Two Brian Wilson Autobiographies?

The late, great Brian Wilson (June 20, 1942-June 11, 2025) released two autobiographies.  

The first, called “Wouldn’t It Be Nice: My Own Story”, was released in October of 1991.

The second, called “I Am Brian Wilson”, was released in October of 2016.

Both are very much worth reading, but both are very different too.

The first one is quite detailed and frankly wild at times.

I believed most of it when I read it, but as it went on, I began to wonder. 

I say this because Brian was still under the care of a Dr. Eugene Landy at the time this book was being written.

Also, this book is controversial because Todd Gold, who “Brian” (I put his name in quotes because Dr. Landy supposedly had a big hand in this book too.) told his story to, supposedly plagiarized other sources of biographical information and Brian even disowned the book at one point.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it if you’re a fan and/or just want to know more about Brian.

I truly believe a lot of it is true, but again, did Brian really tell all of this and was Dr. Landy basically telling it instead?  

You be the judge.

Now, the second book, which Brian told his story to Ben Greenman, is a lot more positive and still tells the story that is in the first book, but nowhere near as much detail.

However, I believe the second book is really coming more from Brian or he just put more of a filter on himself for this book.

Also, though, since this book was released many years later, Brian tells more of his story about what happened after being under Dr. Landy’s care and about his later albums that he made.

In fact, in this book, he bad mouths Dr. Landy quite a bit, which he did not in the first book. 

I think both books are very good and worth reading, but the second book I think gets my vote ultimately as the best one, although the first one has more detail.  But I question some of it.

Either way, check them both out and see what you think.

Rest In Peace Brian Wilson.  A phenomenal talent.