Piazza has written a different kind of reflection on Prine's life and legacy, weaving elements of biography, travelogue and music criticism with the grief of a bereft friend, in this slim hybrid volume.--Colin Dwyer "NPR"

[Living in the Present with John Prine] is the kind of biography where the biographer tacitly acknowledges the impossibility of ever fully knowing and describing their subject and, instead, works to make select moments so vivid that they illuminate the rest of the subject's life.... [The] great achievement of Living in the Present is that it makes you, the reader, feel as though you also kind of knew John Prine, and, wow, wasn't that a lucky thing!--David Starkey "California Review of Books"

Piazza paints a vivid portrait of Prine and his passion for living in the moment and capturing that desire to be always present in the words of his songs...and it provides a glimpse into Prine's unflappable joy, his impish sense of humor, and his deep-seated pathos for his fellow humans.--Henry Carrigan "No Depression: Roots Music & Culture Journalism"

For all of us who love and dearly miss John Prine, what a gift it is to be able to be with him again, both through his own words and in Tom Piazza's wonderful recounting of their adventures forging their deep, late-life friendship. Tom is such an insightful, eloquent writer and many thanks to him for giving us another round with our dear friend.--Bonnie Raitt

There will never be a memoir by the great John Prine.... Living in the Present with John Prine.... is the next best thing.... For anyone who has looked up at the stage and wondered whether Prine--cowboy boot tapping, smile askew--was having as much fun as he seemed to be, Living in the Present with John Prine offers an opportunity to catch a few more moments of that sublime joy.--BookPage, starred review

Piazza is a wonderful writer and a great humanist, the ideal combination for writing about one of music's sublime observers of the human condition.... [Living in the Present with John Prine] is an absolute gem, a lovely homage to friendship and grief and a potent reminder of what the musical community and the world lost.--Booklist, starred review

Tom Piazza's poignant book about the late singer-songwriter John Prine is full of colorful anecdotes about the time the two spent together...Appreciative of each treasured moment, it is profound in its simplicity, mirroring Prine's work in its depiction of the man's own resilience and frailty and his delight in living. What a joy to go along for the ride. The last page came all too soon.-- "Chapter 16"

Revelatory...and heartbreaking.--Jonathan Bernstein "Rolling Stone"

A quietly radiant story about the saving grace of fellowship, family, and art.--Will Hermes, author of Lou Reed: The King of New York

Much has been written in recent years about the death of quality friendships among adult men. Living in the Present with John Prine delivers the antidote. Written in an intimate, conversational tone, it lovingly captures how these two men of a certain age bonded over their shared interests in music, history, and storytelling.... [The] book stays true to the title. Its focus is on John Prine living his best life in the present, singing songs and telling stories until the end.--Suzanne Van Atten "Atlanta Journal-Constitution"

[An] album of postcard memories might be the best way to describe Living in the Present with John Prine.... [It] is hard to imagine another work that Prine fans (and his many admiring peers) will appreciate more than this one. Appreciative of each treasured moment, it is profound in its simplicity, mirroring Prine's work in its depiction of the man's own resilience and frailty and his delight in living.--Eve Hutcherson "Commercial Appeal"

Prine give us the man in his own words and charm us with the same unassuming, friendly manner that audiences found in his live performances.--Barbara Sims "New Orleans Advocate"

Living in the Present with John Prine is a deeply intimate, moving, superbly written account of the last two years of a great artist's life. It covers a narrow window of time in John's life, but a huge expanse of feeling and memory. I loved being with John and Tom Piazza, sitting in the back seat of that cherry-red Coupe de Ville as they careened across a Florida bridge, or curled up in a dark corner of Sperry's restaurant in Nashville, telling stories.--Rosanne Cash

Piazza balances the joy of being present with John Prine with the absence that came after his death. Though there's a heaviness of loss underpinning even the funniest stories in the book...Piazza doesn't dwell too much on the heavy. There's strong sense of delight running through the whole narrative.--Amanda Haggard "Nashville Scene"

A personal profile of a beloved singer-songwriter.... [The] artist's good humor and low-key grace shine through on every page. A heartfelt blend of first-person journalism, oral history, travelogue, and elegy.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

[A] dazzling tribute.... Prine's fans will be over the moon.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Pub date: 2026-10-06

Length: 208 pages