The quintessential book on Elvis has yet to be written, I guess. While "God's Comic" was one man's attempt to explain every song lyric - too much so, in fact - this book skims the songs in favor of a journey through Elvis' life with The Attractions, his various periods of musical exploration, and his personal demons (and angels).

You leave the book pretty much like you came in - assuming he was a boisterous, drunken lout in his early days, mellowed and matured as he got older, and pretty much blamed the industry for any slow sales or commercial failures. Yet, he always comes across as a likable bloke you'd love to have a pint with. Just stop at a pint... ( )