Given its academic pedigree, it is hardly surprising that this tome is devoted to the art of the Beatles, their songwriting and the recording processes they evolved. Editor Womack has summoned an impressive number of scholars to examine the band’s background, work, history, and influence. They follow the group’s creative arc from its early days in Liverpool and the earliest recordings to the final, often painful recording sessions and each member’s solo output. The groundbreaking Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and The Beatles (“The White Album”) receive thoughtful consideration for their innovations as well as the lyricism of their pop poetry. In the final section, several pieces scrutinize the band’s enduring popularity, opining and theorizing as to why the music has survived so many years beyond the group’s break-up. A must for serious Fab Four fans, in particular, and probably for music lovers in general, the volume includes a chronology, a general discography of the band’s UK and U.S. recordings, and an extensive bibliography. June Sawyers