David Bowie: A Life

Described as "a groundbreaking oral history," this ambitious endeavor aims to broaden the David Bowie (1947–2016) legacy, and on that front, British GQ editor Jones does not disappoint. Over 180 contributors offer anecdotes of speculation, frustration, and adoration of the notoriously enigmatic music legend. Insights from known Bowie collaborators, including Peter Frampton, Angie Bowie, Earl Slick, and Iggy Pop blend with lesser-tapped sources such as makeup artists, publicists, and childhood sweethearts in an attempt to craft the mosaic of a multifaceted artist. However, the sprawling style and sheer volume of voices makes for an unwieldy, repetitive chronology. More discomfiting is the cavalier attitude with which memories of sexual trysts with underage fans are discussed by multiple participants. Frequent contradictions, some within a single story, support the overall tone of the book; Bowie was many things to many people but left a universal impression as a consummate creative with a preternatural ability to both embody and surpass the cultural zeitgeist.