Samuel LoveBob Dylan remains one of the most mysterious and elusive figures in pop culture, with hundreds of books, documentaries, podcasts and more trying to understand him. A new book from author and academic Scott Peeples (Professor of English at the College of Charleston, South Carolina) is another in a long line of attempts to tell the story of Robert Zimmerman – although this one’s title is rather telling. How Many Roads: A Life of Bob Dylan reminds us that this is not the objective story.
At c. 350 pages, How Many Roads is one of the shorter Dylan biogs at just over half the length of Howard Sounes’ much-respected tome Down the Highway. This is primarily due to the book’s more streamlined approach and focus on the work rather than the gossipy tabloid stories that have peppered Dylan’s life. Whilst other books might spend chapters looking into the various relationships and offspring, Peeples is far more interested in the creative process and analyses the key albums in-depth.
While the more seasoned superfans and so-called Bobcats might not find a great deal of revelatory ideas or analysis here, more casual fans will find this to be a fascinating, well-paced read. Refreshingly brisk in its content and structure, How Many Roads is as accessible as it is informative.
As the Nobel Prize-winning musician continues to tour (hitting the UK in November-December, including a 5-night residency in London), the Bob Dylan legend continues to grow. Scott Peeples’ How Many Roads is an impeccably written book – and while no book on Dylan can ever truly be definitive as so much of the man remains a mystery, this one is a succinct overview of his creativity and unparalleled career.
How Many Roads: A Life of Bob Dylan is available now from Reaktion Books (Hardback, RRP £20.00)
