Come Together: John Lennon in His Time

by Jon Wiener

An engaging look at one of music's most defiantly political figures, Come Together recreates two decades of rock and rebellion by tracing John Lennon's ever-evolving politics from the formation of the Beatles in 1960 to his assassination in 1980. From modest anti-establishment tweaking and a penchant for "more popular than Jesus" pot-stirring, Lennon grew into an influential voice of the peace movement opposed to the Vietnam War. His activism drew the ire of the FBI. In 1972, the Bureau tried to deport Lennon back to Britain--a fabled and failed effort to choke off Lennon's threat to merge his celebrity and music with radical politics. Wiener brilliantly recreates an amazing, impassioned time in American life that saw Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono holding bed-ins for peace, commenting on current events, and recording antiwar anthems like "Imagine." He also astutely observes Lennon's naivete and blind spots while offering details of his own ongoing effort to force the release of Lennon's FBI file by the US government.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Tyler Ducsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the beatles or John lennon you'll love this book. Its about Johns life with the Beatles and his life as one of the biggest peace activist of his time all the way up tell he was assinated.I think my favorite part was when he and Yoko Uno were having the Bed in protest just because it was a origanla way of protesting the war in Veitnam. He put his life on the line many time for what he beleaved in. I decided to read this book because me girl freinds is a big Beattles fan and has all there albums and she really liked what John Lennon did and stood up for so I whanted to learn about him. In all I would recomend this book to any one who likes the Beatles or John Lennon or just likes to read good books.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about Lennon's political beliefs. Well-researched and readable.

[Taylor W. Rushing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original and often humerous accounts of John in the post-beatles era.

[Chet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book after it was referenced in ‘Revolution In The Head’ by Ian MacDonald. Primarily focuses on John (& Yoko) post Beatles with emphasis on John’s political and social adventures. Found the author to be fair, praising and being critical of the Lennons making this a fairly honest read. Thought provoking as well as I wonder how the protests against the Vietnam War would have been covered by the media today’s political climate. Recommended for anyone interested in Lennon during the Some Time In New York City era.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this because I am in the process of doing some research on the Beatles and their politics. This book delivers on John, giving the reader a clear outline of Lennons politics from the later 1960's till his death.

I did appreciate this read, especially because it explores John's evolving politics and highlights thr fact that it had shifted due his circumstances.

[Emilynolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was a pretty decent book. I felt that this book could have been more effective if the author would have written it in a different way. But, I did really enjoy that the author ,in my mind, didn't have an opinion one way or another. It allowed me to just have my own thoughts unfiltered. I highly recommend this book to Beatle lovers! There is a lot of really interesting facts and information in the book. One thing I really enjoyed was that for certain songs the author explained the lyrics and what they meant from John's point of view and what his message was.

[Robin Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the Beetles, or John Lennon you will absolutly LOVE this book. It's all about John Lennon and his role as a muscian and an activist to stop the war through his music. He was a great role model and was sadly murdered on his way home from speaking by Mark David Chapman in New York City on his way home from an activist meeting. I reccomend this book to anyone who likes to hear a good story about someones life and what they did for others.

[Rachel Bethany]

This is one of a few books I'm reading right now (though the only one to do with Lennon, which as of late is a miracle given my OCD Beatles status) but I'll post more when I'm finished.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Bio

[Onsetsu Evan Cordes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lennon's political, New-Left history. Music is interwoven but not necessarily the focus.

This one was good. I think I'll like another bio better.