Miracle and Wonder by Malcolm Gladwell

Firstly, this must be listened to. The author, Malcolm Gladwell, is interviewing the singer-song writer Paul Simon about his decades long career, and as you might expect, the music can be talked about, but it should really be listened to. There are numerous points where it is not just better, but more like essential to hear it rather than read it. That said, it is only 5 hours long, so it is not like a traditional biography in terms of length--also, you will be a little sad when it ends because the journey is so enjoyable. Then there is the intimacy of the various interviews--it almost feels like you are eavesdropping on a conversation rather than hearing an interview, the mood feels so warm and cozy. There is talk of his childhood, his musical collaborations, his early success, his parents, and his musical process, and it is all fascinating. He is a guy for whom things marinate over time--he is still stung by things each of his parents said to him 70 years ago, for example. His musical explorations take months if not years to come to fruition, and for a while, he is able to put one to bed before tugging on another thread and following that for a time. All in all, it is just lovely, and I cannot recommend it enough.