Why people recommend it
But Beautiful by Geoff Dyer is a richly imagined, critically acclaimed book about jazz that blends biography, fiction, and impressionistic criticism to capture the lives and music of legendary jazz icons. The book received high praise and frequent mentions on The Book Review podcast. John Williams recommended the work enthusiastically during an episode focusing on children's literature, noting its appropriate subtitle and describing it as an essential read about the genre. In a subsequent episode titled An American Abroad, Williams reflected further on the reading experience, explaining how the richly written text inspired him to listen closely to the actual musicians featured in Dyer's vignettes. Later, during a discussion featuring Richard Powers, Williams compared another author's work to Dyer's distinct style, underscoring the enduring impression the jazz book left on him. Through these discussions, the podcast contributors emphasized the book's unique ability to evoke the rhythm and soul of jazz history through prose rather than conventional biographical recounting. Williams's recurring praise positioned the work as a standout literary achievement capable of inspiring deep emotional and auditory connections for readers who appreciate music-themed literature.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Recommended
John Williams — 3 mentions
“last week I talked about having read Jeff Dyer just richly imagined an incredibly written book about jazz called but beautiful and because of that I kind of not only listened to some of the musicians that he wrote about”
“but what I read this week in addition to He Who Shall Not Be Named a thousandth time is Jeff Dyer's book but beautiful which is subtitled appropriately enough a book about jazz”
“it reminds me in a way of Jeff Dyer's book but beautiful which is a very different book”