Best Books Written by Musicians

A musician's memoire isn't defined by any standard. It is not simply one genre nor does it have one topic. It is filled with struggle, success, and everything involved in, not only the music industry, but the personal lives of those in the music industry. Everything involved allows their dreams to become a reality, and their realities to be questioned.

Being a musician is not easy. Suffering for your art is not easy. The different genres and art forms make for a variety of mystical reads. It isn't all full of suffering and heartache. There is a lot of insight to be brought to the table as well. From jazz to country, the mystique is all there, in these books written by musicians. Which will you read first?

If anybody can tell a story, it is Bob Dylan. His Chronicles is an inspiring, angry, and nostalgic account of his life in the spotlight. Much of Dylan's memoir discusses his time working in Greenwich Village, making his way through the Indie folk scene. Even though this is not a full account of Dylan's entire career, it goes into detail every struggle he endured through the songwriting process. The reader gets a vivid idea of just how this genius came to be. What a beautiful way to learn about the struggle of someone who seems to always have it all together.

In this in-depth Johnny Cash biography, the reader gets swept into the grace and gratitude that pours through these luscious pages. Johnny Cash shares in detail about heartache, disappointment, addictions and other struggles along the way in one of the best books written by musicians. He talks about his experiences with Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, and his wife June. This biography proves that the Man in Black was a man of dignity, intelligence, and amazing talent. It is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of Johnny or music, in general.

Girl in a Band is a beautifully, yet harshly-written memoir, depicting the life of Kim Gordon as a young punk rock girl with a lot of potential. She discusses what is was like growing up in New York, meeting her husband, and forming the legendary band Sonic Youth. It was not always easy being in the spotlight while enduring a marriage and suffering through a divorce. The music was the heart of it all but also caused it to shatter into pieces, which makes Girl in a Band one of best books written by musicians.

Coal Miner's Daughter is an unlikely story from a performer who skyrocketed to super stardom. Loretta tells a story of being married at the age of 13, having four children by the age of 18, and still making her way to the top as one of the greatest performers of her time. Loretta Lynn lived the rural life and shares here experiences in a way that no other groundbreaking songwriter could. This biography goes deep into the heart and mind of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

Nobody has lived the Rockstar lifestyle quite like Keith Richards. He has lived the sex, drugs, and rock n roll life and lived to tell the tale. This biography goes in depth into how he rocked his way through the Rolling Stones, songwriting, touring, the whole sha-bang. He discusses his battle with drugs and alcohol as well as his relationship with Mick Jagger. If you want to read about how a true Rockstar battles through life, this is the perfect read. Or the not-so perfect read, depending on how you look at it. Either way, it is still one of the best books written by musicians.

Miles Davis was not only one of the best musicians of his time, but an impeccable writer, as well. This touching autobiography dives right into the world of jazz music in the mid-20th century. He talks about the mind-blowing creations he created musically and otherwise. He goes into detail about his relationships with John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Thelonious Monk. Being a phenomenal musician isn't easy but it can still be beautiful in the process. This is what makes Miles Davis' Miles one of the best books written by musicians.

Kristin Hersh has written a funny and charming account of what it was like to be a punk girl with no money trying to start a successful band. Rat Girl is an autobiography that explores how she started her band Throwing Music and the mountains she had to climb to get there. Kristin talks about how she got through adolescence as a girl with mental illness. Music can heal, and Kristin Hersh is living proof of that. Anyone can take that first step but it takes much more to get over the hurdles. Kristin has a lot to say and any female musician with interest in pursuing a career in music should read this book.

If you are curious about the Los Angeles rock scene of the late 1980s, then no one can paint a picture quite like Slash from Guns N' Roses. It delves deep into the relationship Slash had with front man Axl Rose, as well as his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. This autobiography, one of the best books written by musicians, is extremely candid and raw, jumping from one extreme to the next. Slash goes into detail about the rise and fall of Guns N' Roses and how that rollercoaster ride has turned his life upside down at times. Sometimes there is pain and heartache mixed in with the sex, drugs, and rock n roll. This is a must read for anyone interested in the L.A rock scene of the 80s and 90s.

Even though this is not a complete autobiography, the powerful combination of Paul McCartney and Barry Miles in Many Years from Now, paints a vivid picture of the Beatles. While Barry Miles fills the pages with anecdotes, Paul McCartney talks about the development of the Beatles and how the greatest Lennon/McCartney songs were written. He talks about how life and rock n roll existed in the 1960s and what made the Beatles stand out from the other musicians of that time. As one of the best books written by musicians, this is a must read for anyone who has ever listened to a Beatles record and loved it.

Waylon Jennings provides the world with his account of the rugged outlaw-country movement of the 70s. Waylon took Nashville by storm with the Highwaymen and then took on the establishment head on. He is one of the biggest country musical influences of his generation and has caused many alt-country artists today to sing his praises. He talks about his friendship with Buddy Holly and the relationships he built with the Highwaymen. There would be no alt-country or Americana music scene today if it hadn't been for Waylon Jennings, which makes this one of the greatest books written by musicians.

This book written by famous rap sensation, Jay-Z, is not a complete biography. It is filled with essays, a history of hip hop, and a study of R&B music, in general. This is unlike any other biography as it goes through his lyrics and dissects them for his fans to read. He talks about what makes a song work, celebrity encounters and his rags to riches story. As rap continues to evolve over time, Jay-Z talks about how he overcomes that evolution and uses it to his advantages. A must read for any fan of R&B and hip hop.

The world as we know it would not be the same without music. The music we listen to tells a story of not just a musician's life, but our own lives. This is what makes books written by musicians even more fascinating. We get to hear the stories as they experienced them. Not only that, but hear about the inspirations that made the words and music that they created what they are today. That is magical and something that can be heartbreaking to express at times.

The real world is filled with our own magic and heartache. To be able to write about it, tell a story, delve into inspirations of beauty and pain, is something that does not lack amazement. That is what makes these some of the best books written by musicians. There is nothing quite as beautiful as that.