Brian Wilson was the visionary behind America's most successful and influential rock band. As the leader of the Beach Boys, he sold 100 million records and built a catalog of songs that continues to define the sound and feel of American popular music. He also became one of the culture's most mysterious and tragic figures--but after spending years lost in a wilderness of despair, Wilson has fought his way back to productivity. Now journalist Carlin, who conducted in-depth interviews with dozens of sources and listened to hundreds of hours of unreleased studio recordings and live music, tells a uniquely American story of the band, the music, and the culture the Beach Boys both sang about and helped create.