A great bio, one of two, about Elvis and his world.

I get the impression that, at least at this time, he was a humble and kind man, before it got too crazy.

This runs from his childhood to the end of 1958, when his beloved mother died, then he was shipped off to Germany in the Army.

Up to then, it's a whirlwind of songs and tours and attacks for impropriety. He drove a wedge between young and old, as many/most music heroes do.

I also get the impression he was profoundly lonely, trying to surround himself with friends and spending his sudden wealth to try to make himself, his family and friends happy. And as much as he had companionship, nobody around him could or would ever understand what it was like to be him.

As his world was changing radically, just as he got drafted, an old girlfriend visited him at Graceland. She asked him why he didn't just jump off the carousel while he still had his sanity. He said it was too late, that there were too many people dependent on him.

Guralnick has a way of writing as though he was talking, haltingly, backtracking and emphasizing points. It's really entertaining and unexpected.