The Lives of John Lennon [Hardcover]

Albert Goldman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1988

The result of six years of research and some 1,200 interviews, this book takes fans deep into Lennon’s secretive world, from his traumatic childhood to his Beatles days to his hidden life with Yoko Ono. While the Lennon of legend enjoyed a gifted and inspired life, the private Lennon lived in torment, poisoning himself with drugs and self-hatred. The Lives of John Lennon exposed for the first time all of his various lives, from idealist to cynic, from ascetic to junkie. It is a lasting tribute to his brilliant achievements and a revelation of the price he paid for them.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An altogether worthwhile experience for those who admire either the man or his music." —Dayton Daily News

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Albert Goldman wrote the bestsellers Ladies and Gentlemen—Lenny Bruce! and Elvis. He died in 1994.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 719 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; First Edition edition (September 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688047211
• ISBN-13: 978-0688047214
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,341 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lennon, John

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore Yoko's self-serving warnings and give this book a chance., October 11, 2005

By 

C. S. Overfield (Santa Monica) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lives of John Lennon (Paperback)

For many years I refused to read this book because I did not want to blot or tarnish, with content that had been repeatedly described as putrid, hostile, slanderous, character-damaging dreck, my image of John Lennon. After finding a hardcover in mint condition for only five bucks, however, I couldn't resist, and I'm glad I buckled. First off, like me, anyone wanting to read the book probably loves John so much that nothing anyone could ever say about him would really sully or ruin their affection for the man. Secondly, I realized quickly why Yoko Ono had so fervently condemned this book as I reached the second half. Overall, Goldman says nothing horribly negative about John (yes, he's described as neurotic and slightly crazy, but didn't we always know that about John, and wasn't that part of his appeal?) The person Goldman painstakingly describes as evil is Yoko. She comes across as satanic in nature, and while I was initially hesitant to accept this harsh assessment of her, too many other books, such as Pete Shotton's and Tony Bramwell's, paint a similar portrait for Goldman to be completely wrong. For instance, Goldman is the only writer to reveal that no record exists of the phone calls Yoko Ono famously and dramatically claims to have made to Paul and Mimi the night John died. An abundance of facts of this nature are to be found in the book.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend you read it. The experience made me realize that my love for John is impenetrable, and if yours is too, then I recommend you check this book out. Ask yourself, who is the person who has done the most campaigning to destroy this book? The answer is the woman about whom Goldman does a good deal to expose.

(As a final asterisk, I meant to only give this a four star review, but I edited the review so many times that I ultimately hit the wrong button)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tough but Honest Look at John Lennon, June 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lives of John Lennon (Hardcover)

I can understand the anger some of the reviewers have toward this book; I am like them in the sense that I grew up buying and listening to the Beatles' records. So, in a sense, I am disappointed in reading about and finding out just how complex, and yes, how tortured a man John Lennon was.

Is the book bias? Of course! Does that necessarily mean the book is bad? No! From a sheer reading perspective, the book reads very well. I think it is about time some author had the guts to take on Yoko Ono, and show her in the full light and all of her shallowness.

I am only puzzled as to why the author Goldman did not spend more time addressing John Lennon's songs when he was a member of the Beatles. For example, to really show how lazy Lennon had gotten during the making of 'Sgt. Peppers,' Lennon sat around at home and rarely came to the recording studio. Yet even then, as a mark of the man's ability to produce good songs, Lennon was 'inspired' to write the album's "Good Morning" from a television cereal commercial, and "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" from (word-for-word) an advertisement. Yet Goldman fails to even mention this, giving virtually all of the album's credit, except for "A Day In The Life" to Paul.

It would have been a better book had Goldman spent more time on Lennon's song writing, and less time on Lennon's personal failings.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tomcat who lost five of his lives..., September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lives of John Lennon, The (Mass Market Paperback)

I wasn't going to review this book, but I am shocked at the immature and personal reader reviews so far. Why pick on Goldman?

I read this book cover-to-cover in one night several years ago, and it never even occurred to me to hate the author. Whether or not all of the tackier details are true, this is biography of the highest order- we learn who Lennon was in each of his "lives" , in painstaking detail. Writers don't go to that much trouble with a subject they don't like. Goldman not only nails each of Lennon's masks, he gives a spot-on analysis for why he need ed them... and it wasn't just his hypocricy. Far from resembling a tabloid, The Lives of John Lennon is similar to Alice Miller's Thou Shall Not Be Aware in the absolutely subjective view of history through one person's wonderful and horrible life. This book will be enjoyed by ANYONE who is interested in the varieties of human emotion, music business, Jungian psychology and modern history. It will be rejected by anyone who takes criticsm of any kind as an attack.I am not a Beatle's fan ( although my mother was, and I love Primal Scream),but my I feel more, not less, for John Lennon after reading this book. If your image of your loved ones is so fragile that you reject them for being human, well, I refer you to the first chapters of Lennon's life. Oh, and incidentally, Albert Goldman is the only person I have ever heard of who made sense of Lennon's attraction to Yoko.