Dreaming the Beatles: The Story of the Immortal Band That Captivated the World

Why is their music so full of life's events that came too soon? Another Beatles anthology by a Rolling Stone writer.

[Media Information] Book review published in the November 29, 2025, issue of the Asahi Shimbun (reviewer: Hikaru Fujii) Book review published in the December 2025 issue of Bungeishunju (reviewer: Yuri Nagura) Book review published in the December 2025 issue of Record Collectors (reviewer: Masamichi Torii) Book reviews published in the Kitau Shimpo, Mutsu Shimpo, Shizuoka Shimbun, and other publications (reviewer: Masataka Miyanaga)

The Beatles are the most influential band of all time. Why are they so beloved? And why are they still so important to us, even half a century after their breakup? A Rolling Stone magazine columnist who has been fascinated by The Beatles and their music since he was five years old examines their past, present, and future from an unconventional perspective, and in a humorous style explores why their music still sounds so fresh to us today. The 36 chapter titles are primarily taken from Beatles songs and albums (including solo tracks by the band members), revealing the stories behind each song and album in unexpected ways. Of particular interest is the insight into the relationship between John and Paul, providing unprecedented perspective on the duo's songwriting and their mysterious bond. Attention to the charms of George and Ringo is also given, unravelling the uniqueness of their existence from a new angle. Hailed as "the greatest Beatles book ever written," this book won the NPR Book of the Year Award and the Virgil Thomson Award for Music Criticism. Another Beatles anthology filled with love for the Beatles.

Table of Contents Characters Introduction - "Thank You, Moe" Meet the Beatles (1962-1970) Dear Prudence (1968) I Call Your Name (1957) Please Please Me (1963) The Inner Mystery of George It Won't Be Wrong (1963) The Importance of Being Ringo Scream Ticket to Ride (1965) The Lying Woman (1965) Rubber Soul (1965) A Short Break - Twenty-Six Beatles Songs Tomorrow Never Knows (1966) Revolver (1966) Strawberry Fields Forever (1967) The Cover of "Sgt. Pepper" (1967) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) It's All Too Much (1967) Magical Mystery Tour (1967) The Beatles or the Stones? The White Album (1968) Helter Skelter (1968) Something (1969) vs. My Love (1971) Abbey Road Cover (1969) Wake Me Up, Dead Man The Last Beatles Album (1970) Maybe I'm Amazed (1970) God (1970) Paul is a Concept for Measuring Our Suffering When George Sang "In My Life" (1974) A Toot and a Snore in '74 (1974) Rock 'n' Roll Music (1976) Silver Horse (1981) The Beatles of the 1980s vs. the 1990s The End - Sorry for the Disturbance Acknowledgments/Translator's Afterword Notes/References