There is a difference between music and musical entertainment, this guy doesn't get that and I'm surprised because he says he's a musician. Fashion, haircuts, how you sling your guitar, how you smile... or don't smile are not the music. This book was a bunch of surmises and musical factlets tossed into a concept salad, chewed up and spit out with a good helping of spittle and a big gob of post nasal drip phlegm.

This is the type of stuff unaware and unsophisticated rock fans gobble up and then spew at musicians at parties thinking they are being all hip and knowledgeable. Ugh. Do yourself a favor and take the money you would have spent on this book and buy some music from your favorite artist or band, or buy a book written or authorized by your favorite artist or band.

A provocative, entertaining but ultimately serious examination of rock's most essential questions: Beatles or Stones? Which is the best air guitar to play? Does Rush suck? And what is the meaning of Billy Joel? Metaphysical Graffiti is a funny, thought-to provoking collection of essays for music fans who love the golden age of music.

Metaphysical Graffiti was quite a humorous read, light-hearted but also with substance if willing to receive and accept. This book is also somewhat of a creative outlet for the author with a couple of fictional stories to demonstrate a point. One of those, for example, involves air-guitars. Interesting approach, for sure.

I am sure many readers, whatever their musical tastes, agree and disagree with Kaufman over some themes and topics explored. Perhaps, this is a hidden ‘beauty’ of the book- you don’t argue over taste, you fight over it and many an idea explored here can stoke one’s passionate fire!

Metaphysical Graffiti: Rock's Most Mind-Bending Questions by Seth Kaufman is a light look at rock music and bands. Kaufman is a recovering musician Seth Kaufman grew up overseas, in Kenya and India, the son of a foreign correspondent. He ran a popular online music store where he sold so many copies of Kenny G records he should be tried at The Hague. Kaufman's own biography sets the tone for the book.

Well, I disagree quite a bit with Kaufman throughout the book, but his manner is not mean or without a good laugh. He opens with probably the most asked question in rock -- Beatles or Stones? A lengthy discussion, with the option of it being a trick question and the real answer is Led Zeppelin, ends in -- we like what we are brought up with his choice. That was when I knew I would agree with him, but having a beer was with him was definitely an option. He did put the nail in his own coffin with his Billy Joel chapter, but I did get his point.

A variety of topics are covered including air guitar and the Grateful Dead neither of which I gave much thought to throughout my life. On the subject of covers how can one not mention Janis Joplin's cover of "Me and Bobby McGee" or Elvis Costello's cover of "Peace, Love, and Understanding." Under "Does Rush Suck," Laufman makes a lot of good points. On the topic of drummers is a fun list of jokes and musings.

Kaufman gives a good mixture of praise and condemnation of some of rocks biggest names. No one will walk away in 100% agreement or 100% discord. He offers enough for the reader to agree with and just enough bad to get under your skin. This is a book that the reader will love and hate and thoroughly enjoy.

As a serious music nerd I thought this was just okay (3 stars) - a fun read but nothing particularly original or provocative. I'll stick with Chuck Klosterman.

Has it funny points, but nothing earth-shattering. I liked the chapter about how he made his son defend his liking of Billy Joel, the chapter on how drummers are idiots, and the chapter on air guitar. Otherwise it was just okay.

Lol! Another fun read that was spot on it's subject! I had a blast reading this book and sharing my thoughts on it with friends and family. Baby Boomers- this ones another one for you! Well written, thoughtful arguments on a variety of subject and a quick, easy (and entertaining )read for summer! I am going to say this one is a keeper for my shelves.
Kudos to you, Seth Kaufman!

Stones or Beatles? Air guitars? Oh yes. The air guitars caught my eye as I played a mean one in my day. This a a book about music and how we see it. It's something real, not a thing. Loved what the author had to say about the music and groups. His Dad was at Woodstock! For those who love music and the history of it, you will love this book. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

I enjoyed quite a lot of Metaphysical Graffiti, but I do have some reservations. It's a collection of essays about aspects of rock music which are fairly random, quirky and personal – something I liked the sound of a lot. They are of rather mixed quality, though; at their best they are perceptive and entertaining, but I found some to be tedious and almost toe-curlingly unfunny.

Kaufman know his stuff. He's plainly a fan, he has listened widely and deeply and has thought about what he has heard. This shows in the essay Beatles Or Stones? in which Kaufman discusses with considerable insight what factors dictate our answer to this sort of question, or his fine little appreciation of drummers, or a very nicely done piece on influences – and I'm always ready to applaud anyone who will acknowledge in public that, great though some of their music may have been, a lot of the Grateful Dead's output (especially live) is plain bloody boring.

On the other hand, there are some pretty frightful acts of whimsy which aren't nearly as funny as they think they are: What Kind Of Air Guitar Do You Play is not only pretty vacuous and unfunny, it's a load of absurd, pseudo-psychological tosh, too, and as for Kaufmann's rap rendering of Waiting For Godot…don't get me started. He even feels the need to ruin already weak jokes further by explaining afterward why they are (allegedly) funny. It's pretty grim stuff in places.

I've given this four stars, perhaps slightly generously, because Kaufman can write easy, readable prose and the good parts are genuinely enjoyable insightful, but I did have to grit my teeth quite hard to get through other parts of it.

(My thanks to OR books for an ARC via NetGalley.)