Within You Without You: Listening to George Harrison

The musicianship and songwriting skills of George Harrison (1943–2001) have long been underappreciated, while his guitar playing has simultaneously been considered the “secret sauce” of the music of the Beatles. This brief but engaging book aims to rectify any confusion about Harrison’s importance by chronologically discussing his musical and lyrical development throughout his career. Rogovoy (Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet) combines his personal views with those of various musicians and authors to provide a thorough yet conversational look at Harrison’s songwriting role in the Beatles with an almost song-by-song study, followed by a chronicle of the ups and downs of his solo career. Although Rogovoy is a fan, his forthrightness is refreshing, eschewing sensationalist stories and traditional biography to focus on the music and Harrison as an artist. For a slim book, there is a fair amount of repetition, and while it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read, there is very little here that is new or genuinely insightful. It is, however, a treat to have a book focused on Harrison as a musician and songwriter, with just enough of a broader perspective to give merit to his musical and personal legacy.