Review: 'The Nobel Lecture' by Bob Dylan

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'The Nobel Lecture' by Bob Dylan, 23 pages - Instagram @c_reads_books

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The Nobel Lecture by Bob Dylan contains the speech Bob Dylan gave when, on October 13, 2016, he became the first American musician in history to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. In his speech, he reflects on his life, along with his literary influences that guided him along the way. He specifically discusses three books that had a profound influence on him ever since he read them as a kid: Moby-Dick, All Quiet on the Western Front, and The Odyssey. Dylan shares how the themes expressed in these books have influenced not only him, but also other songwriters. He says, like other authors and songwriters, he doesn’t always know what his songs mean, but he’s not going to worry about it, finally quoting Homer: “Sing in me, O Muse, and through me tell the story.”

I absolutely loved this little book. I am a huge fan of Bob Dylan, and I knew when I saw this book in Barnes & Noble that I had to buy it. I really enjoyed reading what the musician had to say about his winning a Nobel Prize in Literature and his overall love for literature. Books and songs are very similar in ways, with both artforms sharing unique stories and themes with their audiences. I also found it interesting to hear Dylan say that he doesn’t always know what his songs mean - and he is content that way. I could imagine this is true for a lot of artists (in every genre/form), and it tends to create even more raw, emotional, and powerful art because it isn’t overly calculated and forced. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this short book, and would recommend it to any Bob Dylan fan, like myself!