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Rock star biographies don't usually require the reader to brush up on their knowledge of the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, but Katherine Monk's book is subtitled "The Creative Odyssey of Joni MItchell" and the author is serious about finding the source and inspiration behind the iconic folk singer's creative drive. The result is a very thoughtful and very insightful book that takes the time to muse about the creative process and the internal conflicts it, by necessity, spawns. Yes, there is plenty about Mitchell's many past lovers but equal time is given to how all these liaisons and relationships continued to shape and propel Mitchell forward on her eternal quest for creative freedom and evolution. Mitchell was a tough cookie who retained total control over her output, even to her album covers which frequently featured her own artwork. She was an original whose path crossed some of the highest profile singer/songwriters of her time. Today's "star maker machinery" would likely not tolerate an original like Joni Mitchell.