---
product_id: 210441340
title: "Frank Zappa: The Biography"
brand: "barry miles"
price: "฿5029"
currency: THB
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/210441340-frank-zappa-the-biography
store_origin: TH
region: Thailand
---

# Frank Zappa: The Biography

**Brand:** barry miles
**Price:** ฿5029
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Frank Zappa: The Biography by barry miles
- **How much does it cost?** ฿5029 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.th](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/210441340-frank-zappa-the-biography)

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- barry miles enthusiasts

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## Description

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![Frank Zappa: The Biography - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91nWJ4GP5QL.jpg)
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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    A superb look the complicated life of Zappa
  

*by B***E on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 August 2014*

This is truly a great biography. We look closely at Frank Zappa and the world that immediately surrounded him. Frank Zappa was a strange man and many of those who worked with him had difficulties with him, Miles explores those issues as he should. Zappa fans might not wish to read these observations, but if they reject this book because it is not fawning then they will miss out.The section on Frank Zappa's childhood is fascinating. To be honest I think Zappa's childhood was pretty horrible. He moved from one school to another as his father moved house all the time. When Zappa faced problems at school with other children his father was of no help and so Zappa became the fiercely independent individual that he was. Miles captures what it was like to be growing up in 50s America superbly. When the young Zappa encounters something from outside his culture, the music of Varese and other Vienna School composers then it has huge importance for him. This book explores the unique influences on Zappa that shape him.As an adult Zappa first makes his way in the strange world of 60's America. He manages to adopt a unique position of simultaneously exploiting this world and opposing many of its values. How he builds a profile for himself in the community is fascinating. He is keen to get ahead as a musician and performer and the interests of others around him are very secondary indeed.Miles charts Zappas musical career. We read about the unique set of influences that help to create the many LPs that the Mothers of Invention and Frank Zappa released.It is an unflinching look at Zappa and often we are infuriated with him. However the book recognises his music when it is successful. When Zappa dies at the end of the book it feels like the end of a long and difficult journey and the ready does have great empathy with him, it is very sad.Such a great read. I highly recommend it.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Good on the basics - but misses the genius
  

*by N***E on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 July 2021*

Barry Miles has written the kind of basic readable biography that I needed. I have only listened to a small percentage of Zappa's music, but I share the view that his music transcends some of the dated humour (and attitudes). Miles' main focus seems to be Zappa's childhood and things do seem to speed up when we get to the 80s and the synth era begins. He ends the book with Zappa's death (there is a good overview chapter after that), but it is worth noting that with the Zappa family trust mining the huge Zappa music vault for new releases and the legal complexities built into the trust, the story didn't really stop with his death.What Miles does capture is the roots in Doo-Wop, the engagement with Modernist classical music, his obsession with total musical control, his boundary-pushing lyrics and libertarian views, and his love of post-production work. He spends time considering Zappa's sexism and emotional distance (including harsh treatment of his band, absenteee approach to parenting, and his disconnect from his fans). He excuses some, but not all, of this. But he does miss how his single-minded obsession with his art was a typical mid-century pattern for (male) artists. Dedicating 10-12hrs a day, 7-days a week, to their art was how many such 'geniuses' worked.Miles has good knowledge of Zappa's work, combined with good judgement about the music - where it comes from, how it was made, and the business aspect. He can see past the goofiness, and dated off-colour humour, contextualising it as counter-cultural and experimental. Of course, Miles notes that the music is often demanding, it has strong compositional craft and is widely admired by classical players. But despite this, I think he still fails to account for just what made Zappa's music so exceptional. There is no musical analysis or comparative commentary to explain his experimental, analytical approach, which is even applied to solos and lyrics. He didn't just experiment and de-composing music as much as he composed it, he was outstandingly good at these things. This might be a judgement about what to say in a readable popular biography, but I think without it Zappa seems more strange and less impressive than he was.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Excellent
  

*by R***N on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2021*

A really great book by Barry Miles. I'm only just getting into Frank Zappa recently and I found this to be a wonderful biography as I really knew nothing about the man. The book arrived in excellent condition and well ahead of expected date..All good. Excellent

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*Product available on Desertcart Thailand*
*Store origin: TH*
*Last updated: 2026-02-21*