ON THE RECORD

Shepard, cofounder of Permanent Press, began writing music last year, at age 68, and has fashioned a memoir and CD set with his insights on the world. Without irony, he gives readers an intimate, in-depth look at his own life with some very personal anecdotes involving his friends and experiences. The work stems from an idea many people have toyed with: putting one's thoughts down on paper and hoping they mean something to others. Shepard's highly opinionated commentary on such topics as religion, abortion, war, why people lie, politics, fear, death, education, sex and marriage are thought provoking; even a section on his "serendipitous encounter" with the woman who hatched the idea for him to start a publishing house teaches an important lesson in the unanticipated ways of the world. And while Shepard groups his topics haphazardly, there are nuggets, such as his suggestions for readers to embrace their own contradictions and not to be part of the herd. The accompanying CD offers inspirational songs with lines such as "Your time's too short for fears or sorrow/ Live as though there's no tomorrow/ And serenity will fill your life." The easygoing music offers a striking contrast to Shepard's always passionate and at times fervent commentary. (June)