First published 2008
Philip Norman, who wrote the acclaimed Beatles biography Shout!, turns his attention to the band's most complex member. Norman spent three years researching John Lennon's life, conducting interviews with Paul McCartney, George Martin, Sean Lennon, and Yoko Ono. The author uncovers new details about familiar stories: Lennon's childhood with Aunt Mimi, his school years, his creative partnership with McCartney, and his relationship with Yoko Ono that helped end the Beatles. Norman examines Lennon's ventures beyond music, including his art and writing, plus his involvement with meditation, therapy, and drugs. Sean Lennon provides personal memories of his father, while Yoko Ono speaks candidly about their marriage. The biography presents Lennon without romanticizing him, showing a man who was both tough and vulnerable, funny yet insecure. Norman traces how Lennon's abandonment by his mother as a child affected his personality and influenced his songs throughout his career.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, non-fiction, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biography, celebrity, famous-person
Period: 20th-century
851 pages · Hardcover · Ecco