'BEATLES '66: The Revolutionary Year' by Steve Turner. A music journalist zooms in on the pivotal year of 1966, when "four lovable guys from Liverpool who wore identical suits" recorded "Revolver," started "Sgt. Pepper," and became psychedelic artists who were "more popular than Jesus," in John Lennon's words. It was also the year that John met Yoko Ono. (Ecco, $27.99)
'TELEVISION: A Biography' by David Thomson. The film critic brings his idiosyncratic, essayistic approach to this volume about the small screen. Don't expect a formal history; Thomson instead bobs and weaves his way through shows and themes, from "The Donna Reed Show" and "I Love Lucy" to "Friends" ("as flimsy and essential as tissue paper") and "Breaking Bad" ("like a novel by a master storyteller"). (Thames & Hudson, $34.95)
'BLACK ELK: The Life of An American Visionary' by Joe Jackson. Black Elk fought at Little Bighorn. He performed with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Europe and witnessed the massacre at Wounded Knee. His remembrances were published as "Black Elk Speaks," a classic. Jackson's fascinating biography tells the true story of this American holy man. (FSG, $30)
