Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things.

The saxophone is a contradictory instrument that has rooted itself in the soil of pop culture. It’s the “devil’s horn,” it’s the voice of jazz — an extension of the player’s soul — it is a character trait of U.S. Presidents, YouTube sensations, and cartoon characters. It has both enhanced and ruined songs, it is sensuous yet abrasive, and it is the only instrument widely excluded from symphonies and orchestras, never quite being taken seriously. As an object that is symbolic of living on the margins of society, the saxophone has never been kind to its players.

Blending research, cultural criticism, and personal narrative about her saxophonist father, who lived on the margins until his unexpected death, Mollie Hawkins explores more than just the history of this expressive instrument. She illuminates the dark paths that our passions can lead us down. Saxophone turns the lens around to ask us all: what does it mean to devote your life to such an object — even if it kills you? Can music hold such power over us?

With Saxophone, Mollie Hawkins gives us a thorough and compelling history of the instrument and its creator — and those jazz greats who are eternally linked: Parker, Coltrane, Getz — along with the personal story of her late father’s devotion to the saxophone. Hawkins's devotion to her father and his music adds a vibrant and moving dimension to this already extraordinary history. * Jill McCorkle, author of Old Crimes and Hieroglyphics *
Hawkins magically weaves an insightful telling of the saxophone’s zany origin story and its turbulent journey through modern culture and music with the warmth of her personal yet fraught connection to the instrument. The blend of perspectives is as potent and enticing as the object itself. As a saxophonist, I feel enlightened and emboldened in learning of my horn’s resolute resilience in the face of repeated defeats, a steadfast strength that transcends musical genre. A must-read for anyone remotely interested in the saxophone! * Rudresh Mahanthappa, Award-Winning Saxophonist & Director of Jazz, Princeton University, USA *

Mollie Hawkins has written for The Rumpus, Marie Claire, Salon, Bustle, HelloGiggles, PoemMemoirStory (PMS), among other publications. She holds an MFA from Bennington Writing Seminars. Originally from rural Alabama, she now lives in Los Angeles.