Book Blurbs– April 2026

This month’s blurbs include the biography of a trend-setting band and the story behind a 250-year-old trend-setting sentence.

Carlin’s biography dives into Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe’s commitments to songwriting, performing, artistic integrity, and each other. His writing is clear and active— he leads you by the hand through the false back of an apartment closet into the remains of an abandoned church, the scene of a college party, and REM’s first performance. Carlin’s research is comprehensive, to say the least. He explores early-life experiences contributing to each musician’s development, how the band formed, and the influences of their post-punk contemporaries. Above all, he focuses on the band’s constant struggle to retain their creative spirits despite the pressures of commercialism. This is a must read for REM fans and aspiring musicians.

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson

Isaacson dissects and analyzes the Declaration of Independence’s sentence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” He explores the meanings and philosophical roots of each phrase—and sometimes significances of individual word-choices—to reveal the powerful intentions of the committee explaining to the world why these thirteen united states are breaking free from their mother country. Steeped in rich historical context and presenting thought-provoking modern relevance, Isaacson’s work demonstrates the importance of ongoing reflection upon the principles founding our nation.