The current student generation has never witnessed Leonard Bernstein’s creative genius and masterful interpretations firsthand, but this tribute could stir many to seek out CDs, DVDs, and the Internet to hear and watch a master in action.

As the title indicates, this is not a comprehensive biography; it focuses on Bernstein’s Philharmonic years, his most productive. An introduction by Haws and a foreword by Burton Bernstein are followed by a succession of chapters, each written by a different author. These essayists, ranging from a music critic to an American historian, both reveal and explore a plethora of topics, including life in New York City during these years, Bernstein’s music, his use of the relatively new medium of television to entertain and instruct, and his social activism.

“A Brother’s Recollection” follows, and it is this fusion of the professional and personal that makes this work stand out among other Bernstein biographies. It is also a visual treasure trove, chock-full of black-and-white photographs testifying to Bernstein’s intensity, his devotion to his work, his joie de vivre, and his belief that the universality of music could make the world a better place. Those already familiar with Bernstein may discover an unknown aspect of his career or personality in this work. Others will be introduced to an innovative change agent, an indefatigable music advocate, and a true American Master, all personified in this “modern Renaissance man.”