"Unboxing" Rush Album by Album

This is a younger me displaying in Warhol quality a small smattering of my many, many Rush t-shirts. And now that I've inspired in you a need to own your very own Rush shirt, they can be found here!

Today's post is me chatting (complaining) about Rush books!

And I would be remiss if I didn't feature those Rush books that are worth reading:

The Complete Tour Books - Not only is this a lovely production (and heavy!) it demonstrates that Peart does, indeed, have a way with a pen. It's interesting to trace the evolution of the band's philosophy and growth through the introductions to each tour book. 

This is my favorite work of Peart's, probably because it's the most personal. It chronicles the journey he took following the loss of his daughter in a car accident and the loss of his wife to cancer. Calling himself, "unable to die," Peart strives to find a reason to live by keeping in nearly constant motion. I presented on this book in a college class entitled "War and Peace" and was so effective that I got the professor to borrow a copy! (A later, less effective presentation compared Ghost Rider to In Memoriam by Alfred Tennyson. I was happy with the piece but the other conference attendees were not!)

Since I maligned Mr. Popoff a bit above, I'll ask his forgiveness by declaring this one of my favorite Rush works! My only critique is that all Rush fans seem to have favorite eras (usually based on when they were introduced to the band) and they organize accordingly. The 90s, for instance, get short shrift in this book.

 

I have to mention this one - I authored one of the chapters! ;) 

I'm including this one as the suggested cover art for that dual Lee-Lifeson biography I'm still hoping to see!

And while I am not "the Rush fan" (a title I would give without reservation to the gentleman that runs the Rush is a band blog), you can check out my latest Rush publication here!