I've read most of the books about Dylan out there - this one's the best. Bowden argues that dylan's lyrics cannot be thoughtfully analyzed without also considering the music and the performance - thus the title, "Performed Literature". Bowden's writing is clear, forceful, and engaging. She uses many examples to back up her points. Bowden is an academic, so there is fair amount of jargon thrown in, and part of the book does drag a bit, but all in all, this book is a must read for the serious dylan fan. (by the way, this is not a biography, so don't expect anything of that nature)