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Beastie Boys Book Hardcover – October 30, 2018
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The inspiration for the Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ “live documentary” Beastie Boys Story, directed by Spike Jonze
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Rolling Stone • The Guardian • Paste
Formed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip hop superstardom. Here is their story, told for the first time in the words of the band. Adam “ADROCK” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond offer revealing and very funny accounts of their transition from teenage punks to budding rappers; their early collaboration with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin; the debut album that became the first hip hop record ever to hit #1, Licensed to Ill—and the album’s messy fallout as the band broke with Def Jam; their move to Los Angeles and rebirth with the genre-defying masterpiece Paul’s Boutique; their evolution as musicians and social activists over the course of the classic albums Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty and the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits conceived by the late Adam “MCA” Yauch; and more. For more than thirty years, this band has had an inescapable and indelible influence on popular culture.
With a style as distinctive and eclectic as a Beastie Boys album, Beastie Boys Book upends the typical music memoir. Alongside the band narrative you will find rare photos, original illustrations, a cookbook by chef Roy Choi, a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys’ New York, mixtape playlists, pieces by guest contributors, and many more surprises.
Praise for Beastie Boys Book
“A fascinating, generous book with portraits and detail that float by in bursts of color . . . As with [the band’s] records, the book’s structure is a lyrical three-man weave. . . . Diamond’s voice is lapidary, droll. Horovitz comes on like a borscht belt comedian, but beneath that he is urgent, incredulous, kind of vulnerable. . . . Friendship is the book’s subject as much as music, fame and New York.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Wild, moving . . . resembles a Beastie Boys LP in its wild variety of styles.”—Rolling Stone
- Print length590 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRandom House
- Publication dateOctober 30, 2018
- Dimensions6.72 x 1.86 x 9.63 inches
- ISBN-100812995546
- ISBN-13978-0812995541
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Review
“Wild, moving . . . resembles a Beastie Boys LP in its wild variety of styles.”—Rolling Stone
“As nutty, irreverent, and fun as you think it would be.”—Vogue
“As freewheeling and funny as their albums . . . a beautifully messy (and large) talisman containing within it many of the great joys and surprises that come with listening to the Beastie Boys”—The AV Club
“Horovitz and Diamond share sincere moments of reflection about their music, their friendship and the guy who taught them to fix radiators, to care about human rights, to own up to mistakes and to grow up.”—NPR, Morning Edition
“Teeming with tour anecdotes, personal letters, playlists, comics and photographs—[Beastie Boys Book] unspools the crew’s thirty-year run in the music industry and is appropriately massive.”—Los Angeles Times
“Diamond and Horovitz alternate as narrators, and their prose is as infectious as their music. Other contributors chime in with their own idiosyncratic takes. Roy Choi offers a mini cookbook of Beastie-themed dishes. Amy Poehler delves into the videography of the group. Luc Sante takes the reader on a musical tour of New York City streets in the early 1980s. The result is a book Beastie Boys fans will clamor for and a must-read for music enthusiasts.”—Booklist (starred review)
“This entertaining look at Beastie Boys history is as innovative and raucous as the band’s music.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Beastie Boys fans will devour this book, as will anyone interested in the early days of hip-hop, the art/music/street life of New York City in the 1980s, and the alternative-nation zeitgeist of the ’90s.”—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
We all see things differently. We each experience an event in our own way. This book is how Michael “Sweet Lou” Diamond and I remember what happened to us. Yauch had talked about wanting to document our band, but, sadly, without him here, me+Mike are gonna have to do it alone. I say “sadly,” well . . . because of the obvious. Adam passed away in 2012. But it’s additionally sad because, if any of the three of us saw things with a unique perspective, it was Yauch. He was truly a wild card. Someone who, in my mind, was like . . . “Shit . . . I’m gonna walk to the top of the Empire State Building with cameras taped to my shoes . . . I’ll carry you up there piggyback-style . . . It’ll be funny . . . let’s go.” He was the rare person who actually does all the crazy things they say they’re gonna do. And does them even crazier than you’d imagine. For instance . . .
Yauch got into snowboarding in the late ’80s. He met some other people that were into it and would go snowboarding with them. But not like how a regular person would do it. He met someone who knew someone in Alaska, and this person in Alaska would fly them to the top of an un-snowboarded-on mountain in a helicopter . . . they’d jump out of the helicopter, with their snowboards attached, and head down the mountain. That’s a crazy thing to even dare yourself to think of, let alone say you’re gonna do. Or do. Or have done.
The first time we went to Australia was in 1992. To me, Australia was a foreign land. Not only had I never been there, I don’t think I had ever met anyone who was Australian. What happens there? I had no idea. The flight took, like, sixteen hours. And when we arrived, we went through customs and all that stuff, got outside, exhausted from the flight, and a little nervous aboutbeing in a new place so far away from home. I just wanted to get to either a bed or a cup of coffee. As we left baggage claim and headed out to find a taxi, Yauch tells us that he met someone on the flight, and that they had some friends who were all meeting up to go snowboarding somewhere hours and hours (of more traveling) away. And since our first show wasn’t for a couple days, he was gonna cut out and hang out with these people for a bit, and see us all at sound check before the show. Wait . . . WHAT!?! At that point in my life I liked to think of myself as a spontaneous kind of person, but this was a little too next-level. I just did not understand this behavior.
Yauch wanted to see the world. So he did. He went to India and looked around. Saw things, met people. While on one of his trips there, he got in touch with the plight of the people of Tibet. He was so moved by their culture and what they had endured, and continue to endure, he came back home and wanted—needed—to let people who didn’t know know. So he put together a big concert. Not just a show, but a fucking massive benefit concert in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. And that was just the start. He ended up having a bunch of these shows all over the world. Huge concerts in baseball stadiums. With huge bands like U2. Yeah, he could get in the door (and on the snowboard helicopter in Alaska) because he was famous, but not many people can rally so many others to work for free. Especially for some “weirdo” cause like nonviolence. Passion and compassion. Yauch had ’em.
Product details
- Publisher : Random House; First Edition (October 30, 2018)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 590 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0812995546
- ISBN-13 : 978-0812995541
- Item Weight : 3.5 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.72 x 1.86 x 9.63 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #52,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #74 in Culinary Biographies & Memoirs
- #267 in Composer & Musician Biographies
- #458 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book filled with pictures, artwork, and humor. They appreciate the insight into the lives of the people involved in the band and their influences on pop culture. The humor is described as funny, silly, and endearing. The book brings back nostalgic memories and history. It's a must-read for Beastie Boys fans and provides great music recommendations throughout. Overall, customers find it well worth the money.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's pictures and artwork. They find it creative and engaging, with beautiful color photos that support the stories. Readers appreciate the hard copy with its memorabilia and playlists. Overall, they describe the book as a fun and entertaining read.
"...Packed with rare photos, personal anecdotes, and exclusive interviews, this book offers fans an intimate look into the evolution of the Beastie Boys—..." Read more
"Great history of the Beasties. Pics are really the icing on the cake." Read more
"...This is a great read for the casual to the hardcore fan. It's thoughtful, funny and just an all around engaging read...." Read more
"...which allows the ink to absorb into the page creating rich deep colors in the photographs. Plus the paper has a nice nostalgic smell...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's insights into the lives of the people involved in the band. They find it funny and entertaining, with anecdotes and guest opinions from friends. The book provides accurate pop culture information and behind-the-scenes stories about recording albums and touring.
"...Packed with rare photos, personal anecdotes, and exclusive interviews, this book offers fans an intimate look into the evolution of the Beastie Boys—..." Read more
"...It brings me back to the 80s and the evolution of hip-hop, the evolution of NYC, and my own evolution as a rap (and later hip-hop) fan...." Read more
"...only details the history of the Beastie Boys, but also reflects the age of New York hardcore, the early days of hip-hop, the business of the labels..." Read more
"...Their anecdotal style (with guest blurbs from friends) makes it seem like you KNOW these people...." Read more
Customers find the book humorous and entertaining. They find the anecdotes and facts endearing.
"...captivating journey through the iconic band's legacy, told with an irresistible blend of humor, nostalgia, and raw honesty...." Read more
"...It's thoughtful, funny and just an all around engaging read. I see myself revisiting this book later on down the road...." Read more
"...The stories shared in the book are entertaining, funny, interesting, and sometimes heartbreaking...." Read more
"...It’s been eye opening, humorous and emotional…really enjoying this book." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's nostalgic stories and history about the Beastie Boys. They find it a wonderful collection of memories, recipes, images, and suggestions. The book provides a great view of the band's history and backstory to all the albums.
"...Packed with rare photos, personal anecdotes, and exclusive interviews, this book offers fans an intimate look into the evolution of the Beastie Boys—..." Read more
"Great history of the Beasties. Pics are really the icing on the cake." Read more
"Awesome book about a truly fascinating group." Read more
"...It's....perfect. Nostalgia personified, and he absolutely nails it - how ridiculous a method it was to record/playback music, etc.,..." Read more
Customers love the Beastie Boys. They find the book an essential for fans. The band is praised as one of the greatest rap groups of all time. Readers appreciate the great content from iconic artists like Ad Rock and Mike D.
""Beastie Boys Book" is a captivating journey through the iconic band's legacy, told with an irresistible blend of humor, nostalgia, and raw honesty...." Read more
"...Let me say that the audio format is really cool. They have a slew of musicians, actors, friends and the surviving members of the group reading..." Read more
"...I felt the love, the real love of these dudes and I feel like they did right by Adam Yauch to the very end!..." Read more
"...dynamic, personable, festidious... This book is a perfect representation of the members and their work. Any random passage is enthralling...." Read more
Customers find the book's music recommendations and insights helpful. They appreciate the details on the music they were listening to at various times, as well as the diverse taste in music the authors have. The book provides a window into a positive and functional creative relationship.
"...this book is an honest reflection of their careers, mistake and creative process...." Read more
"...Just from flipping though it, I’ve seen pictures, artwork, recipes, maps, and what looks to be a comic book...." Read more
"This is one of the best music bios to come out in recent years...." Read more
"...It has everything from Maps, a cookbook, and memory of arcane musical techniques and instruments...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They find it a wonderful purchase that covers the evolution of music and pays tribute to MCA. The book is described as thick and hefty, and customers love it.
"...brought them back, with nostalgic stories, how the music evolved and paid tribute to MCA...." Read more
"...well worth the money and I got it in 1 day." Read more
"I'm only 20 pages in, but I can already tell this was an excellent purchase. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest...." Read more
"The content is so worth the cost of admission. I bought the audio first and loved it so much, had to buy the hard copy...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's history of the Beastie Boys. They find it a refreshing way to learn about the band and their industry. The book is described as essential for fans, with almost 600 pages of Beastie Boys history and awesome stories.
"...It not only details the history of the Beastie Boys, but also reflects the age of New York hardcore, the early days of hip-hop, the business of the..." Read more
"If you are a fan. Must have tells a great history of the Beastie Boys over the years" Read more
"...what I have loved about them all this time, the ease and awareness they have of themselves...." Read more
"A fascinating, in depth exploration of the entire history of the Beastie Boys, from the perspectives of Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz, whose..." Read more
Reviews with images

“And you know he weighs in pretty hefty…”
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024"Beastie Boys Book" is a captivating journey through the iconic band's legacy, told with an irresistible blend of humor, nostalgia, and raw honesty. Packed with rare photos, personal anecdotes, and exclusive interviews, this book offers fans an intimate look into the evolution of the Beastie Boys—from their humble beginnings in New York City to their groundbreaking influence on music and culture. With its eclectic mix of storytelling and visual imagery, "Beastie Boys Book" is a must-have for both die-hard fans and newcomers alike, celebrating the band's indelible mark on the world of music and beyond.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2024Great history of the Beasties. Pics are really the icing on the cake.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2019When this book came out I already knew that I was going to own it. I am a huge fan of music biographies and I am willing to read just about any of them. I knew this book in particular was going to be special as I wasn't the biggest fan of the Beastie Boys, I respected them as a truly creative force that stood out among the hip hop groups of the early 1980's.
I originally picked this up on Audible while I was travelling for work but I went ahead and bought the book as well. Let me say that the audio format is really cool. They have a slew of musicians, actors, friends and the surviving members of the group reading this book. Like their music the book took it's self serious while maintaining the sense of humor that the Beastie Boys were known to have.
As biographies go this is just one of the best. It starts at their childhood and takes you on the journey of their ups and downs as musicians. What comes out of this book is an honest reflection of their careers, mistake and creative process. You get stories of them being forced into the party band persona when they were young and their disdain of having that image. How they broke free from that and started to reform their image to become the pioneers of hip hop, social justice and equality.
Learning their start as a band to their love of music and their time in the studio had me in awe of the Beastie Boys. My respect for their craft tripled and after I finished the book I sat down with their albums that I blew off years ago and listened with a new found appreciation.
This is a great read for the casual to the hardcore fan. It's thoughtful, funny and just an all around engaging read. I see myself revisiting this book later on down the road. This is a great way to close out the career of the Hip-Hop legends!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018UPDATE: I take back my disappointment with Amazon. They refunded my $5.00 extra I had paid when I pre-ordered it without me even asking. Good job Amazon.
“And you know he weighs in pretty hefty…”
Hefty is a perfect word for this book. More Chicago style pizza than NY.
I’ve not read the book except a few pages I’ve skimmed since I got it a couple of hours ago. So my review is on the Book structure and printing…and unfortunately Amazon’s declining care of products it sells.
The Book. As said above it’s huge. Not tall or wide but thick. “Ah, like a thick-ass book that's filled with wack rhymes”. Unlike most biographies where there are about 20 pages in the middle devoted to photos, this book has the photos and illustrations are throughout it’s entirety. It resembles a Fanzine more than a book. Plus there are tons of little extras throughout that only Beastie Fans will appreciate.
The binding is quality and seems like it will stand the test of time. From what I can tell it has smyth sewn binding which make it lay fairly flat when opened on a table. This is nice because you can actually see the middle parts of this gigantic book.
The paper and printing are quality as well. The paper is a non-coated stock (matte) which allows the ink to absorb into the page creating rich deep colors in the photographs. Plus the paper has a nice nostalgic smell. There are a few glossy sections but only used when appropriate, or to break up the pace of the book.
Now onto the Amazon not so Prime deal I got on this book. Note: This is just me being picky. But needs to be noted in case others got the same damage on their book and paid more for it. I pre-ordered my book months ago for $35 through Amazon Prime. I now see it’s $30. “Knucklehead deli tried to gyp me on the price” I get it, prices change blah blah blah. I wouldn’t be so upset except that although my book was on my doorstep at 8am this morning which was sofa king Rad to wake up to, it is damage. The top right corner all the way through the pages to the back cover (see photos). I’ve tried to mend it myself the best I can. I’ll probably keep because it’s a waste of natural resources to ship this back because of a bent corner. I know I sound like I’m being silly about this but when it’s delivered damaged (no way this happened in shipping, the box was in perfect shape) and then you see that you could have waited and saved $5…it just gets under the skin.
Anyways, if you love the Beasties and have been with them since the 80s like me, or even if you are a newer fan of this millennium…get this book. R.I.P. MCA.
5.0 out of 5 starsUPDATE: I take back my disappointment with Amazon. They refunded my $5.00 extra I had paid when I pre-ordered it without me even asking. Good job Amazon.“And you know he weighs in pretty hefty…”
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018
“And you know he weighs in pretty hefty…”
Hefty is a perfect word for this book. More Chicago style pizza than NY.
I’ve not read the book except a few pages I’ve skimmed since I got it a couple of hours ago. So my review is on the Book structure and printing…and unfortunately Amazon’s declining care of products it sells.
The Book. As said above it’s huge. Not tall or wide but thick. “Ah, like a thick-ass book that's filled with wack rhymes”. Unlike most biographies where there are about 20 pages in the middle devoted to photos, this book has the photos and illustrations are throughout it’s entirety. It resembles a Fanzine more than a book. Plus there are tons of little extras throughout that only Beastie Fans will appreciate.
The binding is quality and seems like it will stand the test of time. From what I can tell it has smyth sewn binding which make it lay fairly flat when opened on a table. This is nice because you can actually see the middle parts of this gigantic book.
The paper and printing are quality as well. The paper is a non-coated stock (matte) which allows the ink to absorb into the page creating rich deep colors in the photographs. Plus the paper has a nice nostalgic smell. There are a few glossy sections but only used when appropriate, or to break up the pace of the book.
Now onto the Amazon not so Prime deal I got on this book. Note: This is just me being picky. But needs to be noted in case others got the same damage on their book and paid more for it. I pre-ordered my book months ago for $35 through Amazon Prime. I now see it’s $30. “Knucklehead deli tried to gyp me on the price” I get it, prices change blah blah blah. I wouldn’t be so upset except that although my book was on my doorstep at 8am this morning which was sofa king Rad to wake up to, it is damage. The top right corner all the way through the pages to the back cover (see photos). I’ve tried to mend it myself the best I can. I’ll probably keep because it’s a waste of natural resources to ship this back because of a bent corner. I know I sound like I’m being silly about this but when it’s delivered damaged (no way this happened in shipping, the box was in perfect shape) and then you see that you could have waited and saved $5…it just gets under the skin.
Anyways, if you love the Beasties and have been with them since the 80s like me, or even if you are a newer fan of this millennium…get this book. R.I.P. MCA.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2018I'm flying through this book right now and absolutely loving it. It brings me back to the 80s and the evolution of hip-hop, the evolution of NYC, and my own evolution as a rap (and later hip-hop) fan. I discovered the Beastie Boys from a cooler-than-me high school friend who was listening to them way before the rest of us in rural VT. I happened to go to NYC with my family and dragged them to Crazy Eddie's and bought the Licensed to Ill cassette. I listened to it over and over, along side Eric B & Rakim, Public Enemy, Run DMC.. the greats. This book really speaks to what it's like to be a high school boy, with all the goofy uncomfortable stuff mixed in with seeds of your future self. The pictures are perfect, often seemingly random windows into their world, again as much about NYC as their experiences there. The stories about the Beastie Boys rise to fame involve so many incredible performers... it's like a reference book. Speaking of which, this book is physically like a text book. 600 pages and none of them skimpy. LOVING IT.
Top reviews from other countries
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Rodrigo F. E. SouzaReviewed in Brazil on January 20, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Diversão pura!
Um livro muito interessante com varias estorias sobre a banda e seu relacionamento com seus colaboradores. Para quem é fã, muito necessário esse livro.
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Javier ContrerasReviewed in Mexico on January 7, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfecto
Cumple mis expectativas
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DanielReviewed in Belgium on August 14, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Beau livre
Un livre qu’il est bien pour le lire, sauf si on n’aime pas les Beastie boys
- TinasssoReviewed in Spain on October 31, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Funktastic Read!
Moving and exciting, no better way to honour Adam Yauch than through this fantastic book about the lives and tales of the Beastie Boys. Easy reading and left me craving for more pages, the images are amazing and time flew with all the stories. Thanks guys for sharing your precious memories
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HanabiReviewed in Italy on April 24, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo
Fantastico, un libro emozionante e divertente, pieno di aneddoti e foto inedite del gruppo.