As arguably the first rock critic, Richard Goldstein was afforded access that would make most fans drool. This memoir finds him getting stoned with Brian Wilson, visiting the Grateful Dead’s Haight-Ashbury home, and witnessing a drunken, angry Jim Morrison trying to record with the Doors. Goldstein’s tone is thoughtful but humble, and his stories flesh out an era in which rock danced with politics, chaos, and community. (Rolling Stone)