Roy Lotz's Reviews > Paul McCartney: Behind the Myth

I would never have read this book had not a German version been sitting on a shelf of free books at my language academy. Though above my reading level, I was able to make my way through the book without much difficulty, just because I already know the basic story of McCartney’s life so well. That being said, it feels somewhat dishonest to write a review, since there was a great deal I certainly didn’t understand.

My only comment on the book’s contents, then, is that I found it surprisingly critical of its subject. I got the feeling that Benson was dismissive of most of McCartney’s post-Beatles work and found him, in many respects, simply unlikable—vain, empty-headed, and overly controlling. To be fair, I can understand why a biographer would get frustrated with McCartney, since by the time he turned 30 he had reached the high point of his career, and it is frustrating to watch somebody appear to squander their talent.

In any case, considering that the book was published over 30 years ago, and that McCartney is still kicking, I’d think there must be considerably better biographies on the market by now. Still, it made for excellent German practice.