Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life

Never before has a book like this one delved into the spiritual odyssey of cultural icon Bob Dylan. Tracking an American original-from his Jewish roots to his controversial embrace of Jesus to his enduring legacy as the composer of the Tempest album- Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life delivers the story of a man in dogged pursuit of redemption. Based on years of research and original interviews, this book sorts through the myths and misunderstandings and reveals Dylan to be both traditional and radical in the way he expresses his spiritual quest for purpose and meaning. "Call Dylan whatever you want, but the name won't stick," said foreword writer and film director Scott Derrickson. "What does stick is his music, in part because his songs contain a deep, abiding spirituality that moves listeners like me more than the songs of any other artist." Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life bridges the gap between purpose and meaning in grand fashion. It offers readers an informative, entertaining, and nuanced look into Bob Dylan's spiritual odyssey. Today, there is not a Dylan book in existence that exclusively focuses on his spiritual odyssey through years of research and original interviews with those who know him and his journey well, such as Barry Beckett, Arthur Blessit, T-Bone Burnett, Carolyn Dennis, Dave Kelly, Regina McCrary, Maria Muldaur, Scott Ross, Jerry Wexler, and Paul Wasserman. The evidence abounds and Dylan's friends and fans provide a plethora of insight into this veritable music icon's spiritual side. "I've had a God-given sense of destiny," said Dylan in 2001. "This is what I was put on earth to do."

About the Author :
Scott M. Marshall is the author of Restless Pilgrim. His articles and interviews have appeared in Isis and The Bridge, two long-running British publications dedicated to Dylan. He is also the author of "Bob Dylan's Unshakeable Monotheism," a four-part series published by Jewsweek.com. Marshall received his B.S. in counseling skills, his M.A. in journalism, and taught communication classes since 2003 at private and public colleges. He currently teaches English and is working on manuscripts about Woody Allen's films and the D.B. Cooper Case. Scott Derrickson is an American director, screenwriter and producer. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Review :
"Scott Marshall, in his book Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life, reflects on the spiritual expressions of one of our country's greatest artists, and there is no shortage of material from which to learn." President Jimmy Carter "Bob has always been rock and roll's poet laureate. A lyricist confesses a lotwe're sort of our own psychotherapistsand "Gotta Serve Somebody" is as close to a modern-day hymn as anything I can think of. Bob's spirit is captured effectively in Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life. If you can't trust Bob Dylan, who can you trust?" Alice Cooper "Bob Dylan will not be labeled. For five decades now, he has avoided the trappings of every group that has wanted to claim him as their own. Call Dylan whatever you want, but the name won't stick. What does stick is his music, in part because his songs contain a deep, abiding spirituality that moves listeners like me more than the songs of any other artist." Scott Derrickson , Hollywood director "I always have a hard time writing anything down about Bob Dylan. Feels like he might want it that way. I saw Bob Dyln on my thirteenth birthday. Flew home for it. Felt like he ushered me into adulthood properly. I grew up with his songsand somehow his songs have grown up with me as well. His words come in and out of my life like apparitions, appearing in mercurial forms ranging from the hipster iconoclast to the suburban prophet. Dylan's songs have guided me from young aimless angst to a hope that is busy being born. Whatever he was singing about, I always felt like Dylan made me a believer." Jon Foreman , Switchfoot "The concept of examining Bob Dylan and spirituality is an intriguing one. As a devoted student of Dylan, I can't wait ot see where this story leads. All things considered, it seems central to a real understanding of the maestro." Michael Levine , Hollywood publicist and author of Guerilla PR "Bob Dylan has been an inspiration to me throughout my career and I've been deeply affected by his spiritual journey. Rock and roll is at its best when it asks the important questions, as Bob has always done in his work, and there is no more important question than the question of God. Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life provides the final answer to those who doubt or minimize Bob's spiritual commitment. His faith remains solid. He is the prophet of our generation and we ignore his warnings about a slow train coming at our own peril." Gary Cherone , lead singer, Extreme, Van Halen "With Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life , Scott Marshall takes Dylan's idiosyncratic faith walk seriously enough to bear with the obfuscation, jokes, and sleight-of-hand that have always been a non-negotiable part of the journey. By doing so, Marshall patiently (and respectfully) connects the dots left behind by the artist himself over a half-century recording career. The result is the richest, most complete understanding of Dylan the Radical Monotheist to date." Tony Norman , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Well researched and energetically argued, a challenging new view of a complicated man." Eric Alterman , award-winning author and columnist at The Nation