What a truly awful book, masquerading as a biography it is more a commercial for some other book written by the author. I'm sure Courrier thought he was illuminating the work of Randy Newman for the masses, but this appalling effort is an overwrought theme clabbered with Freshman English opinion. Too bad the author wasn't as interested in Mr. Newman and his work as he was about his assumptions concerning what it might mean to him. Poor structure, wandering voice, nothing to recommend this work. Randy Newman is an artist that deserves a descent examination.