Product Description

This authorized biography of Paul McCartney is based on hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews and complete access to McCartney's own archives. It is the story of a man made public property by the age of 21, the trajectory of The Beatles, from beginning to break-up, and of Swinging London.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239915 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 671 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
As the first full account of the Beatle years by a Beatle, Many Years from Now is unique. This is J.Paul McCartney's story--as told to Miles--of life right at the epicentre of the 60s hurricane. Covering the glory years, the 600-odd pages offer a first-hand, insider's account of the most influential and widely-imitated band of all time, making this a fascinating fly-on-the-wall chronicle.

Miles is good at putting McCartney's memoirs into context, but it's the material from the horse's mouth which is really revealing. We learn how the teenage Macca fantasised about a future as "a Catholic lorry driver. Very simple life, a firm faith and a place to go in my nice lorry"; and of his realisation that National Service, had it continued for just a few more weeks, would have left the Beatles stillborn: "Ringo and John being the oldest would have had to go, followed shortly by me and then a year later by George, and that would have split any chance of being a group".

But perhaps most rewarding of all are the stories behind the music forged by the Lennon & McCartney partnership, including Paul's memories of driving down to see John at his Weybridge mansion, where together they would fashion the songs that will be sung for all time. --Patrick Humphries

Customer Reviews

Excellent
How nice to read a book about Paul McCartney by someone who actually knows him and, what's more, actually likes him!!! So often in books about the Beatles, Paul is criticised in a way which just wouldn't have happened had John not so sadly been killed and saintified in a way which would undoubtedly have horrified him had he known about it. This presents a far more balanced picture of Paul's 'Beatle' days. The Beatles would never have been as great as they were without Paul McCartney. His songwriting abilities, his musicianship, his artistry, his enthusiasm and, let's be honest, his ambition, made them the success they became. If you are interested in this book, you will also like Miles "In The Sixties", which is a great read and which also has lots of Paul content. Thank you Miles from a very happy Macca maniac!!!

The non-paranoid's view of McCartney
Oh, the joy of reading a book about a Beatle by someone who understands myth, but can function without it. The contrast with far too many Beatles sagas and Beatle biographies is startling. Miles finds it possible tell the Beatles' story without reference to John Lennon's paranoid period, which in itself is a giant step forward. Miles knew many of the actors in avant garde London besides McCartney, and many years from now, when the cultural passions of the age have moderated, this book will be an invaluable resource to scholars and historians. For them, it will provide a first-hand glimpse of that incandescent and chaotic decade. It also provides balanced accounts of two of its most important talents, Lennon and McCartney. The portrait of Lennon that emerges from Miles's narrative and McCartney's reminiscences is fair, understanding, and affectionate. McCartney's professed love of the man with whom he rose to the top of the musical world rings true. His gratitude that he did not take up the gauntlet Lennon flung down in 1970 also rings true. So, the historical background and the portait of Lennon given in this book make it worth buying by themselves. The icing on the cake is the self-portrait of McCartney that emerges from his memories of the decade and his reflections on his memories. What he reveals is a personality dominated by the traits of the artist: curiosity, a taste for new experience, for discovery, and enough industry and perseverance to transform inspiration into reality in the studio. Lennon's quicksilver mind got bored quickly; McCartney pressed on, finding adventure in the creative process. It was an extraordinary collaboration, and this book demytholigizes it without caricaturing either partner.

Fascinating and candid
I loved this book. Paul can be quite proper and guarded in interview with people he doesn't know and trust, so the fact that the interviewer for this book was Miles, an old and trusted friend, really opened up Paul's comments in my opinion. The verbatim quotes from Paul - particularly with reference to his early years and his method of songwriting - shows him at his best: relaxed, open, and disarmingly candid about parts of his life and personality that others might be hesitant to let people know about for fear of looking silly or uncool. And that's what makes the man the height of cool in my opinion.

I loved the detail about the London scene in the book, which brought seemingly innocuous London landmarks to life for me, a Londoner. For example, I found myself reading this very book in a building on Southampton Row, which the book informed me used to house Miles' Indica Bookshop. That may not mean much to Joe Bloggs from Glasgow, but for me it was a total thrill. Also, if you like that sort of thing, as I do, I must recommend the book "Days in the Life: Voices from the English Underground" by Jonathon Green, which Paul and Miles both contributed to and really fleshes out the exciting stuff that was going on in London at that time.

Overall, I feel like Paul was speaking openly to Barry Miles in this book, and that it was an honest account of his personality and experiences. I'd really recommend it.