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Annie Lennox: Retrospective
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 23, 2025
About the author
Annie Lennox
33 books7 followersAnnie Lennox is a Scottish musician, vocalist, and Academy Award-winning songwriter. She is both a solo artist and the lead singer of the musical duo Eurythmics, hailed as "The Greatest White Soul Singer Alive" by members of the rock industry on the VH1 show 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll in 1999. Both as a solo artist and with Eurythmics, Lennox has sold 80 million records.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 4, 2026
Because I've loved her for 40+ yrs.
November 13, 2025
I love her music, but not this book
In the introduction, Lennox writes that she always wanted to "release a book", which is telling in that this desire, it is revealed, doesn't speak to any rationale as to why, other than that she can. We find out that she's "neurodivergent", which has nothing to do with the book or how we might understand her work; but I suppose that in these days of oversharing, it's par for the course.
The book begins, then, with some promise, as Lennox discusses how she started off with The Tourists, how touring was hard, how the band broke up, and . . . and then we're suddenly into the Eurythmics, with a focus on pictures and video stills from their most popular songs, with little reflection on how the songs were made and what they meant. The rest of the book follows suit.
The books slinks into a kind of Cindy-Sherman-lite, as Lennox explores various personas through photographic art. But this foray lacks the depth of Sherman's work, and so the book becomes a page turner in the worst way: flipping the pages quickly to see picture after picture, with scant text. Then it ends.
It's great that Lennox finds some kind of personal purpose in "releasing" this book. But there's no point to any of this somewhat disjointed effort, and the sense of retrospection that the title promises is misleading, if one is expecting greater context and insight. The book reminds me, in the end, of Debra Harry's inconsequential Face It, a book where less is actually less.
In the introduction, Lennox writes that she always wanted to "release a book", which is telling in that this desire, it is revealed, doesn't speak to any rationale as to why, other than that she can. We find out that she's "neurodivergent", which has nothing to do with the book or how we might understand her work; but I suppose that in these days of oversharing, it's par for the course.
The book begins, then, with some promise, as Lennox discusses how she started off with The Tourists, how touring was hard, how the band broke up, and . . . and then we're suddenly into the Eurythmics, with a focus on pictures and video stills from their most popular songs, with little reflection on how the songs were made and what they meant. The rest of the book follows suit.
The books slinks into a kind of Cindy-Sherman-lite, as Lennox explores various personas through photographic art. But this foray lacks the depth of Sherman's work, and so the book becomes a page turner in the worst way: flipping the pages quickly to see picture after picture, with scant text. Then it ends.
It's great that Lennox finds some kind of personal purpose in "releasing" this book. But there's no point to any of this somewhat disjointed effort, and the sense of retrospection that the title promises is misleading, if one is expecting greater context and insight. The book reminds me, in the end, of Debra Harry's inconsequential Face It, a book where less is actually less.
March 30, 2026
Photographic showcase of the public career of Annie Lennox, from 1976 to now. Sumptiously illustrated throughout, detailing the story of her life as seen primarily via her musical career. From early band The Tourists, and meeting her creative and, briefly, personal partner David A Stewart, we are shown how she publicly rode the wave of pop music (and fashion), most notably in the 1980s. Stewart is a mere cameo here, Her current family is also not mentioned, apart from some black & white early photographs or Polaroids before the main period of the book starts from 1976, and a final page photograph taken by daughter Tali. Professional shoots on location and in studio are juxtaposed with incidental snaps and momento-style commentary from Lennox, and accompany some lyrics - pertinent to the time-frame - on adjacent pages. Her solo career, AIDS activism, and brief Eurythmics reunion photos are welcome visual additions, as is images of David Bowie, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. A worthy pictorial retrospective record of an artist who mixed intelligent lyrics with powerful musicianship. Lennox was never afraid to cut new paths to create an original style - refer to the startling Sweet Dreams-era image presented on the cover - which still has a visual impact today. She was also one to not follow any specific visual trends. The presentation of the book, published by Rizzoli and printed in Italy, is flawless.
May 24, 2026
If you're expecting an autobiography, this is not it.
Retrospective feels less like a memoir and more like sitting beside Annie Lennox as she flips through a photo album of her career. The commentary is brief and often anchored more in the recollection of a moment or an impulse surrounding the image than in confession or mythology.
The photographs and reflections reveal a woman deeply engaged with her work and profoundly proud of what she built. Not proud in a self-congratulatory sense, but in the way of someone who embraced challenge, learned from each era, and carried those lessons into the next creative reinvention again and again.
For someone whose work has inspired me since I was pulling my mother's copy of Diva off the shelf instinctively at age 3, witnessing that woman openly appreciate her journey and sucesses she earned is meaningful. You also see how she understands success not simply as achievement, but as stewardship, and how her platform became a vehicle for humanitarian causes that deeply matter to her.
Structured, brief, and wonderful. Retrospective is less a life story than a guided review session through one remarkable career.
Retrospective feels less like a memoir and more like sitting beside Annie Lennox as she flips through a photo album of her career. The commentary is brief and often anchored more in the recollection of a moment or an impulse surrounding the image than in confession or mythology.
The photographs and reflections reveal a woman deeply engaged with her work and profoundly proud of what she built. Not proud in a self-congratulatory sense, but in the way of someone who embraced challenge, learned from each era, and carried those lessons into the next creative reinvention again and again.
For someone whose work has inspired me since I was pulling my mother's copy of Diva off the shelf instinctively at age 3, witnessing that woman openly appreciate her journey and sucesses she earned is meaningful. You also see how she understands success not simply as achievement, but as stewardship, and how her platform became a vehicle for humanitarian causes that deeply matter to her.
Structured, brief, and wonderful. Retrospective is less a life story than a guided review session through one remarkable career.
January 23, 2026
I didn't think I could love Annie Lennox more, but this book achieved that! She's just so cool, and I love the charity work she has done for AIDs and her other art projects. She's a strong, intelligent person who seems to know exactly who she is and unflinchingly pursues her art--so inspiring! She's so beautiful and talented and has unique style... of course, I love the Eurythmics and her solo stuff, so many great songs. A beautifully put together biography.
June 11, 2026
Annie Lennox is a great visual artist, so that makes this brief book a bit disappointing. There are some beautiful photographs, but there could have been so much more. So many pages wasted with lyrics from songs printed (or nothing at all) when those pages could've contained more photos. Descriptions by Lennox are brief. Someone with a long career as hers could've presented much more. Not horrible but not great. A bit of a letdown.
December 25, 2025
Annie Lennox is a maverick in so many ways. I always admired her individuality and her fashion choices. This is comprised of photographs through the decades of her life.
I loved the variety of professional and candid shots. I also loved her commentary and the use of lyrics.
I loved the variety of professional and candid shots. I also loved her commentary and the use of lyrics.
January 1, 2026
While this book is mostly pictures (which are amazing), Annie writes great snippets around them. I learned some new stuff about her thanks to this book. If you're a fan of Annie Lennox, this is a great visual book.
October 7, 2025
Disappointing in both content and format.
October 14, 2025
Brilliant.
December 24, 2025
Great singer! Annie's singing was a valuable part on the start of my young adulthood. Thank you Annie.
January 2, 2026
Retrospective is a beautifully design coffee table book. Admittedly, I would have loved to have seen more personal pictures; however, this is career retrospective.
January 9, 2026
Wow! a collection of photos curated by a goddess of performance! what more could we ask for?
May 31, 2026
A lovely book of visuals from Annie's youngest days up to nearly today. But not just a pictorial coffee-table book, she does share thoughts in little vignettes posted throughout.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews