Published by Quest Books.
202 pages.
The Cynical Idealist
THE FIRST BOOK TO EXAMINE JOHN LENNON NOT
AS A POP SUPERSTAR BUT AS A MAN OF IDEAS.
John Lennon was different from the other Beatles.
He was “the intellectual,” a cynical genius who
stirred controversy with his opinions. Particularly
after his union with Yoko Ono, Lennon turned his
songwriting prowess and his fame toward making
the world a better place.Lennon’s idealism had its origins in a little-known
1965 spiritual crisis. Over the next decade he
undertook to fashion a philosophy of his own,
leaving us the images we recall today—dreamy-eyed
proponent of love, guru’s disciple, loud-mouthed peace
advocate, angry radical, despairing drunk, and finally
contented househusband.By exploring Lennon’s creative work and transcripts of
his interviews, The Cynical Idealist maps out the personal
philosophy that underpinned such hits as “All You Need Is
Love,” “Give Peace a Chance,” “Instant Karma” and “Mind
Games,” and was encapsulated in his masterpiece, “Imagine.”
Lennon’s philosophy—idealistic yet pragmatic—is more
relevant today than ever.
Read an excerpt