Bob Dylan (Icons of Pop Music)

Keith Negus addresses both the novice Dylan fan and the longtime listener in his new book, Bob Dylan. Negus first approaches the man as a mythical cultural figure before situating the music within the larger folk and blues tradition. He then examines the beginning of Dylan's career as a protest singer, his role as a performer, and his impact on popular music, concluding with an overall assessment of Dylan as an artist. Chapters titled "Surroundings," "Chronologies," "Traditions," "Lyrics," and "Music" take up the various aspects of Dylan's career, making for a smooth exploration of its overall yet unfinished trajectory. Negus also includes a complete discography as of 2007.