You can almost fill an entire library with books written on Frank Sinatra. It has been 20 years since the legend’s death and the world is still fascinated with the man named Frank. Here are some books that share images, stories and intimate details of Sinatra’s life from his youth all the way to his final days for those who love him and those who are just discovering him.
Some are composed of interviews of those who knew Sinatra best, including his family and friends while others are reflections on his monumental impact on the music, movie and fashion industry.
No matter which cover you crack open on the blue-eyed crooner, in the end, he did it his way.
The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin’
By Bill Zehme
This best-selling homage to Frank Sinatra, The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin’ by Bill Zehme is a beautifully bound collection of intimate details of the crooner’s life. From heart and heartbreak, friendship and leadership and drinking and cavorting, the book includes rare interviews with Sinatra himself as well as many other close comrades such as Tony Bennett, Don Rickles, Tony Curtis, and Robert Wagner, in addition to daughters Nancy and Tina Sinatra.
Available for $16.80 on Amazon.
His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra
By Kitty Kelley
The number one New York Times best-seller, His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra is an eye opener to the legend and man himself as it exposes the “well-hidden side of one of the most celebrated—and elusive—public figures of our time.” Journalist and author Kitty Kelley spent years interviewing hundreds of people in Sinatra’s life and researched government documents including Mafia-related material. The result is a shocking exposé of a man “as tortured as he was talented,” who ruled the entertainment industry for 50 years and continues to inspire today.
Available for $10.42 at Barnes & Noble.
Frank: The Voice
By James Kaplan
A biography that reads like a novel, James Kaplan’s Frank: The Voice details what the world already knows: that Sinatra was the best-known entertainer of the 20th century. In his book, Kaplan provides a deeper insight into the tumultuous life and complex psyche of the man behind the microphone. From his humble Hoboken beginning to his downtrodden fall from grace all the way up to his Oscar-winning film return, this book enlightens the reader as to what it was really like to be “Frank Sinatra: the man, musician and tortured genius.”
Available for $18.12 at Barnes & Noble.
Frank Sinatra (A Life in Pictures)
By Yann-Brice Dherbier
The Voice, as he was known, was as much a style icon as he was a musical artist and performer. Perhaps more than a biography of words can describe Sinatra’s greatness is a book of photographs. Frank Sinatra (A Life in Pictures) illustrates the crooner’s life from his early days in Hoboken to his rise to stardom and everything in between. This collection of rare and intimate photos recalls Sinatra’s incredible journey as a singer, actor, a father and a member of the Rat Pack.
Available for $28.98 on Amazon.
Frank Sinatra: My Father
By Nancy Sinatra
Simply a book about a daughter’s love for her father, Nancy Sinatra offers a personal look at Frank Sinatra. She shares stories of the popular American singer and actor, describes his personality and depicts the memories of his friends and colleagues.
Available for $45 on Amazon.
Check out more from LIW‘s Frank Sinatra theme issue:
- Sinatra Songbook Lives On
- Dishing On Frank Sinatra’s Connection To Patsy’s Italian Restaurant
- Sinatra’s Turn At The Movies
- That’s Life: 20 Facts About Frank Sinatra You Didn’t Know
- My Kind Of Book: The Best Stories On Frank Sinatra
- Rat Pack Fashion
- Crooner’s Classic Dozen: Top 12 Frank Sinatra Albums
