Rock 'n' Roll Wisdom

The Beatles meet Sigmund Freud, Bob Marley trades ideas with Carl Rogers, and Joni Mitchell shares thoughts with another psychological great, Erik Erikson. These are not actual face-to-face meetings, but a reflection of the fascinating interplay developed in this book. In a novel look at rock 'n' roll lyrics, a Columbia University psychology professor shows us those lyrics that rise above the rest because they are not just clever but also wise in their psychological themes and conclusions. These great lyrics embody enduring truths about topics as diverse as love, identity, money, sex, religion, aging, social justice and the search for meaning. This is a fun and informative venture across rock 'n' roll history to see how we can learn about significant areas of life through the medium of psychologically wise rock n' roll lyrics. No other book has treated rock n' roll lyrics so seriously, as a source of both creativity and wisdom. No other book has used rock lyrics as a source to help us understand who we are and why we do what we do. This is a fascinating work that will make readers think about their lives and consider where they have been, as well as where they are going. Featured artists include Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette and more. Rock lyrics from every decade since the 1950s are featured, and intertwined with the theories of such psychological luminaries as Freud, Rogers, Erikson and John Bowlby. The most wise rock lyrics, says the author, can teach us something about ourselves that even the greatest psychological figures have sometimes failed to do.