Book Review: “I am Brian Wilson”
Reviewed by SARAH REEVES
“Listen to this. It’ll make you cry.” I rolled my eyes a little as my husband encouraged me to put on the headphones. I often struggle to appreciate music on the same level he does, considering his tastes and musical knowledge are much more refined than mine. But he was right. There was a moment of silence, and then absolute magic. The isolated vocals version of Brian Wilson’s masterpiece, “God Only Knows” filled my ears and it was nothing short of angelic.
Although I had heard the song numerous times before, this version, stripped down to just the vocal composition and harmonies only the Beach Boys could create, Wilson’s genius was apparent to me in a way I’d never realized before. As with most artists, though, the creation of great art often comes at a great price.
After listening to the isolated vocals of “God Only Knows” I wanted to know this artist better. But I wasn’t prepared for how deeply the book, “I am Brian Wilson” would touch me.
Although often synonymous with fun and “Good Vibrations”, The Beach Boys’ musical journey was fraught with challenges. No one felt those challenges more distinctly than Brian, credited with creating the band and writing most of the group’s library of hits.
Often misunderstood due to undiagnosed, and later poorly treated, mental illness, Brian fought an uphill battle every step on the way toward fame and success. Achieving that success, however, brought its own set of challenges, often with life or death consequences.
In this poignant memoir, Brian tells his story, as he experienced it, the good with the bad. It’s the story of a modern day musical genius, but it’s also the story of a young man growing up and coming of age in a time when mental health was vastly misunderstood and how dangerous the lack of proper mental health treatment can be.
Most importantly, it’s a story of hope, resilience, and the perseverance of one of the greatest musical artists of our time.
“I am Brian Wilson”by Brian Wilson and Ben Greenman was published by Da Capo Press; 284 pages; 5 stars.
