3 Books You Must Take on Vacation According to Ignacy. A Heavy Dose of Music, But with a Twist

We are starting a series of book recommendations for holidays and vacations.

I feel a bit strange about starting with my types. Everyone in the editorial office knows I'm more of a "music guy," and I'll be honest, I primarily read musician biographies , which… might not sit well with "normal people."

I tried to choose two "neutral" options, but on the third choice I couldn't resist and went private. But let's go one by one...

Michael Balzary – Acid for the Children

And so we begin with a musical autobiography, but… an unusual one.

The book "Acid for the Children" is advertised with the slogan: "Memoirs of the legendary bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers" , but not all fans of the band will like this book.

Sure, Anthony Kiedis and Hillel Slovak , with whom Flea would later form the famous group, appear here, but let me warn you right away: If you're planning to pick this up, don't expect anecdotes from the creation of hits like "Under the Bridge" and "Californication," the album's chart-topping run, or tales of RHCP's touring antics. You'll find those in Kiedis's "Scar" or Polish music journalist Bartek Koziczyński's "California."

"Acid for the Children" tells the story of Balzary's youth. It's more of a story about a withdrawn boy growing up in a broken home, about growing up in the drug-fueled, music-heavy, and eccentric Los Angeles of the 1970s and '80s, about his first friendships, and his budding love of jazz and rock . Above all, it's an attempt to come to terms with a difficult childhood , written by a talented and well-read artist who, had he not become a rock star, could have definitely become a writer.

"Just because life hit you hard as a child doesn't mean it will always be that way. Let your pain be a source of mercy, deepest love, and understanding. You can do anything. Get through it, don't run, don't hide," Flea writes at the end of "Acid for the Children."

It is worth going through this period of his life with the bassist to better understand what we later felt when listening to the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers .

Zdeněk Svěrák – Stories and Poems

As a father of two quite active boys, when I go on vacation, I know it won't be a time of all-day laziness . There's always something to help with, a hug to give, something to go here, something to see, something to buy... and so on.

Therefore, getting into thick tomes can be difficult. Shorter forms, such as short stories , come to the rescue.

By chance, I recently came across a collection of short stories by Zdenek Svěrák , whom you may remember from his starring role in the cult Czech film "Returnable Bottles." And since I'd been planning to delve into the literature of our neighbors for a long time... I started reading.

Svěrák's stories are characterized by their lightness, a certain bawdiness, and, of course, a thick layer of beer foam. Some will make you laugh, others will move you, but I literally read every single one with a smile on my face.

On the one hand, they seem quite safe and non-binding, but on the other… they definitely leave something in the reader long after reading. Sounds like a good read during the holidays, doesn't it?

Frank Zappa, Peter Occhiogrosso – The Real Frank Zappa

Okay, I couldn't resist. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a Frank Zappa fan. The famous Mustache Man is at the top of my personal ranking of the most important musicians in the world.

A phenomenal composer who effortlessly blends rock , jazz , classical, and avant-garde music , a compelling lyricist who describes America with his trademark sense of humor and sarcasm, and a guitarist whose lengthy solos leave you stunned every time. And if I had to describe him in two words: genius and original.

Is "The Real Frank Zappa" a perfect autobiography? No. It lacks a bit more information about Frank himself and his life (here I refer you to the documentary "Zappa," directed by Alex Winter ), but that's hardly surprising...

"Autobiographies are written by people who believe their lives are truly fantastic. I don't believe my life is fantastic in any sense – however, the opportunity to share my views on certain topics in a book is tempting," the author himself writes in the introduction.

And that's exactly what this book is. A wild ride through Zappa's thoughts and anecdotes on America , music , politics , censorship , church , family , drugs , and much, much more. And because the guy was so smart, he hits the nail on the head repeatedly.

Not familiar with Frank Zappa's work? Perhaps his autobiography will be the perfect introduction. I envy you for hearing this music for the first time!