This is a memoir of music, autism and parenting. I thought it was a very good read, as it manages to be emotive, informative and appealing to music fans. Anyone who is autistic, or knows someone who is, will find it interesting and relatable, I am sure. The book chronicles the ups and downs of life with James, the author’s son. James is gifted at remembering and playing music – his favourite bands include The Beatles, Kraftwerk and The Clash – but music is also a way of connecting with him and teaching him. The author also rediscovers his own love of music through this. The book explores what autism is and its social history, as well as the struggles today with getting support in education. I enjoyed the amount of detail in the book, although sometimes it was a little too much, such as descriptions about scrolling through playlists. There was also some distaste for certain musical genres, which is to be expected in a book by a music journalist. I was drawn to this book because of the psychedelic cover design and the title, which is a Paul McCartney song.
Thank you to the publisher John Murray for the advance copy via NetGalley. The publication date is 27th March.