New a-ha book: “Lesson One - What Listening to a-ha Has Taught Me About Life”

Dear fellow a-ha fans,

Besides producing the “a-ha: Ranking Highs and Lows” podcast, I’ve also written a book about a-ha that came out yesterday!

It’s only available on Amazon, and you can find the relevant links (including Amazon Germany) here: AMAZON

Head over to Ranking Highs and Lows’ Facebook page for more info about the book: http://www.facebook.com/rankingaha

About the book:

It’s a 361 page hardcover book. What it’s about?

Book cover

“ ‘Lesson One: What Listening to a-ha Has Taught Me About Life’ is not a traditional band biography.

Instead, it is a personal, reflective journey through the songs, lyrics, and long career of a-ha – and what they can tell us about friendship, doubt, love, time, fear, decisions, and belonging.

Each chapter takes its starting point in a line from an a-ha song and unfolds into a life lesson, blending close listening, cultural context, humour, nostalgia, and deeply personal reflection. The result is a book about growing up, growing older, and learning to listen – not just to music, but to people around you and life itself – with your favourite band to guide you.

On the journey, we encounter UFOs, questionable fashion choices, trips to concerts, piles of letters, hundreds of a-ha posters and records, a demo tape, and teen music magazines.

Written by a lifelong fan, ‘Lesson One’ explores what it means to stay connected to a band across decades, and how pop songs can become quiet companions through change, loss, and renewal.

This book is for readers who love a-ha, but also for anyone who has ever found meaning, comfort, or clarity in a song.“

I hope you’ll find it interesting!

All the best,

JP from Ranking Highs and Lows

Thanks a lot 😊🙏🏻

I regret that my written German got lost on the way (to quote Morten: “Ich habe mein Deutsch fast ganz vergessen” 🤣).

Yes, it’s Kindle Direct Publishing, so print on demand. Whenever someone places an order, the nearest-by printer prints the book and then ships it to the customer. I have a copy and the quality is really very good 😊

Thanks for the support - and for maintaining this page (and Facebook page) which I gladly visit several times a day!!

Quote from hoermal

Ich habe es mal bestellt und bin gespannt!

Danke sehr!!! 😊🙏🏻

Quote from Janina-ha

Dann kann ich meinen Kindern jetzt einen Geburtswunsch nennen - Mega!

Danke! Herzlichen Glückwunsch - when the day comes 😊

Quote from Angelo

Peter hello, just a question, did the a-ha manager Harald Wiik has participated in or contributed to the creation of this fan book?

No, it’s not that kind of book. I’m drawing on many sources (books, articles, tv interviews, etc), but it wouldn’t make sense to ask someone like Harald to participate.

You can hear more about the book in the Ranking Highs and Lows podcast which will explain why I haven’t asked anyone for input. But the short answer is: it’s not that kind of book. As you say, it’s a fan book.

I’ve told Pål about the book after it was written and sent him a copy - he’s been very positive - but he also hasn’t been asked for input. The book is about my experiences of growing up with a-ha and their music. That has nothing to do with Harald 😊

I of course want to make him aware that I’ve written a book about a-ha, and this is one way of doing it.

Thank you 😊