This remarkable collection includes:

- Foreword by Tom Robbins.
- Introduction and notes by editor Frank Lisciandro that provide insight to the work.
- Prologue by Anne Morrison Chewning, Jim's sister.
- Published and unpublished work and a vast selection of notebook writings.
- The transcript, the only photographs in existence and production notes of Morrison's last poetry recording on his twenty-seventh birthday.
- The Paris Notebook, possibly his final journal, reproduced at full reading size.
- Excerpts from notebooks kept during his 1970 Miami trial.
- The shooting script and gorgeous color stills from the never-released film HWY.
- Complete published and unpublished song lyrics, accompanied by numerous drafts in Morrison's hand.
- Epilogue: 'As I Look Back', a compelling autobiography in poem form.
- Family photographs and images of Morrison during his years as a performer.

I received this book recently as a birthday gift and, as an old-school Doors fan, especially of Jim himself, I found this to be an interesting insight into the words and mind of one of the greatest rock poets of the last century.

Part of the magic in this book, to me, is seeing the hand-written pages, the crossed-out words, what's underlined, even the doodles. It gives you a glimpse into the inspiration and imagination that made Jim the person he was.

His journals, in his own writing. All of his available poetry. His screenplay for an unreleased film. Childhood photographs never seen before. A deep look into a soul whose capabilities we can never truly know, because it was taken from us far too soon. Like these observations, the book is rather fragmented due to the scrapbook nature of all the collected pieces of writing, but then Jim's short life always seemed to be fragmented too, so it fits.

Even though it's fragmented, because he never had a chance to flesh out the "Plan for Book" that he wrote out, fans of his writing will see plenty here that they've never seen in print before.

Also, his friend and co-conspirator, Frank Lisciandro, and Jim's sister Anne, have contributed to this volume, which is respectful and mature, a far cry from the image of the sloppy-drunk "Lizard King" portrayed in 'The Doors' movie and in popular culture.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1969, Jim was asked, "Do you see yourself going more toward print?" He answered, "That's my greatest hope. That’s always been my dream." It's a shame it took this long to put together a definitive version of his work but, as the most complete collection of his writing, pictures and lyrics that is available to date, this book is an absolute MUST for any fan of Jim Morrison. I think he would have been ecstatic to have seen it come to fruition.

Note: I noticed in some reviews, purchasers were upset because they thought the book would also include a CD with Jim's final poetry recording, done at the Village Recorder in West Los Angeles on his twenty-seventh birthday, December 8, 1970. If you're purchasing the hardback or Kindle editions, this appears in transcript only. To hear the actual final poetry recording, you need to purchase the Audio CD or Audiobook editions. The audiobook also includes performances by Patti Smith, Oliver Ray, Liz Phair, Tom Robbins and others, reading Morrison's work. ~~ Dee Astell