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Cover of LIVING IN THE PRESENT WITH JOHN PRINE
4.66

Based on 62 Goodreads ratings

LIVING IN THE PRESENT WITH JOHN PRINE

by Covid\u002D19. He was 73. Piazza repurposed the materials he had gathered to produce this moving work. Equal parts profile, oral history, and on\u002Dthe\u002Droad adventure, the book recounts the artist’s working\u002Dclass background in suburban Chicago, his family connection to rural Kentucky, his early success with Atlantic Records, and the decision to co\u002Dfound the label Oh Boy Records. Often writing in the first person and present tense, Piazza recounts his time with Prine, including a spontaneous road trip from Nashville to Sarasota, Florida, in a cherry\u002Dred 1977 Coupe de Ville. Piazza also reviews Prine’s body of work, its broad influence, and his unassuming humanity. Comparing Prine to Bob Dylan, Piazza notes, “You don’t want to be him, you just want to hang out with him.” Along the way, the author gathers insights from Prine’s peers, friends, and family. One band member, for example, notes that Prine’s keen emotional intelligence easily overcame his limitations as a musician and singer. A two\u002Dtime cancer survivor, Prine was already in poor health when Piazza befriended him, but the artist’s good humor and low\u002Dkey grace shine through on every page."

Book Details

Publisher:Orleans in
Published:2016-01-01
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781324050

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This picture book biography introduces young readers to the legendary singer-songwriter John Prine, capturing both his musical journey and his profound appreciation for everyday moments. Through lyri...

Our Review

This picture book biography introduces young readers to the legendary singer-songwriter John Prine, capturing both his musical journey and his profound appreciation for everyday moments. Through lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, the story follows Prine's path from mail carrier to celebrated musician, emphasizing how he found inspiration in ordinary life. The narrative beautifully conveys his philosophy of mindfulness and living fully in each moment, making complex emotional concepts accessible to children. Young music lovers will connect with the celebration of creativity and the power of noticing small wonders.

What sets this biography apart is its gentle approach to teaching mindfulness through the lens of a beloved artist's life, offering both entertainment and emotional education. Parents seeking meaningful stories that encourage presence and gratitude will find this particularly valuable, while children will be drawn to the colorful artwork and inspiring story of artistic discovery. The book successfully bridges generations, introducing Prine's wisdom to a new audience while providing tools for family conversations about appreciating life's simple joys. It's a heartfelt tribute that leaves readers with lasting inspiration to find beauty in their own daily experiences.

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