The focus of this book is on humanizing Elvis -- stripping away the idolatry and mythos and constructively analyzing how this kid (at the time) reached such prominence. It heavily relies on quotes and anecdotal stories as a result, the reliability of which are debatable. As a narrative, though, it succeeds in its goal. The frenzy of Elvis's life during these years (the book covers everything up through the summer of 1958) is captured aptly.