Rating: 
Summary: GREAT Read!
Review: I thought this book was a wonderful read - keep in mind the context of the piece - it is about interpretations. All the people who've written reviews and said Neil is a wanna-be... Hmmm, let's read YOUR last published work...oh, you don't have anything published I REST MY CASE, DR. FREUD
Rating: 
Summary: this book blows
Review: I was mislead by the other reviews of this book. Don't get me wrong, the book has it's moments, but the author is more concerned about letting the reader know how learned she is than actually writing an interesting book. There are more tangents about other works of literature and entertainment that it's easy to forget that the book is about a Rock bands lyrics. As insightful and intelligent as the lyrics are, it is still Rock music. The book should be fun. At the very least, the book should stick to the topic. I have not finished yet, but I have been skipping whole paragraphs because they simply don't apply.If you are looking for an eclectic book covering many topics, buy this book. If you are interested in Rush lyrics exclusively, this book may be hard to swallow.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was mislead by the other reviews of this book. Don't get me wrong, the book has it's moments, but the author is more concerned about letting the reader know how learned she is than actually writing an interesting book. There are more tangents about other works of literature and entertainment that it's easy to forget that the book is about a Rock bands lyrics. As insightful and intelligent as the lyrics are, it is still Rock music. The book should be fun. At the very least, the book should stick to the topic. I have not finished yet, but I have been skipping whole paragraphs because they simply don't apply. If you are looking for an eclectic book covering many topics, buy this book. If you are interested in Rush lyrics exclusively, this book may be hard to swallow.
Rating:
Summary: Interested in spiritual growth!
Review: I've spent literally thousands of hours listening and reading Rush related materials over the past 20 years and I have to honestly say that Rush-the band has made a profoundly positive impact on my life. I would strongly recommend anything Rush publishes be attended to by anyone interested in spiritual development. (I am a professional insurance laiason for a hospital in San Antonio with a Master's Degree and licensed by the State of Texas). To begin with Rush has taught me values that my family had difficulty imparting to me when I was growing up because we had very serious problems to deal with at the time. With all due respect to my family, in effect, Rush raised me. Rush taught me how to be a man with deep feelings for the human condition and showed me how to strive and achieve at home, work and play. I am proud to say that Rush is my all-time #1 musical group--hands down! I am loyal to Rush because my life has been enriched and enlightened, especially spiritually. I have a permanent feeling in myself that is filled with a deep care and respect for all people and it's largely because Rush bridged for me what most others could not. Ultimately, Rush has facilitated a connection with Infinite Intelligence in my life that means everything to me now. Because Rush lives, my life and my family's life is a wonderful one. Many Thanks Fellas...
Rating: 
Summary: Nice range of material covered...too many tangents
Review: If you're looking for a book about Rush the band, this is not for you. If you are looking for insights into the inspiration behind the lyrics, this book is a step in the right direction. Carol Selby Price comes off as well-read, with a wide range of knowledge covering philosophy, religion, literature and pop culture. She definitely is a fan of the music of Rush, but especially the lyrics of Neal Peart. Don't expect a lot of coverage on the instrumental music here, this is strictly about the lyrics. I found that the breakdown of theme categories and selection of titles worked from the standpoint that she covered from 2112 through Presto. The book works best when clearly staying with the topic of a single song, then using some comparisons from literarture, etc. If one were to merely listen to the songs, there would be a surface meaning, but this book helps dig deeper below the surface layer, peeling through the layers of allegory and metaphor to some core visions.
For example, while "Red Barchetta" appears to be a thumbing of the nose against the powers of a dystopic society, I never thought about the adventure merely being a dream by the fireside itself. Did he actually drive the care or simply remain with his uncle by the fireside?
I liked the link of Analog Kid, Digital Man and New World Man, especially the inner/outer versions of New World Man comparing both individuals as well as the regions New World, Old World and Third World.
Criticisms: There must have been a copyright issue with reprinting the lyrics, because one would need the album/disk package at hand to review the writing. While there are plenty of quotes from other sources, the Rush songs are merely paraphrased. I also would have liked to have the entire song broken down, instead of going off on a tangent to show comparisons with Kant, Plato, Nietzsche or Ayn Rand. At times the writers appeared to be showing off their knowledge and there was some definite narrative preachiness about our society. E.T. one long commercial for Reese's Pieces? What does that have to do with Rush?
Some songs are covered briefly, such as 2112, which was then recovered in The Trees. Some editorial tightening would have helped this book, but then again, at barely 150 pages, it was not that long a read.
I would recommend this book to Rush fans who are scholars and have read works by some of those in the bibliography.
Rating:
Summary: Nice range of material covered...too many tangents
Review: If you're looking for a book about Rush the band, this is not for you. If you are looking for insights into the inspiration behind the lyrics, this book is a step in the right direction. Carol Selby Price comes off as well-read, with a wide range of knowledge covering philosophy, religion, literature and pop culture. She definitely is a fan of the music of Rush, but especially the lyrics of Neal Peart. Don't expect a lot of coverage on the instrumental music here, this is strictly about the lyrics. I found that the breakdown of theme categories and selection of titles worked from the standpoint that she covered from 2112 through Presto. The book works best when clearly staying with the topic of a single song, then using some comparisons from literarture, etc. If one were to merely listen to the songs, there would be a surface meaning, but this book helps dig deeper below the surface layer, peeling through the layers of allegory and metaphor to some core visions.
For example, while "Red Barchetta" appears to be a thumbing of the nose against the powers of a dystopic society, I never thought about the adventure merely being a dream by the fireside itself. Did he actually drive the care or simply remain with his uncle by the fireside?
I liked the link of Analog Kid, Digital Man and New World Man, especially the inner/outer versions of New World Man comparing both individuals as well as the regions New World, Old World and Third World.
Criticisms: There must have been a copyright issue with reprinting the lyrics, because one would need the album/disk package at hand to review the writing. While there are plenty of quotes from other sources, the Rush songs are merely paraphrased. I also would have liked to have the entire song broken down, instead of going off on a tangent to show comparisons with Kant, Plato, Nietzsche or Ayn Rand. At times the writers appeared to be showing off their knowledge and there was some definite narrative preachiness about our society. E.T. one long commercial for Reese's Pieces? What does that have to do with Rush?
Some songs are covered briefly, such as 2112, which was then recovered in The Trees. Some editorial tightening would have helped this book, but then again, at barely 150 pages, it was not that long a read.
I would recommend this book to Rush fans who are scholars and have read works by some of those in the bibliography.
Rating:
Summary: INTELLECTUALISM...THAT'S A LAUGH!
Review: Maybe someday someone will write a book about how Neil Peart's devotion to Ayn Rand's philosophies shown through his lyrics mean that he believes in social Darwinism, euthanasia, and that class separation is necessary and right. He believes that the rich should stay rich and the poor should stay poor. What a jerk!
Rating:
Summary: Rush ha ha ha
Review: Philosophy of Rush ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. What's next, the philosophy of Kansas? "Dust in the Wind" Hey, now THAT's deep ha ha ha ha ha ha
Rating:
Summary: Mystic Rhythms: The Philosophical Vision of Rush
Review: The book Mystic Rhythms: The Philosophical Vision of Rush, is exactly as its name implies. The authors analyze several RUSH songs and discuss them philosophically, almost in a Zen fashion. The book is thought provoking and does place an interesting spin on the lyrics. However, the price tag does seem steep for a rather cheap looking paper back (it has the appearance of an institutional text book). As a RUSH "fan" I would like to see a book of the same topic written by the band. Overall I found the book enjoyable and recommend it for people who would like to read an opinion of some of the bands lyrics.
Rating:
Summary: When All You Have Is A Hammer...
Review: The hammer in this case would be mindless, overanalytical philosophical tripe meant to impress and demonstrate the authors "intelligence" more than trying to get at the heart of any issue. The most profound philisophical ideas are the most simple, she has completely missed this point and tried to turn the very simple truths contained in Pearts work into some Sartre-esque cesspool of meaningless babble. The fact that this author missed the connection between 2112 and Ayn Rands Anthem explains alot. If this author had taken the time to do a little research into the works of Peart, she would have found that Rand and her philosophy of Objectivsm had a profound influence on much of his work. She might also have learned that there are two types of people in this world: Builders and Looters. Those who create, and those who ride the coattails of those who do. This book is a looting spree. Don't buy this book, and if you do, send this moron a bill for your time and mental anguish.
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