22 Best Music History Books
Goal: Find the best Music History books according to the internet (not just one person's opinion).
Method:
- Search for "best music history books" and study the top 4+ pages.
- Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
- Rank the results neatly here.
22 Best Music History Books
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This Is Your Brain on Music
The Science of a Human Obsession
by Daniel J. Levitin
Also recommended by:
Chronicles
Volume One
by Bob Dylan
Our Band Could Be Your Life
Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991
by Michael Azerrad
The Dirt
Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
by Tommy Lee
Sweet Soul Music
Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom
by Peter Guralnick
Also recommended by:
Can't Stop Won't Stop
A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
by Jeff Chang
England's Dreaming
Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond
by Jon Savage
Everybody Loves Our Town
An Oral History of Grunge
by Mark Yarm
Fargo Rock City
A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota
by Chuck Klosterman
Last Night a DJ Saved My Life
The History of the Disc Jockey
by Bill Brewster
Louder Than Hell
The Definitive Oral History of Metal
by Jon Wiederhorn
Miles
The Autobiography
by Miles Davis
No One Here Gets Out Alive
by Jerry Hopkins
Please Kill Me
The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
by Legs McNeil
Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung
The Work of a Legendary Critic
by Lester Bangs
Revolution in the Head
The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
by Ian MacDonald
The Rest Is Noise
Listening to the Twentieth Century
by Alex Ross
Sources
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.
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