
artsNov 14, 202519:45pending
Music biographies 'The Cars,' 'Only God Can Judge Me' balance greatness and tragedy
About this episode
Two new biographies focus on legendary musical acts: the rock band The Cars and rapper Tupac Shakur. First, in the late 1970s, a Boston radio DJ played The Cars’ demo tape – and the band went on to inform rock music for decades. In today’s episode, author Bill Janovitz speaks with Here & Now’s Robin Young about his new book The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told. Then, Tupac was one of the most influential rappers of all time, but his life was cut short at age 25. In today’s episode, author Jeff Pearlman tells Here & Now’s Scott Tong about his new biography of the music artist Only God Can Judge Me.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Get every episode summarized
Each time NPR's Book of the Day publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from NPR's Book of the Day

To combat the 'Artificial State,' Jill Lepore says to look to science fiction
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 8, 20267:32completed

Author Liane Moriarty on her long-awaited sequel to 'Big Little Lies'
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 7, 20269:42completed

New music books take on Paul Simon's 'Graceland' and the history of music and pr...
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 4, 202617:19completed

New book evaluates President Biden's legacy as midterm elections approach
NPR's Book of the Day
Sep 3, 202610:35failed