An interesting look into the songs that defined a decade written by a podcaster/music writer that hits pretty much every genre of music? Sign me up. While the writing style is a bit distracted/all over the place it worked for me. Probably because the '90s were a bit distracted and all over the place. However, I enjoyed the book and while I recognized most of the songs & artists there were a few that I missed out on and I'm looking forward to listening to them. If you're interested in '90s music, this is a good overall read.

60 Songs That Explain the '90s is a fun compilation of songs epitomizing the '90s. It details songs from Tupac, Missy, Santana, Britney and more that formed the culture of the '90s.

Loved revisiting the music of my youth; enjoyed Harvilla's funny anecdotes and one-liners; did not enjoy the audiobook narration (the way of talking was beyond distracting). There was definitely more than 60 songs included here, but I could've kept reading about at least 60 more.

60 Songs that Explain the 90's is a terrific companion to the podcast (60? 90?, 120? as Harvilla himself would say, "don't worry about it"), or for those looking for a little 90s nostalgia.

*60 Songs That Explain the '90s* by Rob Harvilla is a nostalgic, insightful, and entertaining deep dive into the music that defined a decade. Harvilla’s witty and engaging writing brings both the songs and cultural moments to life with humor and heart. It's a must-read for music lovers and anyone fascinated by the '90s.

An enjoyable read in bite-sized chunks. Rob Harvilla offers funny and insightful commentary on the most notable songs of the '90s.

I just loved this book. It was very informative and took me back to my childhood. I plan on giving this book as a gift in the future. 5 stars.

This book I thought had more potential. It was just a guy going on and on about singers and songs from the 90s and I felt that anyone could have wrote this book. It didn't have much storyline to it in my opinion.

I really loved this. There was a variety and the music and the way Rob managed to connect everything to a personal experience was great.

I was unfamiliar with Rob Harvilla and his podcast prior to reading 60 Songs That Explain the '90s. Written in a casual style, it is the author's personal reflection on the songs and music that defined the decade.

Having grown up during the '90s, I was very familiar with the songs that the author discussed. Music tastes vary and my ideas of what songs explain the '90s are different compared to Harvilla. Reading the book, however, provided an interesting opportunity to travel back in time with the author. It allowed me to reflect on how music shaped both me and my generation.

Kind thanks to NetGalley and Twelve Books for an advanced reading copy of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s.

Entertaining read, and reads a lot like the podcast (though with paragraphs standing in for full episodes, so naturally abbreviated), so if you like the latter you’ll enjoy the book. Harvilla’s personality and pop culture sensibilities shine through in typical Ringer-esque fashion. In terms of tracking actual momentousness or impact of the songs (or justifying those selected versus those not), very little to none is provided. The subjectivity is fine though, and even poked fun of at times by Harvilla, as this is just a fun read and not even an attempt at serious cataloguing of 90’s music. If you’re looking for the latter, you’ll likely have to write it yourself.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time watching MTV as a teen, so this was a cozy nostalgic trip down memory lane. There were a few bands I hadn't heard of mentioned, but for the most part, this was an interesting look back at a decade of music that went through so many changes it could have filled several volumes. There was a lot of behind the scenes information that I hadn't known about feuds, personality clashes etc. Reading this book sparked a lot of conversations about music between me and friends, which was really great. I also thought it was great that the author put in his own memories and experiences.

I ended up listening to the audiobook of this title through the local library. I quite enjoyed the book overall. There were stories that I did not know prior to listen in the book. I had listened to a few of the podcast episodes I ahead of time, so some of the information was repeat, but I did enjoy the shorter versions of the stories and was happy to listen again. The author has a very entertaining writing style that kept me engaged. I am a music nerd, the stories and the humor were a good use of my time. I will recommend to others that like this kind of thing. Now I’m off to check out other episodes of the podcast, so I can continue reminiscing about music of the 90s.

If you like the podcast you’ll probably like this book. I had never heard about the podcast before starting this book & I probably won’t check it out. It felt very stream of consciousness, info dump to me & I just wasn’t feeling it.

The '90s was a defining decade for music, and Rob Harvilla's "60 Songs That Explain the '90s" captures the essence of that era with wit and insight. As a music critic for The Ringer, Harvilla dives into the stories behind the songs that shaped a generation, blending analysis with entertaining anecdotes that resonate with anyone who's ever belted out these tunes. His humorous approach not only reflects on the cultural impact of these hits but also on the personal connections we all share with music. It's a nostalgic journey that not only educates but also entertains, reminding us why these songs have become timeless classics.

60 Songs That Explain the 90's by Rob Harvilla is a fantastic read for anyone who loves 90s music. Harvilla's selection of songs captures the essence of the decade, and his insights make for an enjoyable trip down memory lane. As someone proud to see my daughters share my passion for 90s tunes, I appreciate Harvilla's exploration of the era's cultural significance. Kudos to him for a great read!

I guess I thought this was different. I thought it would be more about the songs as they related to pop culture rather than some dude just rambling.

For me the 90s were pivotal years of curiosity and personal growth. I was 4 when the 90s started.

I will say, I loved this book, and I think it’s because it is a more conversational tone, and less analytical and scientific. So those that don’t like Podcasts, likely won’t like this.

There were songs on the list that were unapologetically 90s, and it made me so happy to hear other’s take on such strongly loved songs.

The playlists at the beginning of each chapter does help you jog your memory, and prepares you for the love/hate relationship of pop culture vs. Underground artists.

Even though I was a literal infant/toddler in the late 90’s, there’s absolutely nothing I love and relate to more than 90’s music.

Growing up, I just always felt more connected to 90s music more than today’s music, and the hours upon hours of listening to these artists mentioned in this book really formulated my teenage years. This book just felt like a trip down memory lane and felt incredibly nostalgic, and I really genuinely enjoyed it. I loved how the author would include his own personal memories while hearing these songs for the first time, as well as giving fun little facts about each one. Overall, this was definitely a really enjoyable experience, and let’s just say my 90’s playlist has never sounded better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I had reasonably high hopes for this book - as an elder millennial, this music is totally the music of my youth. Reality, though, did not even come close to meeting my expectations. The book was actually painful to get through. I felt like I was listening to someone jacked up on Surge telling me all of thoughts on music in one night. I couldn't follow the writing and I couldn't, for the life of me, find the point that the author was trying to make. Lots of good songs - but this isn't a playlist, so good song selection alone doesn't win the day.