Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties

The first 37 pages of Revolution in the Head are excellent, as Ian MacDonald explores the 1960s cultural revolution and Beatles' location in it.  Unfortunately, the rest of the book is a hit-and-miss chronological review of the Beatles' 188 songs. While these reviews include some useful production details on each song, MacDonald's broader insights are too often overwritten or unenlightening (e.g., on "Penny Lane": "The Beatles were at their peak and looked up to as arbiters of a positive new age in which the dead customs of the older generation would be refreshed and remade through the creative energy of the classless young.").