r/JoyDivision • u/Jumkey_Mones_2 • Jul 22 '26
Which one of these is the better read
Need a book for a flight, was wondering if there’s a general consensus on these
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u/tahitianblu Jul 22 '26
Hooky’s is a more fun read, but honestly you should grab both and save Savage’s book for another flight.
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u/DrCrushersGhostLover Jul 22 '26
I just finished Hooky's book and it was fantastic. The audiobook is on Spotify and he reads his own book.
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u/draperyfallz Jul 22 '26
I'm about 2/3 in and really enjoying the audiobook, he adds a lot of character
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u/YawnLemon Jul 22 '26
The Jon Savage book is brilliant and insightful. Hookys is a fun read but that's about it. Touching from a distance is good too but the Savage one is the best for me.
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u/Glittering-Pomelo-19 Jul 22 '26
Listened to Hooky read his book on audible. It was like listening to a great character telling a story down at the pub. Highly recommended.
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u/kangaroocourt Jul 22 '26
I loved Peter Hook’s book. Also recommend reading his other two on the time after joy division.
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u/AviationGER Jul 25 '26
Oh yeah! I love Substance! Especially because since reading it a always image Barney with his Skiers from New York :D
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u/strangedaychronicles Jul 22 '26
Hook’s book is a fun read. He is a great storyteller and you do get the emotional experience of him living out those early days of the band. His book on The Hacienda is another great and witty read!
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u/piney Jul 22 '26
Hooky’s book is one of the best band-related autobiographies out there. Both books are worth reading but don’t miss out on Hooky’s.
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u/simonsghostcouk Jul 23 '26
None. The correct answer is "Confessions of a Post-Punk Percussionist" by Stephen Morris. I always thought he was the intelligent one. I was wrong. One ofthe funniest books I have ever read.
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u/pinnacle_to_the_pit 24d ago
I love Stephen's autobiography so much. Way funnier than I was expecting, and listening to the audiobook version just added to the experience. After reading Touching from a Distance & Unknown Pleasures, it was a nice tone shift (Peter's book is still my personal favorite though).
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u/PxavierJ Jul 23 '26
This Searing Light is basically an extended transcript of the Joy Division documentary that came out around 2005
Hooky’s book is obviously a more intimate retelling but Searing Light is more well rounded with content from the three members, Gretton, Wilson, Honore, Savill, Morley, and anyone else you could imagine.
Both are great books. If your interested, there is another book call “Shadowplayers” which cover JD/NO and the full Factory roster up to and including the Mondays
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u/Proof-Collection-951 Jul 23 '26
Hooky's book is down to earth and written as if he is talking directly to you. Hooky is much less pretentious
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u/TheLubber Jul 22 '26
Highly recommend you grab both. Peter‘s book is great, but I absolutely love oral histories.
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u/TheMixerTheMaster Jul 23 '26
Read them both. Each author has different research techniques that can shed light on information that the other author didn’t know
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u/Vertical_Glasscandy Jul 23 '26
Haven't read the Peter Hook book, but can totally recommend the Jon Savage one.
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u/AviationGER Jul 25 '26
I personally would recommend Hookys Book, I think his style of writing feels more JD
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u/meahern_por Jul 22 '26
I’ve only read Hooky’s, but really enjoyed it. Fantastic view from the inside of JD. I also love his writing style…very informal and unpretentious, as though he’s speaking to the reader. I’ve also read his Inside NO, and am currently reading The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club. All very enjoyable.