Formation: Building a Personal Canon, Part One is an autobiographical book by Brad Mehldau.

[1] After building a reputation as a jazz improviser, he expanded into other areas such as classical, folk and electronic music.

[2] He recounted that much of the material for the book had been on a computer for at least 15 years, but that he took a long time to identify and form a story based on it.

[3][5][7] Ted Panken, writing in Down Beat, described Mehldau's book as: "an unflinching account of his turbulent first quarter-century, recounting and intersectionally contextualizing, in searing, transparent detail, the circumstances that framed the establishment of the musical relationships and tonal personality that he has elaborated and refined ever since".

[5] The Wall Street Journal reviewer concluded: "Readers of this poignant memoir will discover what Brad Mehldau learned to see during the long course of his formation.