The 16 Best Books About Music From the Last Decade

"I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the March up Freedom's Highway" ($43)

Mavis Staples, lead singer of the Staple Singers, is one of the most important musical artists of the civil rights era. From a family of musicians, Staples melded genres, creating music that was a mix of gospel, soul, folk, and rock, and was able to reach beyond race lines. This biography from music journalist Greg Kot tells a version of her story that's never been told before.