Ideal for Living: An History of Joy Division

By Mark Johnson

Book Overview

This book is the story of Joy Division from their earliest beginnings as Stiff Kittens/Warsaw in 1976 and 1977 through New Order's 1983 record releases. It was written by Mark Johnson with additional... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0711910650
• ISBN13: 9780711910652
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Omnibus Press
• Length: 125 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.

Customer Reviews

My FIRST Joy Division book, and still THE BEST!!!

This book is of its time, and as such, it is an excellent read, with superb b & w pictures. New Order were still a very new band, yet Joy Division were already a legendary band when this book was written. My favorite parts of the book are the essays that are about Joy Division directly and/or allude to the band. I believe "An Ideal For Living" is the best book on Joy Division. It was the first JD book I ever bought, and it still holds up well. The choice of photos and the layout of the book really suit Joy Division/early New Order's visual ethic, as well. It gets to the point: the music, artwork,and gigs, while leaving out most of the sensationalism which still surrounds Ian Curtis' suicide. However, the book does somehow capture the mystery and tragedy of Ian Curtis.

excellent

This book, if you can find it, is really a must have for the true JD fan. There is quite alot more than just lists of Joy Division concerts and photo. There are some excellent anecdotes and insights from the band members and from thier friends and family, as well as some very well-written and captivating essays by the author. The book is best when the difficult transitions of Joy Division into New Order are shown. When someone asked Peter and Barney before an early New Order show "Where's your singer?" to which they replied "Oh, he's hanging around in the kitchen"

great work of reconstructing a past, day-by-day.

It describes incredibly detailed the birth and the growing up of this great band, a few years almost day-by-day (not to mention the very nice pitures).