This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. Rip It Up And Start Again. Post Punk 1978 1984

   Post Punk 1978-1984

   

   This insightful exploration delves into the vibrant and transformative post-punk era, capturing the essence of a musical revolution that emerged from the shadows of punk rock's raw energy. It chronicles the innovative and experimental spirit of bands that redefined the boundaries of music and culture between 1978 and 1984. Through a rich tapestry of interviews, anecdotes, and critical analysis, the narrative highlights the eclectic mix of genres and influences that shaped the sound and ethos of this dynamic period, offering a compelling look at how these artists challenged conventions and laid the groundwork for future musical movements.

   The 17010th Greatest Book of All Time

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2. 2. Sex Revolts

   Gender, Rebellion and Rock 'n' Roll

   

   A cultural history that examines how late-1970s punk and its aftermath renegotiated sexuality, gender and rebellious identity in music and style, tracing the movement’s provocative mix of aggression, androgyny, fetishism and erotic spectacle; it maps the tensions between liberation and exploitation, the role of women and queer artists, and how punk’s iconography and sounds were absorbed, commodified or transformed in subsequent scenes and popular culture.

3. 3. Totally Wired

   

   A tight collection of essays and interviews that documents and analyzes the post‑punk movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s, showing how artists stretched punk’s raw energy into experimental sounds, art‑school aesthetics, dub and funk inflections, and explicit political engagement. It profiles key bands and scenes, situates their sonic innovations within cultural and historical context, and traces how that restless, genre‑crossing experimentation reshaped subsequent alternative and electronic music. Blending reportage, criticism, and firsthand testimony, the work argues that post‑punk fundamentally expanded popular music’s expressive possibilities.

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4. 4. Retromania

   Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past

   

   A critical examination of popular music and broader culture's obsession with recycling the past, arguing that pervasive nostalgia, reissues, sampling, tribute acts and revivalism reflect both technological changes and commercial incentives that have led to creative stagnation and historical secondhandness. It traces how digital archiving, collectors, and the music industry foster an economy of retro desire that sidelines innovation, and considers the cultural, psychological, and political consequences of living in a perpetual pastiche.

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