United Kingdom
Candlestick Park
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17 June 2021
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I have the 40th Anniversary edition of the book. I liked how he updated the introduction to include George’s death, the end of Paul’s marriage to Heather and a Memento Mori for the people who had died since 2009. 

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Mr. Moonlight

Winner of Most Hardcore Beatles Bible Fan 2021

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13 September 2021
10.43am
Toxic34
West Palm Beach, FL
London Palladium
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24 August 2021
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Davies’ book remains the starting point for Beatles scholarship and reading. Don’t start learning about them with anything else, then move your way up through various works up to the Anthology book and Lewisohn’s text.

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Rube, Mr. Moonlight
13 September 2021
1.35pm
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Rube
United Kingdom
Candlestick Park
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17 June 2021
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I agree. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read a book about The Beatles. 

Winner of Most Hardcore Beatles Bible Fan 2021

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