Forget About Today: Bob Dylan's Genius for (Re)invention, Shunning the Naysayers, and Creating a Personal Revolution

Veteran business journalist and music enthusiast Friedman (House of Cards: Inside the Troubled Empire of American Express, co-author) offers a fresh take on Bob Dylan, making a case for the superstar as self-help guru alongside a thoughtful accounting of the reasons behind his lasting success. Combining research and reportage with the reverence and zeal of a devoted fan, Friedman shows how the artist's deliberate and controversial personal and artistic decisions and propensity for fearless, courageous action%E2%80%94moving from Minnesota to New York City; changing his name (from Robert Zimmerman); going electric after finding success as a folk performer; and engaging in a process of constant collaboration and innovation despite the threat of criticism or abandonment by his followers and peers%E2%80%94offers valuable lessons about personal invention (and reinvention), satisfaction, and success. A fast read for fans or anyone seeking inspired tips for fuller living, Friedman's meditation on Dylan elucidates the meaning of art as a way of life and heralds the challenges and rewards of being one's true self. (Aug.)