When the hand-made guitar that had been my constant companion for more than 20 years was destroyed by airline baggage handlers, I decided to order a new one from master luthier Rick Davis–and watch over his shoulder as he made it. At the same time, I became fascinated by the history of the guitar, which a century ago was a minor folk instrument yet rose to outsell all other instruments behind. The book follows both the making of the guitar to completion and the history to the present day, asking what makes this instrument so popular, and our relationship with it so intense and intimate? This book was selected by Library Journal as one of the Best Books of 2005, and, dammit, they were right. Also available as an audio book, which a lot of people like because of my British accent, though to me I’m all too aware that I’m probably mangling the pronunciation of Hawaiian names dreadfully….

To order, click here.