Book Recommendations

[Jungleroom76]

Mike, that is most often the case, but it's either the opinions/potentially skewed accounts of those who were there versus nobody's. Guralnick and any other author relies on those same people, to varying degrees. But I think it is of great interest to hear those accounts, which can be beneficial.

First of all, even without filtering out the BS and determining who has what agenda, etc., it's like there is some cumulative truth once you lump all those stories together. Even though you get some erroneous information, you end up with basically the truth. You might not know exactly which elements ring the truest, but you have heard all the accounts, so the real story probably can be told by borrowing parts from each.

Secondly, even though you do have the truth and then some, you do need to find a way to whittle down everything you've gleaned into something which might not be totally specific, but is something you can hang your hat on (or else you'll go crazy ). So you read all this stuff and come to learn what most of these people's motives are (or simply how bad their powers of recollection have become), based on what you can determine on your own, and on what the other central figures have to say about them...and of course what their motives are, and so on.

Having heard certain accounts before, you can also get a step closer to the truth by noting the elements of them which certain people don't talk about as well.

I don't know if I'm articulating this very well, but mainly I'm saying it's educational simply to take all this information in and decide for yourself what the truth likely is. You might not always be right, but you can't ask Elvis, so that's about all you are left to do.

ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE RIGHT PAL!!! :worthy:

I guess I didn't really think of the fact that, considering Elvis never wrote an autobiography, we really only have the stories of Elvis' life as told by the people who were around him. And, as you said, if it wasn't for their stories, we wouldn't have any!

I guess if we take the stories as told by all of the indidivuals who have written books over the years, put them all together and see which ones are told in a similiar fashion, then we will probably be able to assess which stories are more likely to be truthful and which ones are leaning toward artistic or "authoristic" (if you will) fabrication!

Once again, I have been put in my place...THANKS PAL!!! :worthy:
TCB!
Mike

[Captain Elwood David]

Guralnick's 2nd volume focusing on Elvis' decline relied too much on other mistaken sources / assumptions and lacked its own independent original research / inquiry. The end result was the all too common now - expected re-hash of stories / events ................... all done very superficially as well.

I was bitterly disapointed in Guralnick's follow-up volume; a good start, but unfortunately, never finished as it derserves (and as Guralnick is fully capable of).

---------------------

BTW, .............. a number of those that were there are directly responsible for mistaken MYTH, slight fabrications, and mistaken assumptions that have now become accepted "FACTS" or are destined to forever be items of controversy / seeds of conspiracy / haunting and in some cases with detrimental results to EP's Legacy. Ironically, quite a disservice not only to the fans, but EP himself.


- Capt. "EL."

[Jungleroom76]

QUITE TRUE CAPTAIN EL....A DISSERVICE TO THE FANS AND ELVIS INDEED!!

But, you know what....with all the books that have been mentioned in this thread, I am surprised that no one has even considered bringing up Albert Goldman's book! Wonder why that is???

TCB!
Mike

[Lonniebealestreet]

...one I have chosen not to read.

I am glad you see my point, Mike, because I'm not sure that I made it too clear.

The thing about it, if I can add just a little to that, is that if you've got several people who stick to the same story, you still don't necessarily want to put all your faith in it. Who are those people, with whom do they associate, of whom do they not speak well (does that seem justified, and what do those people stand for?), what is their relationship with EPE, and what seem to be their motives, etc.?

But those things still don't necessarily point you to the truth. The right people saying the wrong things can pretty easily turn fiction into presumed fact.

That doesn't mean it's not good to hear all the different "perspectives". Though you might not know for sure about a certain event or nuance, you at least know the most likely scenarios.

[Cherokee]

From "Contemporary Psychology"

"The Inner Elvis: A Psychological Biography of Elvis Aaron Presley

By Peter O. Whitmer

New York: Hyperion, 1996. 480 pp.

ISBN 0-7868-6102-9. $22.95 hardcover, $12.95 paperback.

Review by Alan C. Elms

Almost since his first moments of fame in 1956, Elvis Presley has been the object of psychological speculation. Journalists repeatedly asked psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose Elvis or his fans or both. Such questions became even more insistent after Presley's early death .......

- Capt. "EL."

Thanks very much, Cap. Think I might get me a copy, and use the info you provided to sift through what's written.....

[Lindnet]

You have all given me alot of great information to work with, thank you! I agree that it's best to read several accounts of what happened, take into consideration the motivation and how close they were to the source, and then form your own opinion as to what you believe to be closest to the truth.

I was looking for some more good places to find information to put into the mix and I believe I've gotten some great suggestions here.

[Jungleroom76]

...one I have chosen not to read.

I am glad you see my point, Mike, because I'm not sure that I made it too clear.

The thing about it, if I can add just a little to that, is that if you've got several people who stick to the same story, you still don't necessarily want to put all your faith in it. Who are those people, with whom do they associate, of whom do they not speak well (does that seem justified, and what do those people stand for?), what is their relationship with EPE, and what seem to be their motives, etc.?

But those things still don't necessarily point you to the truth. The right people saying the wrong things can pretty easily turn fiction into presumed fact.

That doesn't mean it's not good to hear all the different "perspectives". Though you might not know for sure about a certain event or nuance, you at least know the most likely scenarios.

But, WHY have you chosen not to read Goldman's book?? It is after all a very factual account, is it not??

As always, you made your point very clear buddy!!! I was able to follow what you were saying with no problem! But, I agree with your addition here that, basically, you need to consider all aspects of a story's source (especially their relationship to Elvis AND to EPE, their personal motives, what they stand to gain out of telling their "story", etc.) before deciding if a story is factual, a story based on fact but that has been deliberately stretched to slant to the storyteller's benefit, or completely fiction!!

But, unfortunately, we will never know the true answers to all of these stories since Elvis is not here himself to set the record straight!

THANKS AGAIN for clarifiying your position buddy!! Always appreciate your point of view!!

TCB!
Mike

[curtis simpkins]

Here's a nother good book, my friend of mine wrote this book it's called.

Elvis A Radio History From 1945 to 1955 by AARON WEBSTER. a few people injoy this book.

1. worldwide elvis.
2.wink martindale
3.robert ritter from wtup 1340 in tupelo ms

this book also has some rare photos of elvis in the early 1950s.

[P.S. Annie]

From "Contemporary Psychology"

"The Inner Elvis: A Psychological Biography of Elvis Aaron Presley

By Peter O. Whitmer

New York: Hyperion, 1996. 480 pp.

ISBN 0-7868-6102-9. $22.95 hardcover, $12.95 paperback.

- Capt. "EL."

Thanks for the info, I think and try to find me a copy too (like Cherokee). Think it is a very intersting book. I have a general interest for psychologie, so combining it with Elvis even better.

[ComeBackChick]

Thanks for the info, I think and try to find me a copy too (like Cherokee). Think it is a very intersting book. I have a general interest for psychologie, so combining it with Elvis even better.

This book is on my wishlist too! Does any Dutch fan know where to get it? Cause it seems to be out of print.....

[0349054]

I would reccomend all of them!

By reading the whole lot, you can get a rounded view. Any single biography is going to have holes in it, be slightly biased towards something etc..

Read as many as you can get your hands on. The one's so far mentioned are very good though.


By the way, has anyone read Bobbie Ann Mason's Elvis biography? I'm wondering whether or not to buy it. Is it good? I have read about 20 or so bio's of Elvis, I just enjoy reading about him. Is Bobbie Ann Mason's one interesting? Well written?

[Lonniebealestreet]

It's definitely well-written. You won't read any new groundbreaking details in it, but at the same time it seems very insightful. It's an entertaining, quick read.

[0349054]

Thanks Bobby,

I'll order a copy soon then.

Thanks

[Lonniebealestreet]

You're welcome.

I'd be curious to hear what other people have to say about that book as well. I don't think I am, but as a fellow Kentuckian I could be biased in favor of her and Alanna Nash's works.

It's 'light' in some respects, but told so well that it really succeeds in my opinion. I'd like to know if others agree.