Maybe I’m amazed

Categories:

22.99

???A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK???

‘BRILLIANT’ ADRIAN CHILES
‘THIS BOOK CONTAINS MAGIC’ CAITLIN MORAN
‘ENTRANCING, HEARTBREAKING, UPLIFTING’ MARINA HYDE

In this extraordinary memoir, a father tells the story of how music has opened up the world to his son, one song at a time.

Obsessed with music since he was a child, John Harris had no idea that he was in fact preparing himself for the greatest challenge of his life. But so it transpired. When his son James was born, and three years later diagnosed with autism, music became a source of precious connection and endless wonder for both of them.

Maybe I’m Amazed describes how the music of The Beatles, Kraftwerk, Funkadelic, The Velvet Underground, Amy Winehouse and many more were soon woven into the fabric of James’s life, becoming an essential part of who he is. It takes us through the struggles of raising an autistic child in a prejudiced world, and uncovers a hidden history of neurodivergence and creativity that casts new light on why notes, chords and lyrics speak so powerfully to the human mind.

Anyone who has fallen in love with a band or heard their life reflected back to them by a song will recognise themselves in the story of this father and his son. And in considering the intense and transcendent way James absorbs and connects with music, it has lessons in listening and living for us all.

ISBN: 9781399814034

In stock

Obsessed with music as a child – listening to everything he could lay his hands on, going to gigs, starting a band, and then pursuing a career in music journalism – John Harris had no idea that he was in fact preparing himself for the greatest challenge of his life. But so it transpired. When his son James was born, and three years later diagnosed with autism, music became their main form of communication, a hugely shared passion and – it is no exaggeration to say – the sound that saved them. In this extraordinary memoir, John Harris tells the story of how music has opened up the world to James, one song at a time. It takes us through the travails of raising an autistic child in a prejudiced world and investigates why it is that a large proportion of the million-odd neurodiverse people in the UK have perfect pitch and a particular aptitude for music.

Additional information

Weight0.379 kg
Dimensions21.8 × 14.2 × 3 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

272

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

618.9285882 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K

Gift Vouchers

Can’t find the right book, why not give a gift card and let them find that special book.

Learn More >

Click and Collect/Special Requests

If we don’t have the book you want, we will do our best to order it for you and often have it in a few days.

Learn More >

Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get notified about new articles

Find the right book...