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Grove Press

Guitar: An American Life

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Description

How did a small, humble folk instrument become an American icon? How did the guitar come to represent freedom, the open road, protest and rebellion, the blues, youth, lost love, and sexuality? In this intensely personal memoir and informative history, National Public Radio commentator and essayist Tim Brookes recounts his quest to build the perfect guitar. Pairing up with a master artisan from the Green Mountains of Vermont, Brookes sees how a rare piece of cherry wood is hued, dovetailed, and worked on with saws, rasps, and files. As his prized instrument takes shape, Brookes also narrates the long and winding history of the guitar in the United States. Arriving with conquistadors and the colonists, the guitar has found itself in an extraordinary variety of hands: miners and society ladies, lumberjacks and presidents’ wives. In time, the guitar became America’s vehicle of self- expression, its modern soundtrack. Guitar is a rare glimpse of one man’s search for music. It is sure to resonate with musicians and non-musicians alike. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press; First Trade Paper edition (July 27, 2006)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802142583


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 80


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.38 x 0.93 x 9.08 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #645,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1,385 in Music History & Criticism (Books) #1,503 in Guitars (Books) #1,840 in Popular Culture in Social Sciences


#1,385 in Music History & Criticism (Books):


#1,503 in Guitars (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Big fan of the book - despite the misgivings of other reviewers
First of all let me say that I'm an avid reader and an over 40 year subscriber to Guitar Player magazine, as well as other guitar magazines, so I didn't start anywhere near ground zero when reading this book for the first time. However, on my first read through, I learned a number of things I didn't know, both about luthiery as well as the history of the instrument. It also inspired me to look into the possibly of having a custom guitar built, as well as trying out builds by independent luthiers. I like this book so well, that I've given it as a gift to 2 or 3 people and have re-listened to it on audio book at least 4 times, something I've done with only 8-12 other books. If you're on the fence as to whether to buy this, I'd highly recommend that you do. I would also say that if you buy the audio book, it is read by the author and he does a great job as a reader!!! I do want to address some of the criticisms that appear in other reviews, and at least offer my take of some of the issues. The one criticism I do agree with is that I would have loved to see a front picture (and more pictures in general) of the final guitar that he had built (especially in color). I had to look on the internet to find pictures. A number of reviewers have criticized the flow and what they perceive to be the lack of organization of the material. I really didn't feel that way at all. The "skeleton" or "spine" of the book is really the creation of the new guitar, which flows in logical order throughout the book. From this "skeleton/spine" Brookes generally follows the history of the guitar in chronological order, with some divergence here and there, as well as a number of topics, from amplification to fingernail care to the ill-fated tour that killed Buddy Holly and others. I found the flow of the book to be fine. He also stays on a topic long enough for it to be interesting, but not long enough to get boring, which I appreciated. Other reviewers have noted a bit of what I would call "musical snobbery" in the authors opinions or characterizations of certain guitar styles and or portrayals (or lack thereof) of certain individuals. From my perspective, the author comes off a bit like a music critic from Rolling Stone magazine, which has a habit of idolizing those who are not extremely popular in the public's eyes, and then panning anyone they think is too popular. I have to be honest that the author does come off this way many times throughout the book. However, it is also this property that makes the book enjoyable to read in many places. His somewhat dry sense of humor and snarky comments give the book color and and an overall sense of fun. It's not just a dry history of the guitar in American life, but a sometimes history with witty, humorous and acidic commentary to spice things up. On the other hand, the author does give due respect to some of the great guitarists such as Django Reinhardt and Segovia and others and has some great stories about both of them, as well as others. One other nice thing about today's world, is that if you have Apple Music or Amazon Music, you can listen to most of the music he references in the book. I found myself looking up some songs he mentioned by Jimmie Rogers, Peter Green (in Fleetwood Mac) as well as others. Once again - I highly recommend this book. One of my all-time favorites! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2023 by T. Howard
    • I Thought I Knew Guitars
I've been playing guitars and reading about them for 40 years. I felt I really knew what a guitar was and where it came from. But Brookes,really knows the score! This guy has a grip on the 'big picture' of guitars and their music.In brief, his guitar gets smashed so he treats himself to a custom built replacement. With him, we peer over the shoulder of the luither and learn the finer points of guitar construction. While the glue is setting up or the finishing is drying, Brookes regales us with the strange and twisted story of the guitar. How it begins in America as an instrument so reviled,it is suitable only for vagabonds and cowboys. But the tale comes to a surprise ending with the guitar rising to such importance that it total dominates instruments and music world wide. How did this happen? Brookes knows and so will you. His insights are phenomenal. Who would you think are 2 of the guitar's most influencial practitioners? Clapton? Les Paul? Hendrix? How about Joseph Kekuku and Gene Autry. No kidding! And Brookes makes a very believeable case for them. However there are two omissions that you should know about: 1- there is no discussion of how 'spanish tuning' became the standard tuning.After all the world is filled with slack key and open tunings, look at the world of lap and pedal steel guitar,a strange nebulous world of no standard tuning. 2-there's no index! You can't access the information easily. But that aside....Brookes has done alot of research and the guy really loves guitars..a man after my heart. You will see your guitar in a different light. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2005 by A Thoughtful Consumer
    • passion and history in one book
Tim Brookes renews his passion for the instrument after his Fylde is broken by baggage handlers. His is a personal account of ordering, watching and waiting for the finished product as it is being built - and interspersing the account with guitar history. Enjoyable except when he gets carried away with lists of famous performers. Brooks tends to name every artist who ever held the instrument. Pictures are included except for a clear and detailed photo of his own finished product. Overall the book is a good read for the history of the instrument and for understanding the intricate relationship of wood types to melodic sound. He clearly has a passion for the guitar and its intimate connection to the player. Enjoyable. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2012 by Rich Groen
    • Woodworking and culture made fun
This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read on guitars and music. Mr. Brookes intertwines the stories of the construction of his guitar, the history of the instrument, and its role in American music. Fortunately for the reader, Mr. Brookes is good storyteller. Mr. Brookes points out that "not one outstanding guitarist from the first 400 years of its history ever got a degree in guitar. almost none got a degree of any sort. Most never took lessons. " Taking a clue from the non-academic backgrounds of these musicians, Mr. Brookes keeps the tone light and informal. He doesn't give you a manual for building your guitar, but he gives you enough to appreciate the skills involved in doing so. The tales and history of blues, bluegrass, country, rock, and punk seem to have been written while the glue was drying on his new guitar. They were interesting, fun to read, and gave an appreciation for styles of music that I don't normally listen to. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2006 by macboogie
    • Thoroughly entertaining and educational!
I have been playing and enjoying the guitar for more than 50 years. It has been one of the most satisfying preoccupations (and sometimes occupations) that I have ever known. Yet, with all these years of playing I had no idea about the history and making of a guitar! This book was such an enjoyable read… The one thing I wish it had though was a picture or two of the guitar that was made for the author… I highly recommend this book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2019 by magicnfun

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