David Leaf

David Leaf is an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose most recent books are "SMiLE: The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of Brian Wilson" and "God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth."   He has written, produced, and directed such award-winning documentaries as The Night James Brown Saved Boston, The U.S. vs. John Lennon,  Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson, the Story of SMiLE, and To Tell The Truth.    Since 2010, he has been an adjunct professor at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, teaching courses on music documentary, legendary songwriters, and the Beatles. 

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Awards: Peabody and WGAW award-winning writer.

Joy, Fame and a Little Rock ’n’ Roll

Join authors Tiffany Moon, Bruce Handy and David Leaf as they dive into the many ways we chase joy--through small daily rituals, the wild world of teen fame or the music that shaped a generation.

Integrated Learning Center Room 150 (Seats 155, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  

Panelists: Bruce Handy, David Leaf, Tiffany Moon
Moderator: Simmons Buntin
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Hughes Federal Credit Union, Kimberly Peters and Bruce Peters, Betsy and Michael Boxer

American Icons

Hollywood icons, change-making cinema, music innovators are not quickly forgotten. In this session, authors Kirk Ellis, David Leaf and Todd S. Purdum will discuss how icons stay with us and continue to make an impact.

UA Campus Store Stage (Seats 250)  
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
History / Biography
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  

Panelists: Kirk Ellis, David Leaf, Todd Purdum
Moderator: Jeff Yanc
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity - Arizona Alpha Chapter, UA Campus Store, Ellen Bodow

Beach Boys' Lost Album, Legendary Sound

Join author and Beach Boys historian, collaborator and eyewitness David Leaf as he takes us inside Brian Wilson’s SMiLE, one of rock and roll's most famous lost albums. We'll celebrate the myth, the music, and the joyful comeback.

Student Union Sabino (Seats 87)  
Sun, Mar 15, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Multigenre
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelist: David Leaf
Moderator: David Silver
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Joan and Adrian Van Loozenoord

The Fight to be Understood

Join bestselling authors, David Gelles, David Leaf and Jeff Pearlman. All three of their books examine flawed, complex individuals facing judgment -- public, personal or internal -- and the journey toward redemption or reinvention.

Koffler Room 218 (Seats 142, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: David Gelles, David Leaf, Jeff Pearlman
Moderator: Samuel Cohon
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Judith Marro, Jody Williams

Books:

SMiLE

The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Omnibus Press
April 2025
ISBN 9781915841315
352 pages
Buy now

God Only Knows

The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the California Myth
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Omnibus Press
May 2025
ISBN 9781915841414
496 pages
Buy now