Grapefruit: A Book of Instructions and Drawings by Yoko Ono [Hardcover]

Yoko Ono (Author), John Lennon (Introduction)

Book Description

Release date: October 10, 2000

Back in print for the first time in nearly thirty years, here is Yoko Ono's whimsical, delightful, subversive, startling book of instructions for art and for life.

"Burn this book after you've read it." -- Yoko

"A dream you dream alone may be a dream, but a dream two people dream together is a reality."

"This is the greatest book I've ever burned." -- John

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Best known as singer-songwriter for the legendary Beatles, John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England. In 1969, Lennon married Yoko Ono and the two formed the Plastic Ono Band. Lennon was killed by a deranged fan outside his apartment building in New York on December 8, 1980.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743201108
• ISBN-13: 978-0743201100
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 5.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Reggae
  • #5 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Pop Culture > Beatles

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book by a misunderstood artist May 5, 2003

By matthewslaughter

Format:Hardcover

Since 1968, Yokophobia has prevented people from perceiving reality correctly. Yokophobia was brought on largely because John Lennon was "supposed" to marry a white woman, oh, and, another thing, because the Beatles broke up. Since she has been blamed for this, shattering the delusion that a rock band should last forever (look at the Rolling Stones now for goodness sake!), people have been unusually mean-spirited in their assessment of her work. I can understand why people shy away from her more avant-garde musical output, often consisting of ear-shattering screams (I am one of those sickos that just happens to love it!). But "Grapefruit," one of the most widely distributed pieces of Fluxus-connected/inspired "performance art," is simply irresistible. (Remember, Yoko had a career as an avant-garde artist before she met John Lennon--they met at one of her art exhibits in 1967.) It is serious, excruciatingly humorous and regularly induces smiles--all while simultaneously encouraging its readers to think abstractly, artistically, creatively and irreverently. "Grapefruit" is a breath of fresh sky-blue air from the woman who once asked (on the b-side of John Lennon's "Instant Karma") "Who Has Seen the Wind?"

"Grapefruit" is filled, for the most part, with short, koan-like "pieces" such as "Wall Piece for Orchestra." Yoko directs the piece as follows: "Hit a wall with your head." In "Overtone Piece," Yoko writes, "Make music only with overtones." In the painting pieces section, she instructs her reader, in "Painting for the Wind," to "Make a hole. / Leave it in the wind...." In the "events" section, probably the closest here to her performance art, she evokes a giggly pun on "peace" (or maybe "pee") in "Pea Piece," writing, "Carry a bag of peas. / Leave a pea wherever you go." If you find this type of humor and "artistic direction" a waste of time, which many undoubtedly will, then avoid this like the plague. But if you, like me, find this darkly humorous, refreshingly perverse and instructive as to how to live life seriously without taking it too seriously, then "Grapefruit" should find a place on your bookshelf, or, better yet, on your nightstand. Read more ›

29 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Master Piece April 19, 2002

By Junglies VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I bought this book in England in 1970 when it was released with the charming cover of a grapefruit atop a female posterior.

I loved the book and kept it rather than follow Yoko's instructions to burn it afterward.

Yesterday I read it again. It is funny how one's perceptions change over thirty years for better or for worse.

My conclusion is that this book is a Master Piece.

Sorry Yoko!

Please experience this book. SERIOUSLY!

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Viva Yoko! October 31, 2000

By Jonathan Lyness

Format:Hardcover

We are lucky indeed that this book is back in print. I chanced upon an early printing at a used book store years back, and have enjoyed it ever since. Grapefruit is full of Ono's conceptual "paintings", which take the form of instructional poems...they are sometimes insightful, sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes wickedly funny and poignant at the same time ("Hide and Go Seek Piece: Hide until everyone forgets about you. Hide until everyone dies.") Throughout the poems she displays brilliant imagination and a unique appreciation of life. This book is truly original...as you can see from the reviews below, it's not for everybody...but I think anyone with an open mind and a passion for creativity will love it.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Yoko will help you make your life fun! May 10, 2001

By Anonymous

Format:Hardcover

Follow Yoko's instructions, and free yourself from your common-sensed, conventional, routined way of thinking! Yoko will guide you how to break out of your shell and have fun! You can read this book as poetry, or you can use these hints to trigger your creative mind, or you can use it as a self-help book. For example, whenever there are days when you're bored or stressed out, you can declare yourself, "Today is gonna be a Yoko Ono day", and you can pick a page out of this book, and just do it. Reading these unusual instructions is one way to enjoy this book, but actually DOING them is what makes it even more liberating! If you're a wanna-be artist, this is a must read, because it shows you how a TRUE ARTIST thinks. I think this is how Yoko's art ideas originated. She's turned some of these ideas into her performing arts later on, such as the famous nail thing.

I'm surprised that some folks down there have written negative reviews about this book, because I think it's a charming little book that everyone will enjoy. I guess such folks were expecting something along the line with the Beatles' taste or something. Or maybe they didn't "get it", such as taking some of her humor seriously and being bothered by it---which is exactly her point, because true art is about challenging the conventional. You should know that Yoko's creativity has always been completely individual from the Beatles, sometimes way over ordinary people's heads. In short, she's a GENIUS!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime August 21, 2008

By James R. Francis

Format:Hardcover

What can be said? On the surface, it's obviously the most pretentious twaddle ever hard-bound--- the constant little descriptions of strangely mute actions that she calls "pieces", each just a couplet long or so, can grate. Why not actually write a real piece of music, or make a painting, you might begin to ask. Well, look closer. Really close. And listen, too. Hear that rustling? That's wit, dry and crisp as bamboo matting under your bare feet. As she guides you through the tiny, many mansions of this curious paper house, familiar incense wafts, a subtle, fragrant empathy for humanity: we who are so frail, so ephemeral, so filled with dreams that long to burst forth like a cache of fireworks. No wonder John loved her.

(I freely admit that, as a fan of her music, I am somewhat biased. I was also lucky enough to experience an entire museum full of her films, sculpture, and other art, in Houston, in 2001.)