John Lennon and the Beatles Covered in Avalanche of New Books

We no sooner got the road dust cleaned off from the observance of James Dean’s death 50 years ago this September, when we are faced with another landmark anniversary of the premature death of another generational idol. It was 25 years ago that John Lennon was shot and killed by a deranged fan. The date of the event, December 8th, 1980, is the day of infamy for the baby boom generation. In commemoration of John Lennon’s life and the phenomenon that was The Beatles, many new books are being released. They run the gamut from the merely opportunistic to the truly original. Here is a guide to help maneuver through the stacks of new publications.

With The Beatles (ISBN 0976658321)
By Lewis Lapham
Melville House, 168 pages, $12.95 (paperback)
Publication date October 19, 2005

Lewis Lapham is the editor-in-chief of Harper’s literary magazine. In 1968, he wrote a two-part article on assignment for the Saturday Evening Post about the pop cult following of the Maharishi Mahesh and his ashram in India, which turned into a sort of spiritual spa for every hip celebrity and musician of the time. The Beatles checked in for a while. Lapham caught glimpses of them here, there and everywhere. But the title notwithstanding, The Beatles remain on the fringe of this Tom Wolfe-like expose of the swinging ashram.

Lennon Revealed (ISBN 0762423641)
By Larry Kane
Running Press, 296 pages, $29.95
Publication date September 16, 2005

Larry Kane was a reporter for Canadian radio in 1964 when he was assigned to tag after The Beatles in America during the ground swell of Beatlemania. He bonded with Lennon and over the years became something of a confidant. He has authored an earlier book titled “Ticket To Ride.” In a demonstration of things to come in future publishing ventures, this book includes a DVD.

John (ISBN 030733855X)
By Cynthia Lennon with foreword by Julian Lennon
Crown, 320 pages, $24.95
Publication date September 27, 2005

There was a time early in The Beatles career when reporters were not supposed to mention wives. The idea was to bolster the adolescent frenzy (as if that needed any assistance) by creating a fiction of accessibility. You, too, can nab a Beatle! As a result, poor Cynthia Lennon was persona non grata. Add to that her usurpation by Yoko Ono. Even Lennon’s first son, Julian, was overshadowed by Sean, his son with Yoko. It’s a wonder Cynthia is as mild-mannered and tolerant as she is. Some say too mild-mannered and too tolerant to write juicy memoirs. She tried this before with “A Twist of Lennon.” Does anyone remember that one?

The Beatles: The Biography (ISBN 0316803529)
By Bob Spitz
Little, Brown, 992 pages, $29.95
Publication date November 1, 2005

Yes, 992 pages. This is the most anticipated of the new Beatle books. It promises to have some surprises and could hardly fail to find one or two new facts through sheer exhaustive coverage. Some of the darker aspects of The Beatles are revealed here and the boys don’t come out with their insouciant mop top image intact. Spitz is best known as the biographer of Bob Dylan.

John Lennon: Nothing’s Gonna Change My World (ISBN 1596701064)
By Susan Moyer
Sports Publishing, 144 pages, $24.95
Publication date September 1, 2005

Susan Moyer is attributed with writer’s credit for this book, but it is actually a compilation of photographs and stories from the AP wire service archives.

John Lennon: The New York Years (ISBN 1584794321)
By Bob Gruen
Stewart Tabori & Chang, 176 pages, $29.95
Publication date October 1, 2005

Bob Gruen is a professional photographer who became a friend of the post-Beatle Lennon, when Lennon made New York his home. This book offers about 150 photos from Gruen’s portfolio, some of which are heralded as being previously unpublished. It is hard to believe that any photo of John Lennon has gone unpublished until now, but just imagine.

Memories of John Lennon (ISBN 0060594551)
By Yoko Ono
HarperEntertainment, 320 pages, $24.95
Publication date December 1, 2005

Here, Yoko Ono has assembled a collection of essays from the top tiers of the music and art world in homage to John. A fitting tribute.

The Beatles: 365 Days (ISBN 0810959119)
By Simon Wells
Abrams, 744 pages, $29.95
Publication date November 1, 2005

Another big bruiser of a book. Abrams is a publishing company known for its high quality art books and this work by pop historian Simon Wells is accompanied by lush photographs from the entire career arc of The Beatles.

Life: Remembering John Lennon: 25 Years Later (ISBN 1932994238)
By Life Magazine Editors
Life, 128 pages, $17.95
Publication date October 5, 2005

Once again, the archives are raided. Similar to “Nothing’s Gonna Change My World” in that this is a rehashing of previously published material in observation of an important anniversary, but it makes a nice collector’s book.