Media and Reviews for
John Williams: A Composer’s Life
Media
I was interviewed by Jon Burlingame for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Extended excerpt in Vanity Fair, about the beginnings and significance of the Spielberg/Williams relationship.
Excerpt in The Times, about the Star Wars score and how it was ground zero for criticisms of plagiarism (and how Williams overcame and transcended such bunk)
Excerpt in Los Angeles Times, about the unlikely bond between John and Kobe Bryant, which resulted in the beautiful (and sadly eulogistic) Dear Basketball.
Article in The Guardian, about one of the fascinating paradoxes in John Williams—that he doesn’t think highly of film music on the whole (but his music says otherwise)
Essay on Oxford University Press blog, by me, about how the Jaws score is so much more than those famous two notes.
Reviews
Empire Magazine (October 2025 issue):
“… A masterwork. Allying extensive, exclusive access to Williams
with great storytelling, intelligent analysis and a deep love for its subject, it’s as gripping and essential as Williams’ best themes are catchy. … It’s not a toothless study. The later works come in for criticism, but this is mostly an affectionate but perceptive love-in. Frankly, it’s the book Williams’ monumental talent deserves.”
Boston Globe:
“… gives the master the kind of biography he deserves, in this richly narrative and deeply researched book by journalist Tim Greiving. Like its subject, the book wears its expertise lightly, inviting all to sit down and relax with a beautiful story.”
NPR:
“In this comprehensive biography, the regular NPR contributor has collected interviews not only with Williams but also a raft of other Hollywood headliners for this detailed exploration of the life and work of the nonagenarian icon.”
“Beyond mere biography, Greiving’s book delves into the details of Williams’s many cinematic collaborations with directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and describes the process of film scoring in readable, not overly technical prose.
VERDICT An excellent biography that will delight fans of Williams’s work and motivate aspiring film composers.”
“Williams also writes concert music and Greiving offers a commentary on all his major compositions. Happily, he is a sharp writer with a vivid turn of phrase – he describes one piece as ‘a bath bomb of orchestral beauty’ – and the only time I put the book down was to seek out online whatever music he was describing.
This is a serious work, light on Hollywood gossip … If you want Williams trivia, this is the place.”
“The author provides reams of fascinating inside information about several spectacular scores … Fans of Williams’ music will devour this all-encompassing work.”
“He is widely acknowledged as possibly the greatest film score composer of all time, and Tim Greiving’s meticulous and decently written biography will tell you everything you will ever need to know about him.”
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