Ten Favorite Books Inspired by Albums

(restricted to nonfiction—you’ll find a music-themed list of novels here—and arranged alphabetically by author or editor)

New Wave: Image is Everything by M. King Adkins
Leonard Cohen on Leonard Cohen: Interviews and Encounters, edited by Jeff Burger
Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures by Mark Fisher
Ways of Hearing by Damon Krukowski
Words and Music: A History of Pop in the Shape of a City by Paul Morley
Do Not Sell at Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78rpm Records by Amanda Petrusich
Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield
The 33 1/3 B-sides: New Essays by 33 1/3 Authors on Beloved and Underrated Albums, edited by Will Stockton and D. Gilson
I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks
Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste by Carl Wilson

— March 11, 2021