Norman Lebrecht’s bold and provocative assessment of the most diverse century of music so far gives readers plenty to think about — even if they don’t always agree with the author’s controversial stances on everything from the merits of rock and jazz to their place in the evolution of music. Written in terms easily understood by the non-musician, The Complete Companion to 20th Century Music explains the compositional techniques and historical backgrounds for the music of the last hundred years, as well as introducing a multitude of composers and artists other compendiums have neglected.

Norman Lebrecht is the author of nine books on music, including The Maestro Myth and The Companion to Twentieth-Century Music. He lives in London with his family.