MTV Uncensored

You'll remember it all in living color if you read the sassy, flashy MTV Uncensored, the network's 20th-birthday present to its fans (and itself). More stars than there are beds in rehab offer their irreverent reminiscences, and sumptuous images by the greats of pop-culture photography jostle with spontaneous onscreen and backstage shots grabbed from video history while it was happening. I wish there were captions for the kazillion images, even if it had to be an index in tiny type at the back. But if you're hip, you'll recognize at least 99 percent of the faces. I also wish there was a longish introductory essay or a through line of historical narrative in addition to the profusion of punchy quotes and "20 Questions for 20 Years" celeb insta-interviews. But that wouldn't be very rock & roll, would it? One old-timer interviewed in the book says that working at MTV is "the most fun you can have with your clothes on." MTV Uncensored is the most fun you can have with your TV off. --Tim Appelo