Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will publish his first book of new writing since 2004.
Dylan’s The Philosophy of Modern Song will be released this fall by Simon & Schuster, the publisher announced. It will be the first book from the musician, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016, since his memoir, Chronicles: Volume One, was published 18 years ago.
“Dylan, who began working on the book in 2010, offers a master class on the art and craft of songwriting,” Simon & Schuster says. “He writes over sixty essays focusing on songs by other artists, spanning from Stephen Foster to Elvis Costello, and in between ranging from Hank Williams to Nina Simone.”
Dylan is chiefly known for his long career as a songwriter, responsible for enduring classics like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “The Times They Are-a Changin’,” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” His most recent album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, was released in 2020 to widespread critical acclaim.
He published his first book, the poetry collection Tarantula, in 1971. His other books have included lyrics collections and the text of his Nobel lecture.
“These essays are written in Dylan’s unique prose,” Simon & Schuster says of his new book. “They are mysterious and mercurial, poignant and profound, and often laugh-out-loud funny. And while they are ostensibly about music, they are really meditations and reflections on the human condition.”
The Philosophy of Modern Song is slated for publication on Nov. 8.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
