BOOK 164: WOULDN'T IT BE NICE: MY OWN STORY: BRIAN WILSON & TODD GOLD

Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story is an autobiographic memoir written by Brian Wilson with freelancer Todd Gold, published in October 1991 by HarperCollins. Its name derives from the Beach Boys' 1966 single "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Upon release, the book's credibility was challenged, and led to multiple lawsuits. The book was later disowned by Wilson.

In 2016, the book was superseded by I Am Brian Wilson, a new autobiography written with Ben Greenman.

AUTHORSHIP AND LEGITIMACY

The book's legitimacy has been challenged, and its contents has raised questions of plagiarism. Under oath, Wilson stated that he was interviewed for about "thirty-to-forty hours" and that he had only skimmed through a draft of the book before it was published. According to author Peter Ames Carlin, "the stories being related had been lifted nearly word for word from earlier biographies, only with the pronouns changed to reflect Brian's first-person perspective. In other sections the narrative read like depositions for their various court cases, while others ripped the Beach Boys for various personal and professional shortcomings."

Although it glorifies therapist Eugene Landy, he insisted that he had nothing to do with its writing. Despite this, court documents proved that Landy was a close partner in the writing and production process. In the opinion of musicologist Philip Lambert: "The book is plagued by factual misstatements, language and opinions that are implausibly Brian's, and text that defies credulity ... Nonetheless, I don't believe it's advisable to dismiss Wouldn't It Be Nice entirely." He explains that while the book may have been corrupted by motivations in self-interest and legal maneurverings, "it may still provide some nuggets of truth about Brian's day-to-day existence while under Landy's care." He concludes that the biography "can be useful ... if accessed through the proper filters. I don't accept the book's text at face value, but if it's consistent with other sources and rings true, I'm willing to consider it a qualified authority."

In several articles published by Billboard in 1991, writers including David Leaf, Timothy White, and Neal McCabe accused the book of borrowing extensively from earlier writings on Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys from Jules Siegel, Paul Williams, Tom Nolan, and White. Todd Gold has asserted that "any celebrity book relies on extensive culling of magazine articles and past interviews and recycling ... [but] everything was paraphrased to the best of our ability as told through Brian's eyes." Speaking to The Washington Post, Gold also admitted that he used notes prepared by Henry Edwards during interviews for a similar, unfinished book project in 1987. In a 1995 court case, Wilson's lawyers reported evidence which showed that HarperCollins were aware that Wilson's statements in the book were either manipulated or written by Landy.

FILM 1375: REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG

REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG is an intimate and nuanced investigation into the life of one of the most influential and provocative thinkers of the 20th century. Passionate and gracefully outspoken throughout her career, Susan Sontag became one of the most important literary, political and feminist icons of her generation. The documentary explores Sontag's life through archival materials, accounts from friends, family, colleagues, and lovers, as well as her own words, as read by Patricia Clarkson. From her early infatuation with books to her first experience in a gay bar; from her early marriage to her last lover, REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG is a fascinating look at a towering cultural critic and writer whose works on photography, war, illness, and terrorism still resonate today. Written by Question Why Films

FILM 1296: THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON

Daniel Johnston, manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist is revealed in this portrait of madness, creativity and love.

FILM 1172: LIFE ITSELF

A documentary film that recounts the inspiring and entertaining life of world-renowned film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert.

FILM 1156: FACTORY GIRL

TRIVIA: Sienna Miller was cast twice as Edie Sedgwick. She was dropped by the producers because they felt they needed a "bigger name." Miller was eventually re-cast in the role, due in part to massive publicity from her public break-up from fiancée Jude Law.

Bob Dylan threatened to sue the producers for defamation, claiming that the film portrayed him as responsible for Sedgwick's death. Thus, any mention of Dylan was omitted from the script and Hayden Christensen is billed only as "musician."

The scene with Mary Elizabeth Winstead was shot after principal photography had taken place. Her character, Ingrid Superstar, is based on a real girl.

Katie Holmes was originally set to play Edie Sedgwick, but dropped out due to her conflicting religious beliefs with the character's drug-addiction. Holmes also became pregnant right before filming was scheduled to begin.

In the 1980s Warren Beatty was set to direct a film about Edie Sedgwick with Molly Ringwald in the lead role.