ldquo;This is a book about magic; about the Beatles; about the chemistry between people; about neuroscience; and about the buddy system; it examines love and hate; harmony and dissonance; and everything in between. The result is wise; funny; surprising; and completely engrossing.rdquo; mdash; Susan Orlean Lennon and McCartney; Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; Pierre and Marie Curie. Throughout history; partners have buoyed each other to better work mdash; though often one member is little known to the general public. (See Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger; or Vincent and Theo van Gogh.) In Powers of Two; Joshua Wolf Shenk draws on neuroscience; social psychology; and cultural history to present the social foundations of creativity; with the pair as its primary embodiment. Revealing the six essential stages through which creative intimacy unfolds; Shenk shows how pairs begin to talk; think; and even look like each other; how the most successful ones thrive on conflict; and why some cease to work together while others carry on. At once intuitive and deeply surprising; Powers of Two will reshape the way you view individuals; relationships; and society itself. ldquo;Sterling . . . a rare glimpse into the private realms of duos . . . Shenk is a natural storyteller.rdquo; mdash; Sarah Lewis; New York Times ldquo;In this surprising; compelling; deeply felt book; Joshua Wolf Shenk banishes the idea of solitary genius by demonstrating that our richest art and science come from collaboration: we need one another not only for love; but also for thinking and imagining and growing and being.rdquo; mdash; Andrew Solomon
#3467444 in eBooks 2013-08-10 2013-08-10File Name: B00E7VFTLI
Review
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful. Pow!By Billy MusicI was a big fan of the Spoonful in the 60s; enjoying their hit singles and albums; particularly witnessing their artistic progression from their debut album through Daydream and Hums. Around the start of 1967; they inexplicably seemed to self-destruct and disappear from radio airplay and the music scene. At the time; I assumed it was a product of the inherent short life cycle of bands; exacerbated (although I didnt know the word then) by Sebastians increasing dominance as songwriter and lead singer. Only later did the word filter down about a mysterious drug bust in 1966 that resulted in the departure of Zal from the band and the demonization of the group as "finks" and tools of the Man by the emerging counterculture. This book; by bassist Steve Boone (Zals fellow bustee); tells the true story about that event and its destructive impact on his and Zals lives and the bands dynamics. Boone pulls no punches; and fesses up to decisions that he made while under legal fire that; in hindsight; may not have been the best. Its also a story of the evolving state of the print media and record business and attitudes about musicians and marijuana by their previously adoring fans. The book also vividly relates the details about the formation; maturation and dissolution of a group that produced some of the greatest music of the 1960s. A good; good read.11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Fast-paced incredible but true story of a rock n roll survivorBy Patrick R. ClearyA fast-paced; tell-all memoir from an unlikely rock star. I am a huge fan of the Lovin Spoonful; based on the CD reissues of the groups original albums. Steve Boones tales of life in a rock band ring true; and somehow even the most outlandish details seem plausible. He demystifies events like the infamous drug bust; the recording of "Summer In The City"; and spares no one; least of all himself (he wishes a producer would have shaken some sense into him before allowing his lead vocal on "Priscilla Millionaira" to appear on "Everything Playing"). There are so many tragedies in his life; yet also amazingly good fortune; and sometimes both at the same time. For instance; if he hadnt suffered critical injuries in an automobile accident; theres no chance he would have been able to play in the Spoonful down the line. Steve reveals himself in many guises; and at times it almost seems like you are reading some Huckleberry Finn fantasy. He is refreshingly free of pretension; yet serious about what makes good rock n roll music; and he is sure the Lovin Spoonful made their share.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic inside view of one of the hottest bands of ...By Kevin B. AllodiFantastic inside view of one of the hottest bands of the 1960s American rock and roll juggernaut; and the "wild ride" career of founding member; bassist and songwriter; Steve Boone. He had me at the FORWARD (I wont spoil it here...). Chronicling not only the formation; meteoric rise and bumpy landing of The Lovin Spoonful; Steves story also provides a wonderful glimpse into the nascent rock scene of New Yorks Greenwich Village and the transition of traditional folk music to folk rock and all the wonderful characters they bump into along the way (Dylan; Mike Bloomfield; The Beatles; etc.). A really fun; fast-paced and informative read. I couldnt put it down.