Turning Music Rights Into a Bob Dylan Biopic

In 'All the Shah's Men,' Stephen Kinzer provides a detailed and engaging narrative of the CIA's Operation Ajax, the covert operation that deposed Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953. The book explores the historical context, including the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company by Mossadegh, the British and American interests involved, and the role of key figures such as Kermit Roosevelt and the Dulles brothers. Kinzer argues that this coup had significant and unintended consequences, including the rise of Muslim fundamentalism, anti-American sentiment in the Middle East, and ultimately, the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The book is a critical examination of American foreign policy and its impact on global events, drawing connections between the 1953 coup and contemporary issues in the Middle East.

In this book, David Yaffe examines Bob Dylan from four distinct perspectives: his ironic and derisive voice, his mythic film image, his African-American sensibility, and his appropriation of others’ material in the folk-music tradition. Yaffe delves into Dylan's shape-shifting career, highlighting his ability to reinvent himself and his music over the years, and explores his significant contributions to the civil rights movement and American culture.

In 'Dylan Goes Electric! ', Elijah Wald delves into the cultural, political, and historical context of Bob Dylan's seminal performance at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965. The book provides new insights into Dylan’s artistic evolution, his affinity to blues, his complex relationship with the folk establishment and his mentor Pete Seeger, and how he reshaped popular music. Wald breaks down the myth surrounding this event, focusing on the social, cultural, and political changes of the 1960s and how Dylan's decision marked a significant shift from folk to rock music, making it a defining moment of the era.