by David Sheff
First published 2026
Yoko Ono stands at the center of this biography that traces her journey from wealthy Tokyo childhood through wartime hardship to the avant-garde art scenes of London and New York. David Sheff draws on decades of personal connection with his subject, beginning with interviews he conducted with Ono and John Lennon months before Lennon's death in 1980. The book examines how Ono navigated intense public scrutiny while being blamed for breaking up the Beatles, showing instead her independent achievements in art, music, and activism. Sheff reveals nine decades of an extraordinary life, from her early years in pre-war Japan through her emergence as an artist and feminist voice. The author challenges the caricatures and misconceptions that have surrounded Ono, presenting her as more than just Lennon's partner but as a significant figure whose contributions have been overshadowed by misogyny and racism.
Genres: biography, art, 20th-century, gender-studies, feminism, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Japan, London, New York
Period: Pre-War, World War II
Hardcover