How the Beatles Changed the World is a detailed account of the rise and fall of the Beatles. Author Martin Sandler does an excellent job of giving the details of the Beatles, without bogging down the book. This book was interesting to read and filled with photographs on every page. After reading it, I felt well informed on everything from the creation of the Beatles to where the band members are currently.
How the Beatles Changed the World is a visual treat with countless photographs that were well-captioned, as well as a colorful layout. The other interesting thing about this book is that it is not just a chronology of events from beginning to end, but rather each chapter is a collection of facts on the impact the Beatles had on the world in various ways. In this way the facts were somewhat repeated, but it was intriguing to see how certain events impacted the world in different ways.
While I found it an interesting, non-fiction, coffee table-type of a book, younger readers could connect to this book as well. From music videos, to album covers, to music soundtracks–the Beatles have touched it all and therefore this book would be an interesting cross-generational read that will undoubtedly spark some interesting conversations.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: All incidences this category were actual events and told in a factual way. Several accounts of violence as a result of crowd unruliness, rioting or hysteria; several accounts of fans causing property damage; account of death threats received; account of John Lennon’s murder (also referred to several times throughout the book); account of attack on George Harrison by armed intruder.
Sex/Nudity: None
Mature Subject Matter:
Death, Klu Klux Klan referred to, divorce.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Descriptions of Beatles playing in bars and the heavy-drinking patrons.