When I booked my trip to the UK this past spring, one of the things I was most excited to see was the David Bowie is exhibit at the V&A. It was sold out online and I had to wait for hours to see it, but when I left the museum at the end of the day I was completely blown away, so it was totally worth it.
I’ve always loved Bowie’s music (“Rebel, Rebel” is my jam) and his incredible style and creative vision. But I’ve never really known much about the person behind it all. David Bowie is lets you take a closer look at David Bowie the man and gives you a much greater appreciation for his impressive career.
You also learn some random Bowie facts that you might not have known before. For example, did you know that David Bowie has always been a voracious reader? I didn’t, and needless to say it made me like him even more. Curious what kind of books someone like Bowie loves to read? Check out this list of his top 100 must-read books, which includes everything from Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon to Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.
I was lucky enough to attend the grand opening party of David Bowie is at the AGO in Toronto last week. If you can see the exhibit at the AGO before it ends on November 27, 2013, you really should. But take my advice and set aside some time for it. You won’t want to rush through. Even if you aren’t a huge Bowie fan, you will be by the time you leave.
Since I came out of the David Bowie is exhibit (both times!) wanting to learn even more, I put together this reading list (because more books is always the answer):
David Bowie is… by Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh
(This is the official book of the exhibit, which you can pick up at shopAGO or online. I lugged my copy around the UK for two weeks thinking I’d never be able to find it again. It’s like I forgot the internet existed or something.)
The Man Who Sold the World: David Bowie and the 1970s by Peter Doggett
When Ziggy Played Guitar: David Bowie and Four Minutes That Shook the World by Dylan Jones
David Bowie: Starman by Paul Trynka
If you’ve read a good Bowie bio that I’ve missed here, let me know so I can add it to my reading list.