Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon [Paperback]

Robert Rosen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

Shortly after John Lennon’s murder in 1980, Robert Rosen was given access to Lennon’s personal journals chronicling the reclusive last five years of his life. Haunted by the journals, Rosen interviewed key figures from Lennon’s final years, visited the important locations from his life story, and pieced together the historical record to interpret his personal reflections from the Dakota years. The portrait that emerges is a life in turmoil, as Lennon vacillates between fame and reclusiveness, indulgence and asceticism. Each chapter offers a glimpse into different aspects of Lennon’s life, including parenthood, drug use, his relationship with Yoko Ono, and esoteric and religious explorations. “Entertainingly salacious.” — Booklist “Nowhere Man is a gripping read that no Lennon fan will be able to resist.” — The Times (London)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his introductory first chapter, Rosen says, "This book, Nowhere Man, exists because in May 1981 my friend gave me John Lennon's journals." He describes the all-consuming task of transcribing the diaries, but then distances the book itself from them by saying, "This book is a work of both investigative journalism and imagination." Rosen's admission should make anyone hoping it will be an authoritative account of John Lennon's "house husband" period in the late 1970s suspicious. Rosen tries to shatter the popular image of Lennon as a devoted father and house husband, but the worst he can dish out is that Lennon was an unhappy eccentric who spoiled his son, got angry at his servants, binged on junk food, and liked spending money, getting stoned, and masturbating. In other words, Lennon was human. The same story has already been told in Albert Goldman's The Lives of John Lennon (1988. o.p.) and in Fred Seaman's The Last Days of John Lennon (LJ 11/1/91). A more positive, if superficial, account of Lennon's retirement years can be found in Ray Coleman's Lennon (LJ 6/1/85). Not recommended. [The publisher asserts that "contrary to what you may have seen from irresponsible reports in some media, nowhere in the book, or in any publicity material issued by Soft Skull Press or Mr. Rosen in connection with the book, is the book inferred in any way, shape or form, as based on the diaries of John Lennon, or any other material owned by the Estate of John Lennon."--Ed.]--Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., C.
---Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Nowhere Man is a gripping read that no Lennon fan will be able to resist." --Nigel Williamson --The Times (London)

"Captures with disturbing immediacy the pressure of being a celebrity... flirts with brilliance." --J.R. Jones --Chicago Reader

"Entertainingly salacious." --Mike Tribby --Booklist

"Controversial... intriguing... surprising." --Catherine Crier --Court TV

"Rather like re-reading a favorite detective story... though you know how the story's going to end, you still wind up willing the events to unfold differently." --David Thompson --Mojo magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Quick American Archives (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932551513
• ISBN-13: 978-0932551511
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lennon, John

More About the Author

Robert Rosen is the author of "Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon," an international bestseller that's been translated into six languages. His investigative memoir, "Beaver Street: A History of Modern Pornography," was recently published in the UK by Headpress. Rosen's work has appeared in publications all over the world, including Uncut, Mother Jones, The Soho Weekly News, La Repubblica, Proceso, Reforma, and El Heraldo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Last Years Of John Lennon, November 28, 2000

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Nowhere Man:The Final Days Of John Lennon (Hardcover)

An infinite number of books have been written about the life and death of John Lennon, but very few have taken us into the inner sanctuary of the last years of his life when he was the self-proclaimed house-husband. Most people think that Mr. Lennon lived those last years in domestic bliss, taking care of Sean, baking bread with his biggest worry being what to watch on TV. Robert Rosen once had access to Mr. Lennon's personal diaries and he reveals that those above notions aren't the actual truth. The John Lennon we read about it in this superb book is a very fragile man who was concerned about his weight, his relationship with his first son Julian, his own relevance. We learn of his bizarre belief in numerology and how he delighted in any misfortune that befell Paul McCartney especially his drug bust in Japan. Mr. Rosen doesn't just focus on the failings of John Lennon, he tells stories of his tender relationship with Sean, the pride he took in learning how to sail and of his captaining a boat and the recording of Double Fantasy. The book also chillingly details the downward spiral of Mr. Lennon's assassin Mark David Chapman and the days and months leading up to him actually firing the shots that ended Mr. Lennon's life. Nowhere Man expertly breaks down the final chapters in John Lennon's life and we see him as a human being and not just a reclusive rock star.

66 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Depressing yet Moving, September 2, 2000

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nowhere Man:The Final Days Of John Lennon (Hardcover)

Even a dedicated Lennonphile who find new material in this well-written and poignantly sad examination of John's last year. The closer Rosen edges towards the assassination, the sadder and more wistful the reader feels. It's puzzling and amazing that an icon like Lennon was not very happy towards the end of his too-short life. The book brings out the numerous infidelities that marred the Lennon-Ono partnership, supposedly one of the greatest love stories of the era. Yoko comes off fairly well here, which is surprising considering the usually brutal treatment she receives at the hands of biographers.

Her manipulative nature is exemplified in Lennon's decision to include Yoko's pathetic musical material on his last album, "Double Fantasy," which was utterly compromised by having Yoko wail on every other track. Her control over Lennon's decision-making processes is detailed here and is sobering. It's frustrating that John relied upon Yoko so heavily in making professonal decisions when his musical career had benn nearly without parallel.

Ultimately this is an interesting and well-written book with few errors of fact and some new information (rare for any Beatles-related book). One of the most depressing nights of my life was when I heard John was killed, and this book brings back the anguish quite well. Twenty years later, all Lennon fans will eternally ask themselves how much more great music John had within him. Tragically, we will never know because of Mark David Chapman.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ...., December 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nowhere Man:The Final Days Of John Lennon (Hardcover)

This is an interesting book. I'd rate it higher, but for the whole legal disclaimer bit that says, "this is a work of imagination" etc., and is oblique in how the Lennon diaries were used. So you're uncertain whether what your reading is true or false. Obviously a lot of it is true, as Rosen admits to using other sources than the diaries. But, that aside, it is an interesting and well-written book. And one extreme but perhaps fair point is John Lennon's demons, and self-proclaimed--in his PLAYBOY interview--violent impulses. John Lennon in this book is madly jealous of Paul Simon and Paul McCartney for being bigger solo successes than he is. He is happy when McCartney gets thrown in jail in Japan. And the end bit gives an oblique comparison to John's killer...that if Brian Epstein had not come into the Cavern Club and discovered the Beatles, and Lennon had stayed a nobody, Lennon might have reacted with the envy his killer had toward him, toward someone else who became a big star. John's killer was jealous of Lennon...Lennon was jealous of Simon and McCartney...and what if Lennon had gone absolutely nowhere, and stayed in Liverpool? As he said in Hunter Davies' biography, "If not for the Beatles, I might have ended up like my father," a failed bum. Just like Lennon's killer. That's an extreme comparison. But As McCartney said in the expanded Davies' book, "Ever since John died, he's become Martin Luther Lennon." This book shows the anger and jealousy and pettines of Lennon...which makes him less than saint-like...but nonetheless human, and somewhat endearing because of it. A good book to be read with a pinch of salt.