by Bob Spitz
First published 2014
Bob Spitz examines the Beatles' first American visit from February 7 to February 21, 1964. The New York Times bestselling author of The Beatles: The Biography focuses on fourteen days that altered American culture permanently. Spitz argues this brief period created a musical earthquake that shaped future music and sparked a cultural shift affecting entire generations. The book traces how the Beatles' presence changed American attitudes, appearance, and behavior almost instantly. Spitz walks readers through key moments including The Ed Sullivan Show appearance and the Carnegie Hall performance. He demonstrates how America's fascination with the band marked the end of the conservative Eisenhower period and launched the energetic 1960s. The author shows how these two weeks secured the Beatles' success while transforming American society in ways that lasted far beyond their departure.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, music, american-history
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-impact, historical-events
Setting: America, New York
Period: 1964
112 pages · Hardcover · Time Home Entertainment