Inside Classic Rock Tracks: Songwriting and Recording Secrets of 100 Great Songs from 1960 to the Present Day

I bought this book sight-unseen because it was a bargain book and I was trying to get over the $25 free shipping limit (hey, I'm honest). The online description was intriguing enough, but I was very surprised when the book arrived and surpassed my expectations. Physically the book is very attractive, and the low page count is deceptive because the book is larger than a normal paperback. The writer has very excellent insights about the music tracks spanning four decades, and he peppers his writing with biting wit. Definitely recommended!

Rooksby does a great job of analyzing notable songs from the last few decades and explains what makes them effective. Some of his observations are funny too. I recommend this for anyone who is interested in songwriting and production, but is bored with the usual "How to Write Massively, Successful Hit Songs in 27 Easy Steps" format.