An Independent Best Non-Fiction Book for 2024

Celebrated music critic Ann Powers explores the life and career of the legendary Joni Mitchell
One of the most celebrated artists of her generation, Joni Mitchell has inspired countless musicians and authors, while never stopping still herself.

In Traveling, Ann Powers seeks to understand the paradox of Mitchell – at once both elusive and inviting – through her myriad journeys. Drawing on extensive interviews with Mitchell’s peers and deep archival research, Powers takes readers to rural Canada, charts the course of Mitchell's musical evolution, follows the winding road of Mitchell's collaborations with other greats and explores her loves along the way.

Kaleidoscopic in scope, and intimate in its detail, Travelling is a fresh and fascinating biography, and one that questions whether an artist can ever truly be known to a fan.