Reddit reviews The Beatles (Updated Edition)

Everyone recommends the Bob Spitz book but it focuses heavily on their pre-Beatles' lives. Which is fine, but we all really want to get into that fateful moment when everything started.

I'd recommend the Philip Norman book "Shout"; Peter Brown's book "The Love you Make" (among the best of the 'eyewitness' books); Mark Lewisohn's publications; and for the recordings, Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head and Geoff Emerick's "Here, There, and Everywhere"

And give some love for Hunter Davies's volume

Documentaries: the Anthology, of course. Prior to that, the go-to documentary was called the "Compleat Beatles".

I'd steer away from Norman.

Regardless of age, it's hard to beat Miles' biography of Paul - because we all know it's authorised.

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-McCartney-Many-Years-Now/dp/0805052496

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As for George there was a thread today: https://www.reddit.com/r/georgeharrison/comments/cjy3hf/best_biographies/

You might also take a look at this: https://www.amazon.com/George-Harrison-Soul-Man-Vol-ebook/dp/B07N11T8W9/ and volume 2, but this one I haven't read.

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\> What are the best books on them as a band

I think that mean's Hunter Davies original biography: https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Updated-Hunter-Davies/dp/0393338746

And it has to mean the Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Anthology/dp/0811826848

And it definitely has to mean Tune In: https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-These-Years-Extended-Special/dp/1408704781

Worth a look:

https://www.amazon.com/As-Time-Goes-Derek-Taylor/dp/0706700279

https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Mystery-Tours-Life-Beatles/dp/0312330448

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Me-Do-Beatles-Progress/dp/0140022783

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For John, I really enjoyed the 'Letters' book that Hunter edited - but I prefer first person material.

https://www.amazon.com/John-Lennon-Letters/dp/0316200808/

Also, you might look at https://www.johnlennonseries.com/ I've heard her speak and she knows her stuff - but its a long road she is hoeing.

https://www.amazon.com/Lennon-Remembers-Jann-S-Wenner/dp/185984376X

https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Come-Home-Lennon-Father/dp/0207169969

According to Hunter Davies, that's very close to the original Lennon/McCartney lyrics ("I ain't got nothing but love babe, 7 days a week, assuming the week had 8 days but in reality the most I can manage right now is 6") - written during their brief "literal" phase. The higher-ups at Parlophone balked, feeling that this awkward phrase in the refrain would cause the song to be too long for a 45 RPM single, and difficult to sing along to. The Beatles grudgingly agreed to change the wording, which resulted in an unexpected hit.

Amazon appears to have the latest edition of the book, so that would probably be your best bet. I listened to the audiobook of an edition, that was released in 1996, so I don't know what the latest edition has, but I'd blindly recommend it just based on how good the 1996 edition was. Most of the content is still probably from that first authorized edition from 1968.