Top 10 Books Of 2012

…that is the ones I READ in 2012…

1) It’s So Easy (And Other Lies) – Duff McKagan
2) Rebel Without a Crew – Robert Rodriguez
3) Soul Survivor – Phillip Yancey
4) Dracula – Bram Stoker
5) Everything I’m Cracked Up to Be – Jen Trynin
6) Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney – Howard Sounes
7) Here, There and Everywhere – Geoff Emerick (with Howard Massey)
8) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
9) Reach for the Sky: Story of Douglas Bader – Paul Brickhill
10) The Big Sleep – Raymond Chandler

1) It’s So Easy (And Other Lies) – Duff McKagan

Not just a tale of rock and roll debauchery and exploding internal organs, the Guns N’ Roses bassist story is an inspiring journey of redemption and recovery. (Get It’s So Easy (or any other book) from Amazon US).

2) Rebel Without a Crew: Or, How a 23-year-old Film Maker with $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player – Robert Rodriguez

Rodriguez’s inspiring account of how he made a multi-million dollar grossing film while on his summer holiday. Required reading for any independent DIY artist.

3) Soul Survivor – Phillip Yancey

A book for survivors of church abuse morphs into short biographical sketches of inspiring Christians and back again. Worth the journey.

4) Dracula – Bram Stoker

A genuine thriller, and nothing like any film version. Makes Frankenstein look like the Twilight of the 1800′s

5) Everything I’m Cracked Up to Be: A Rock & Roll Fairy Tale – Jen Trynin

The funny and bittersweet true story of someone who got the elusive major label deal and found out just what a poison chalice it can be.

6) Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney – Howard Sounes

Unless you just want to focus solely on the Beatles era this is THE McCartney biography. Accept no substitutes. (Watch my full review here)

7) Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles – Geoff Emerick (with Howard Massey)

A fair minded and balanced eyewitness account of the magic and madness of Abbey Road as seen by Grammy award winning engineer Geoff Emerick.

8) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke

A beguiling parallel history of England where magic is real but neglected until two very different magicians arise. Imagine if Antonia Fraser wrote Harry Potter.

9) Reach for the Sky: Story of Douglas Bader – Paul Brickhill

The classic biography of the legendary disabled fighter pilot, told in true boys-own style.

10) The Big Sleep – Raymond Chandler

Chandler’s crime noir is a tale of bad things happening to bad people, beautifully told.

Honourable mentions

Two books that compliment the films they inspired

Band of Brothers – Stephen E. Ambrose
The Princess Bride – William Goldman

Speaking of films – check out my top 10 films of 2012 tomorrow