Best Popular Music Books on Goodreads

1.
Just Kids
Just Kids 4.21 avg rating — 333,687 ratings
2.
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain 3.95 avg rating — 72,840 ratings
3.
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk 4.19 avg rating — 35,978 ratings
4.
Who Hears Here?: On Black Music, Pasts and Present (Phono: Black Music and the Global Imagination) (Volume 1)
Who Hears Here?: On Black Music, Pasts and Present (Phono: Black Music and the Global Imagination) (Volume 1) 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings
5.
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
by: Alex Ross
4.10 avg rating — 15,702 ratings
6.
Life
Life 3.89 avg rating — 97,139 ratings
7.
Hamilton: The Revolution
Hamilton: The Revolution 4.45 avg rating — 54,261 ratings
8.
This Is Your Brain on Music
This Is Your Brain on Music 3.89 avg rating — 66,737 ratings
9.
Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time
Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time 3.87 avg rating — 41,524 ratings
10.
Daisy Jones & The Six
Daisy Jones & The Six 4.20 avg rating — 1,772,105 ratings
11.
If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)
If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) 3.91 avg rating — 955,706 ratings
12.
The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology 4.38 avg rating — 17,686 ratings
13.
Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)
Where She Went (If I Stay, #2) 3.97 avg rating — 303,299 ratings
14.
Born to Run
Born to Run 4.19 avg rating — 53,080 ratings
15.
Eleanor & Park
Eleanor & Park 3.93 avg rating — 1,240,261 ratings
16.
High Fidelity
High Fidelity 3.90 avg rating — 211,782 ratings
17.
The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
by: Tommy Lee
4.14 avg rating — 48,136 ratings
17.
Managed (VIP, #2)
Managed (VIP, #2) 4.19 avg rating — 38,519 ratings
19.
Chronicles, Volume One
Chronicles, Volume One
by: Bob Dylan
3.98 avg rating — 60,441 ratings
19.
No One Here Gets Out Alive
No One Here Gets Out Alive 3.94 avg rating — 45,764 ratings
21.
U2 by U2
U2 by U2
by: U2
4.27 avg rating — 2,797 ratings
22.
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran 3.59 avg rating — 8,611 ratings
23.
Backstage Pass (Sinners on Tour, #1)
Backstage Pass (Sinners on Tour, #1) 3.99 avg rating — 62,805 ratings
24.
How Music Works
How Music Works 4.01 avg rating — 27,475 ratings
25.
Girl in a Band
Girl in a Band 3.67 avg rating — 31,032 ratings
26.
The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret
The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret 4.07 avg rating — 2,416 ratings
27.
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star 4.14 avg rating — 38,557 ratings
28.
Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story
Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story 3.85 avg rating — 28,395 ratings
29.
Wonderful Tonight
Wonderful Tonight 3.72 avg rating — 15,770 ratings
30.
Just Listen
Just Listen 4.05 avg rating — 249,761 ratings
31.
Lick (Stage Dive, #1)
Lick (Stage Dive, #1) 4.04 avg rating — 93,253 ratings
32.
Cash
Cash 4.02 avg rating — 24,976 ratings
32.
Play (Stage Dive, #2)
Play (Stage Dive, #2) 4.24 avg rating — 60,604 ratings
34.
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto 3.74 avg rating — 72,259 ratings
35.
A Visit from the Goon Squad
A Visit from the Goon Squad 3.70 avg rating — 244,163 ratings
35.
I Am Ozzy
I Am Ozzy 4.11 avg rating — 30,622 ratings
37.
Lead (Stage Dive, #3)
Lead (Stage Dive, #3) 4.25 avg rating — 51,618 ratings
38.
Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music
Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music 4.30 avg rating — 1,169 ratings
39.
Deep (Stage Dive, #4)
Deep (Stage Dive, #4) 4.01 avg rating — 42,522 ratings
40.
Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century
Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century 3.99 avg rating — 3,711 ratings
41.
I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie
I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie 3.70 avg rating — 21,014 ratings
42.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist 3.69 avg rating — 85,265 ratings
42.
Clapton: The Autobiography
Clapton: The Autobiography 3.83 avg rating — 28,819 ratings
44.
Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota
Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota 3.82 avg rating — 13,992 ratings
45.
Hammer of the Gods
Hammer of the Gods 3.86 avg rating — 13,505 ratings
46.
The Beatles: The Biography
The Beatles: The Biography
by: Bob Spitz
4.09 avg rating — 13,232 ratings
47.
Maybe Someday (Maybe, #1)
Maybe Someday (Maybe, #1) 3.97 avg rating — 633,213 ratings
47.
Bel Canto
Bel Canto 3.94 avg rating — 312,389 ratings
49.
Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung
Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung 4.02 avg rating — 9,731 ratings
50.
This Lullaby
This Lullaby 4.01 avg rating — 180,448 ratings
50.
M Train
M Train 4.02 avg rating — 48,826 ratings
52.
What to Listen for in Music
What to Listen for in Music 3.94 avg rating — 9,188 ratings
53.
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom 4.24 avg rating — 2,349 ratings
54.
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier 3.98 avg rating — 6,513 ratings
55.
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys 4.28 avg rating — 13,075 ratings
55.
Idol (VIP, #1)
Idol (VIP, #1) 3.95 avg rating — 41,030 ratings
57.
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl 3.83 avg rating — 36,214 ratings
58.
The Mighty Storm (The Storm, #1)
The Mighty Storm (The Storm, #1) 4.15 avg rating — 74,159 ratings
58.
The Lives of the Great Composers
The Lives of the Great Composers 4.28 avg rating — 1,599 ratings
60.
Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock
Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock 3.93 avg rating — 2,251 ratings
61.
Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1)
Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1) 4.08 avg rating — 141,596 ratings
62.
Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag
Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag 4.10 avg rating — 8,985 ratings
62.
John Lennon: The Life
John Lennon: The Life 4.04 avg rating — 12,501 ratings
64.
Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution
Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution 3.95 avg rating — 8,796 ratings
64.
24 Hour Party People: What the Sleeve Notes Never Tell You
24 Hour Party People: What the Sleeve Notes Never Tell You 3.94 avg rating — 1,393 ratings
66.
Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana
Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana 4.07 avg rating — 10,290 ratings
67.
Hip Hop Family Tree, Vol. 1: 1970s-1981
Hip Hop Family Tree, Vol. 1: 1970s-1981
by: Ed Piskor
4.16 avg rating — 2,125 ratings
68.
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley 4.17 avg rating — 9,895 ratings
68.
On the Come Up
On the Come Up 4.26 avg rating — 99,745 ratings
68.
My Cross to Bear
My Cross to Bear 3.89 avg rating — 6,109 ratings
71.
England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond
England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond 4.07 avg rating — 7,297 ratings
71.
Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop
Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop 3.78 avg rating — 1,736 ratings
73.
On Bowie
On Bowie 3.90 avg rating — 1,740 ratings
73.
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
by: Bono
4.19 avg rating — 21,142 ratings
75.
This Song Will Save Your Life
This Song Will Save Your Life 3.90 avg rating — 27,033 ratings
76.
Juliet, Naked
Juliet, Naked 3.50 avg rating — 46,488 ratings
77.
Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation
Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation 4.04 avg rating — 5,967 ratings
77.
Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s
Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s 3.96 avg rating — 1,309 ratings
79.
Britpop!: Cool Britannia And The Spectacular Demise Of English Rock
Britpop!: Cool Britannia And The Spectacular Demise Of English Rock 4.08 avg rating — 1,214 ratings
80.
The Sky Is Everywhere
The Sky Is Everywhere 3.95 avg rating — 109,450 ratings
81.
The Beatles
The Beatles 4.12 avg rating — 4,824 ratings
81.
Laurel Canyon
Laurel Canyon 3.79 avg rating — 2,832 ratings
83.
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto 4.37 avg rating — 53,516 ratings
84.
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid 4.29 avg rating — 51,681 ratings
84.
Scar Tissue
Scar Tissue 4.11 avg rating — 99,108 ratings
86.
Journals
Journals 4.01 avg rating — 17,521 ratings
87.
Miles: The Autobiography
Miles: The Autobiography 4.21 avg rating — 16,140 ratings
87.
Songbook
Songbook 3.56 avg rating — 14,165 ratings
89.
Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall
Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall 3.51 avg rating — 31,551 ratings
90.
Me
Me 4.32 avg rating — 70,314 ratings
91.
The History of Jazz
The History of Jazz
by: Ted Gioia
4.08 avg rating — 5,421 ratings
92.
The Commitments (The Barrytown Trilogy, #1; Jimmy Rabbitte, #1)
The Commitments (The Barrytown Trilogy, #1; Jimmy Rabbitte, #1) 3.92 avg rating — 17,146 ratings
92.
Reckless: My Life as a Pretender
Reckless: My Life as a Pretender 3.49 avg rating — 4,818 ratings
94.
Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story
Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story 4.06 avg rating — 4,729 ratings
95.
The Long Hard Road Out of Hell
The Long Hard Road Out of Hell 3.81 avg rating — 31,709 ratings
96.
Autobiography
Autobiography
by: Morrissey
3.61 avg rating — 13,281 ratings
97.
The Joy of Music
The Joy of Music 4.18 avg rating — 2,068 ratings
98.
Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division
Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division 4.14 avg rating — 5,473 ratings
99.
How Music Works: The Science and Psychology of Beautiful Sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyond
How Music Works: The Science and Psychology of Beautiful Sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyond 4.02 avg rating — 4,543 ratings
99.
What Does This Button Do?: An Autobiography
What Does This Button Do?: An Autobiography 4.04 avg rating — 7,492 ratings
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