The book, first published in 1981, explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of human relationships. It delves into the lives of its characters as they navigate personal struggles and societal expectations, offering profound insights into the human experience. The narrative is rich with emotional depth and thought-provoking scenarios, making it a compelling read for those interested in character-driven stories that reflect on life's challenges and triumphs.
In this collection, John Lennon gives insights on surviving fame the day before his murder, Bob Dylan contemplates identity in his film "Renaldo and Clara, " and Lou Reed explores the nihilism of New York City and the best lines he's ever written.
Susan Sontag, one of the most internationally renowned and controversial intellectuals of the latter half of the twentieth century, still provokes. In 1978 Jonathan Cott, a founding contributing editor of Rolling Stone magazine, interviewed Sontag first in Paris and later in New York. Only a third of their twelve hours of discussion ever made it to print. Now, more than three decades later, Yale University Press is proud to publish the entire transcript of Sontag’s remarkable conversation, accompanied by Cott’s preface and recollections. Sontag’s musings and observations reveal the passionate engagement and breadth of her critical intelligence and curiosities at a moment when she was at the peak of her powers. Nearly a decade after her death, these hours of conversation offer a revelatory and indispensable look at the self-described "besotted aesthete" and "obsessed moralist." Sontag proclaims a personal credo, declaring: "Thinking is a form of feeling; feeling is a form of thinking."
Pianist Glenn Gould (1932–82) was one of the most unique and charismatic musicians of the twentieth century, known for his interpretations of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart at brisk tempos with remarkable clarity. A true eccentric, Gould was famous not only for his musical talent but also for his peculiar habits, such as humming during performances and wearing unconventional attire, including fingerless gloves and fur coats. In 1964, at the peak of his controversial career, he withdrew from live performances to concentrate on recording and writing. Jonathan Cott, a noted author and poet, was among the few who interviewed Gould, capturing their conversation in 1974 for Rolling Stone. After Gould's passing, Cott compiled these interviews into a collection, enhancing it with an introduction, photographs, and lists of Gould's recorded works and media appearances. In this engaging dialogue, Gould shares his opinions on various subjects, including his aversion to Mozart's piano sonatas, his preference for composers like Orlando Gibbons and Richard Strauss, and his admiration for Petula Clark, while expressing his distaste for the Beatles. This collection is widely regarded as one of Gould's finest interviews and a remarkable showcase of his personality.
Brings together more than thirty of the most important and revealing interviews and conversations with the legendary musician, including seminal articles from the Rolling Stone, as well as Nat Hentoff's 1996 Playboy interview and other dialogues with Studs Terkel, Nora Ephron, and Sam Shepard. 70,000 first printing.
"Featuring luminaries such as Chinua Achebe and Lou Reed, from Bob Dylan to Dr. Seuss, from Carl Sagan to Elizabeth Taylor, the conversations in Listening brim with fun cultural trivia, astute psychological observations, and the rare candid look at larger than life personalities. This mosaic is the culmination of a life's work and will be beloved by casual and serious readers alike"--
A historical compilation to savor” (Los Angeles Times) that is “invaluable…irresistible” (The New York Times)—the ultimate collection of interviews and encounters with Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan, spanning his entire career from 1962 to today
Geistreich, erfrischend, unterhaltsam! Im Terminkalender des Journalisten Jonathan Cott war am 20. November 1989 notiert: 'Dinner mit Lenny'. Leonard Bernstein gab zu diesem Zeitpunkt, ein Jahr vor seinem Tod, eigentlich keine Interviews mehr; und doch entstand in dieser Nacht ein intensives geistreiches und inspirierendes Gespräch über musikalische, pädagogische, psychologische, politische und spirituelle Themen, das zwölf Stunden dauerte. Bernstein zeigt sich hier noch einmal in allen Facetten seiner schillernden Künstlerpersönlichkeit: als Dirigent, Pianist und Komponist, dem es gelang, die Grenzen zwischen E- und U-Musik, zwischen Kunst und Leben spielend zu überwinden, und der sich stets weigerte, emotionale, intellektuelle, erotische und spirituelle Aspekte von der musikalischen Erfahrung zu trennen. Cott rundet dieses Bild ab, indem er Bernsteins Lebensweg nachzeichnet und ergänzt: Die glänzende Hommage an ein Jahrhundertgenie.
