Words without Music

Reviews

“[A] warm, low-key, and often delightful new memoir… Like his music, his prose is made up of simple components—plain, honest sentences that work their magic cumulatively.”

“Glass is one of the most articulate composers around. Insight and practical common sense pervade his new book…With a composer’s sense of form, Glass returns, in the final pages, to his youth, the subject that elicits his most evocative writing.”

“Essential reading for anyone remotely interested in the evolution of the avant-garde during the past half-century…An important contribution to cultural history.”

“Well supplied with droll observations and plainspoken assessments regarding the details of a career that has been as remarkable and noteworthy as any in American music―indeed, in American culture.”

“Fascinating…Glass’ wry observations of those he has worked with―alongside memories of those he has loved and lost―remind us of the human scale of his achievement over the years and of how the years are numbered.”

“[A] warm, unaffected, and deeply human book.”

“Aspiring musicians and artists will learn much from Glass, as will general readers, musical or not, who will discover an artistic life exceptionally well lived.”

“Glass is raptly alive to the aesthetic epiphanies, philosophy, spirituality, and magnetic personalities he has encountered, yet his prose is conversational and free of pretense. The result is a lively, absorbing read that makes Glass’ rarefied cultural sphere wonderfully accessible.”

“Writing with warmth and candor, Glass portrays himself as driven, self-confident, and tenaciously determined to invent his own, radically new musical language.”

“I came to Philip Glass’ music very simply, without any critical prodding or guidance. I listened and was transfixed. I was excited to work with Philip on Kundun, and he exceeded my wildest expectations, giving us a score that was genuinely transcendent. He’s exceeded my expectations again with this rich and beautifully written memoir. Who knew that he was as good a writer as he is a composer?”

“Philip Glass has written a fascinating account of his life with recollections of family, teachers, and friends. Words without Music will be a pleasure to read, not only for musicians (although they will particularly enjoy it) but for anyone interested in the world of art.”

“Words without Music is one of the most inspiring books I’ve ever read. The book overflows with love and enthusiasm for life and art. Philip Glass’ vision of human culture as the transmission of ideas through time is transcendent. Hilarious, touching, and profound, this book should be read by everyone interested in music and great writing.”

“An appealing memoir from one of the foremost creative geniuses of the last fifty years, Philip Glass’ homespun reminiscences are as accessible as his entrancing musical compositions. In his epic quest to discover ‘where the music comes from,’ Glass chronicles his transformative, lifelong journey across four continents, including his musical epiphany with Ravi Shankar, which had a dramatic impact on contemporary instrumental music and opera.”

“Philip Glass’ place in musical history is secure.”

“America’s most significant symphonist.”

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