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Joe Goodden
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Riding So High: The Beatles and Drugs Hardcover – September 20, 2017

by Joe Goodden (Author)
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‘Who gave the drugs to the Beatles? I didn’t invent those things. I bought it from someone who got it from somebody. We never invented the stuff.’ – John Lennon

Riding So High charts the Beatles’ extraordinary odyssey from teenage drinking and pill-popping, to cannabis, LSD, the psychedelic Summer of Love and the darkness beyond.

Drugs were central to the Beatles’ story from the beginning. The acid, pills and powders helped form bonds, provided escape from the chaos of Beatlemania, and inspired colossal leaps in songwriting and recording. But they also led to break-ups, breakdowns, drug busts and prison.

The only full-length study of the Beatles and drugs, Riding So High tells of getting stoned, kaleidoscope eyes, excess, loss and redemption, with a far-out cast including speeding Beatniks, a rogue dentist, a script-happy aristocratic doctor, corrupt police officers and Hollywood Vampires. ‘The deeper you go, the higher you fly…’

‘An essential new work in Beatles historiography.’– Erin Torkelson Weber, author of The Beatles and the Historians

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  1. Print length
    328 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 20, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 1.01 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1999803329
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1999803322
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pepper & Pearl (September 20, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1999803329
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1999803322
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.24 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.01 x 9 inches

About the author

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Joe Goodden

Joe Goodden

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Joe Goodden is a journalist, blogger and paperback writer living in south Wales.

Formerly a senior online producer at the BBC, he is a music lover and founder of the Beatles Bible website (www.beatlesbible.com – "Not quite as popular as Jesus…").

Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs is his first book.

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4.4 out of 5 stars
725 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-researched. They appreciate the factual information presented in a factual manner without judgement. The writing style is described as easy to read and well-written. Readers appreciate the author's ability to weave together narratives, showing both the good and bad aspects of drugs.

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ReadabilityResearch qualityWriting qualityNarrative quality
31 customers mention "Readability"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-researched. They describe it as a fun, entertaining read for Beatles fans.

"...There are amusing anecdotes and dark reflections on the impact drugs had on each of the band members...." Read more

"...I've read many books on the Beatles and this is a worthy addition which many fans should find interesting and easy to read...." Read more

"...super details that are amusing, illuminating, and not all well known. the Beatles themselves censored themselves on this topic in the "Anthology"...." Read more

"...A real page-turner..." Read more

30 customers mention "Research quality"30 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's thorough research and interesting details about the Beatles' private lives. They find the information presented in a factual, reserved manner without judgement. The book provides enough details to keep readers engaged, helping them understand and clarify misconceptions. Overall, they describe it as an unbiased historical collection of the Beatles' relationship with drugs.

"...Clearly it has been well researched...." Read more

"...on the Beatles' hedonistic pursuits, this book gives great insight into the group as people rather than myths...." Read more

"...super details that are amusing, illuminating, and not all well known. the Beatles themselves censored themselves on this topic in the "Anthology"...." Read more

"...'s tone... This is a phenomenally well-written book; it's neither verbose nor elementary...." Read more

16 customers mention "Writing quality"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read.

"This is a well written and engaging look at the Beatles and their drug use...." Read more

"...is a worthy addition which many fans should find interesting and easy to read...." Read more

"...this one is well written, and explores in detail the "hijinks" of the Beatles during their prime...." Read more

"...Speaking of the author's tone... This is a phenomenally well-written book; it's neither verbose nor elementary...." Read more

11 customers mention "Narrative quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's narrative engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's skill in weaving together different stories and anecdotes to create a compelling story of the Beatles' development from local bar band to cultural icon. The book includes fascinating details, such as Paul and Linda's various pot busts. Overall, readers find the narrative interesting and easy to read.

"This is a well written and engaging look at the Beatles and their drug use...." Read more

"...This section includes many fascinating details, including Paul and Linda's various busts for pot in the 1970s; the extent of Ringo's substance abuse..." Read more

"...the stories here cannot be missed, if you are a big Beatles fan and want to know more than what is on the surface." Read more

"...Goodden has interesting stories about the more nefarious characters from that era...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • aussie mark
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Perspective on a Familiar Story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is a well written and engaging look at the Beatles and their drug use. It follows the group through their different stages as they apparently changed in reflection of the particular drugs they were taking - speed pills and booze, to pot, to LSD and heroin - and back again. The author runs the Beatles Bible web-site and this book gathers material from there as well as augments it with non-song related details and stories as well. Clearly it has been well researched. There is a nice balance between describing the positive effects each drug has - whether it helps to keep the band playing through long nights in Hamburg, or bonding the band members together on higher planes to inspiring a year of psychedelic rock - before it then shows the inevitable crash as the drugs destroy egos, relationships and eventually the Beatles as an entity. There are amusing anecdotes and dark reflections on the impact drugs had on each of the band members. The explanations as to how songs were written about particular drugs or trips indicate how large a lyrical topic drugs were for the Beatles. The lay-out of the book suits reading it section by section, but the stories tell a familiar tale in a new light which makes the book difficult to close without reading just one more section. An excellent first up effort by the author on what is clearly a labour of love.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Screen looker
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good for jaded fans
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2021
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    In focusing on the Beatles' hedonistic pursuits, this book gives great insight into the group as people rather than myths. Author skillfully weaves in stories of Beatle drug habits and experimentation into the oft-told story of the Fab Four, revealing how drugs (from nicotine to heroin) affected them as artists and human beings.

    The most interesting section of the book came after the group broke up, as this era hasn't been written about as extensively. This section includes many fascinating details, including Paul and Linda's various busts for pot in the 1970s; the extent of Ringo's substance abuse in the 1970s and 1980s (and how this negatively affected his marriage to Barbara Bach before they both went to rehab); details of George's hedonistic side in contrast to his spiritual yearning in the 1970s; and John's (and Yoko's) heroin use and John's "Lost Weekend."

    Author includes some good background material and context on the drugs the Beatles favored (among other things, I learned that heroin was originally manufactured at a Bayer plant). I've read many books on the Beatles and this is a worthy addition which many fans should find interesting and easy to read. I'm late to this party (I was surprised to see it was published some five years ago), but I'm glad the Amazon algorithm recommended it to me. I'm giving the book four stars as George and John both died too young (and I'm saving five stars for the second installment of Mark Lewisohn's Tune In).
    9 people found this helpful
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  • s
    5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding book, well written, on a rarely detailed topic
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    some Beatles books are great but the writing is not great. this one is well written, and explores in detail the "hijinks" of the Beatles during their prime. super details that are amusing, illuminating, and not all well known. the Beatles themselves censored themselves on this topic in the "Anthology". the filmed "Anthology" was cut when "certain topics" were brought up. the only way to hear them discuss their (extensive) drug use is in the director's cut of the "Anthology". this book goes into great detail about the way they lived, as the leaders of a generation. the stories here cannot be missed, if you are a big Beatles fan and want to know more than what is on the surface.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Peter J Fricke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for all Beatles fans!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I've been fascinated by the Beatles' drug use for almost as long as I've been fascinated by The Beatles. I've read The Beatles' Anthology cover-to-cover at least a dozen times, along with countless biographies, etc., and I still learned new things on almost every page of this book.

    It takes an impressively balanced approach to what is, after all, still a somewhat sensitive topic, and there's no trace of either approval or reproach in the author's tone.

    Speaking of the author's tone... This is a phenomenally well-written book; it's neither verbose nor elementary. A real page-turner (seriously, it cost me at least 3 hours' sleep, for which I hope the author sees fit to reimburse me with a reply to this post).

    I drone on, but to interested readers: Check out the chapters on LSD and John Lennon's heroin use. They're full of revealing information.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Brian
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2018
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    If you haven't read tons of Beatle books then this book is for you. It really is a compilation of other great books before but the 1st I've read specifically about addiction and the Beatles. Great job!
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  • Storytainer
    4.0 out of 5 stars High Praise
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2019
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    The book was an excellent resource for a paper on the history of the Beatles and the often overlooked aspect of their drug use. It was engaging as well as informative.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Matthew
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
    Reviewed in India on August 30, 2021
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    This book is very well written and gives a fresh perspective on The Beatles oft-told tale. Highly recommended.
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  • ttt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on January 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Extremely gripping, lots of enlightening info even for seasoned fans, very much well worth reading!
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  • Lorry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beatles in context
    Reviewed in Italy on August 18, 2018
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    Although I wouldn’t describe myself as an avid fan of all Beatles music, I did grow up with many of their songs, and this read gave me vivid contextual background to what was going on at that time with the four Fabs on the other side of the globe. It gives one an appreciation of the huge contribution of the Beatles to the music of today, whilst at he same time portraying a wreckless naivety towards substance abuse, from which however, emerged some of their greatest pieces. Because the quotes and testomnies are derived from many sources, at times I lost the thread of WHO was saying what, but overall, it’s a thoroughly good read if you are interested in the history of the Beatles’ song writing, trials and tribulations.
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  • Dr. P
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating time travel with the Beatles from a totally new perspective
    Reviewed in Germany on November 2, 2017
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    The first encounter I had including the Beatles and Drugs was happening a few years ago when our music teacher told us that people back in the sixties thought the Rolling Stones were trouble-making drug addicts whereas the Beatles in their nice matching suits and ties were the good boys. 'But that's not true' he added 'they were far from being as innocent as it seemed'. 'But why'? we, being curious students, asked. 'They experimented with LSD' was everything he could tell us - and he is a devoted Beatles fan.
    My teacher's fate is shared by many Beatles fans across the globe, although having a broad knowledge in general, there's a blank spot when it comes to information concerning the drug usage. One reason certainly is that there are no books out there which devote their full content to this topic. However, the Beatle's experimentation with different substances took an undeniable influence on the way they invented new music. All this makes the new book 'Riding So High: The Beatles and Drugs' a really significant release in the world of Beatles books.

    But on to the most important question: Okay, this book might be significant but is it also a pleasure to read?

    Yes, it certainly is! I fully read it in one day and night - without needing any uppers or Vicks inhalers to stay awake. And one has to be aware, that I'm not usually the person to read a book in one sitting, so that's something special.
    To my mind, what makes the book so special is that it takes the reader directly back to the time of the Beatles. Through many quotes, very accurate research, funny and surprising anecdotes, and wonderful language it feels as if one accompanied each Beatle from their childhood until far into their adulthood and, as it were a side effect, one learns lots of fascinating things not only about the Beatle's usage of drugs but also about the Beatles in general, the time back then, the background of each drug, and much more.
    That way, the book combines the detailed information ( if one book deserves to be called detailed, it's this one) and the non-judgemental writing style of a non-fiction book with the excitement one feels when exploring the characters and the world of a novel. All this makes it a breathtakingly good book.

    An added bonus is the great artwork of the cover and the many references to Beatles songs in the chapter headlines. Although it doesn't influence the content, it is enough to conjure a smile on every fan's face.

    All in all, I would highly recommend the book to everyone who likes the Beatles, no matter whether you are the greatest living Beatlemaniac or have only heard a few of their songs once, as there is a lot to discover for everyone and no preknowledge required. However, this book is also a great read if you have never before heard of the Beatles but are still interested in the influence of drugs on creativity.
    Most of all, I would recommend this book to my music teacher, though. ;)
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  • Rafael Jaramillo Sánchez
    5.0 out of 5 stars You can't miss this one
    Reviewed in Spain on March 27, 2018
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    An EXCELLENT read. A well-written, well researched book on a, very often, incomplete topic on Beatles books. A follow-through since their early days to their solo careers explaining in detail how the Four Fab dealt with drugs, and how it influenced their music, train of thought and their relationship with 60's society and authorities. A must read for every Beatle fan. Thanks so much, Joe, for this one. Fantastic achievement. Five stars, of course.
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