PRESS AND QUOTES
«An incredible amount of work went into this book. I am totally enjoying this masterpiece.»
«'Uncommon Sound' is one hellova book, in size, subject and readability. Each segment gives really good insight and understanding of what went on that steered these famous players in their careers. I am especially taken by how many are driven by jazz, but decided to pick other venues as the money maker. I would encourage you all to get this book if you can because, in all likelihood, you would love to have this in your collection. This book really belongs in music libraries and universities. I think it should be in ALL of them.»
«'Uncommon Sound' is beautifully written, presented and conceived and a fascinating insight into why left-handed guitar players are a bit more special... I don't think I've ever read anything about Thunder that puts what we do as well as this. An amazing piece of work.»
«One of the most wonderful books I have ever read.
... The articles are fascinating, and you can spend hours just browsing through one book or the other, jumping from here to there, just enjoying the pictures ... The book is fairly pricey (over $300) but Christmas is coming. Included is a CD featuring 20 of the musicians from the book. At over 900 pages and 2500 pictures, it's the perfect gift for the local southpaw pickers and strummers in your neighborhood. But you don't have to be left-handed to enjoy it. There's such a treasure trove of information and images that anyone with a heart for guitars will be thrilled to find this under the tree. Just don't drop it on your toes! [Excellence in Writing Award-winning review]»
« 
Peerless!
Housed in a sturdy, glossy outer case, the two sumptuous volumes of this guitaraholics' set are packed with reams of info, 2500 photos, some 1500 album sleeves and enough left-handed guitars to fill 150 pages (the equivalent toilet-reading time to learning Stairway To Heaven backwards) ... The mix of legends and overlooked heroes makes for an enlightening and always enjoyable read.»
«A lush book-reading experience. Engel's massive tomes offer an incredible series of portraits of some of popular music's most influential players. Although the focus is left-handed players, this is more a book about personal paths - about musicians breaking new ground, creating new sounds and in some cases changing the course of musical history. As it covers just about every non-classical style, you also get first-hand accounts of the rise of folk-rock, the demise of soul and some of the genuine talents behind the punk explosion. Uncommon Sound is a book to dip into for a clearer idea of what a musician's life really is.»
«I am floored by the enormity of this work. The books are beautifully bound with wonderful photos of all the musicians featured, and I am particularly impressed with the text's attention to detail. Congratulations!»
«This pair of gargantuan tomes, weighing in at 920 pages, present an exhaustive study of the unique contribution of the left-handed guitar player to popular music, across almost every imaginable genre. Interviews of all the major players and coverage of all the rest make this a comprehensive work in the literal sense of the word: elevating it far beyond a mere cataloguing exercise. Yes, that is an extremely hefty price tag for a book - but what a book.»
«Neuroscientists know that right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body. And that means the amazing guitarists that John Engel has assembled show the power of the right side of the brain. These musicians are trailblazers - and Engel tells their stories with skill, verve, and panache. Whether you're left-handed, right-handed, or ambidextrous, you should read this book.»
«As a proud cack-hander, it's always seemed obvious to me that all lefties are creative geniuses. Now John Engel's remarkable book confirms my suspicions. Left-handed guitarists are clearly a special breed apart, although as Sylvia Tyson, one of Engel's many featured musicians, reminds us: 'Any instrument you play, you play with both hands. And what you lack in one hand, you make up in the other.'»
«This book should be subtitled 'not just for lefties'. While it's fascinating to discover how much of our music culture has been shaped by the left hand, each of these profiles, like the musicians themselves, stands on its own merits. Whether you play lefty or righty, you'll enjoy the experience of this book.»
«A must-read for anyone who loves any kind of music. Already by holding their guitar the 'wrong' way, these musicians epitomize the unbridled, non-conformist spirit of popular music. Engel has tapped into probably the broadest range of musicians to ever find themselves in the same book; and their uncommon sound is a tribute to all music makers. Engel's detailed accounts bring us on a series of personal journeys to the very heart of the music that shaped a century.»
«John Engel has written what certainly will be the definitive book on left-handed guitarists. John takes the reader on a surprising tour of the history and impact left-handed players have had. An amazing amount of research combined with a beautiful layout.»
«All the info you could ever need (and more) on left-handed guitar players and guitars from the world’s foremost authority on the lefty.»
«Vast, insightful, beautifully researched, and *fun*! This book is essential reading for all guitarists (righties included!) and their fans»
«Every now and then a person's love and knowledge of a subject combine to produce something that is altogether unique. The word 'unique' pre-empts comparative adjectives and often, as in this case, falls straight into the realm of the superlative»