This biography investigates the meteoric rise and self-destructive decline of Jim Morrison, the enigmatic lead singer of The Doors. Jerry Hopkins, a seasoned music journalist, utilizes extensive interviews with Morrison's inner circle, bandmates, and family to reconstruct the singer's life. The narrative examines the tension between Morrison's poetic ambitions and his descent into substance abuse, framing his life as a cautionary study of fame and artistic volatility.

This work is widely regarded as the definitive biographical account of Jim Morrison, noted for its candid and unvarnished portrayal of the artist. The text provides a dense, comprehensive look at the internal and external pressures that shaped one of rock music's most complex figures.