Glenn Gould proved himself to be not only an extraordinary pianist, but an extraordinary critic as well. His writings, printed mainly in music magazines and on record album covers, were frequently as provocative as his performances: demanding, irresistible, occasionally exasperating, but always the product of a singular artistic vision; this book brings together nearly all of the writings signed by Gould: essays on composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Schoenberg and Strauss, in which he virtually dismantled the principles of taste and opinion that were accepted at the time.
Gould also launched invectives against some concert pianists and competitions, and showed his enthusiasm for recording and the associated technology. We can read his opinions of Leopold Stokowski, Barbra Streisand, Petula Clark, Ernst Krenek, and even some self-interviews.