Music historian and journalist Tim Riley`s biography challenges many popular assumptions about Lennon`s life, from his widely misunderstood `Working Class Hero` origins to his epic romance with Yoko Ono. Riley also explores Lennon in all his contradictions: the misogynist turned peace activist, the moralist who loved to outrage and the `bigger than Christ` LSD enthusiast who settled down to become a house-husband. A pre-eminent scholar of Beatles music, Riley has consulted some of the most important Beatles scholarship of the past two decades. In a field littered with untrustworthy memoirs, he has culled the most reliable information from hundreds of books, and tracked down even more insightful sources among Lennon`s friends, enemies, confidantes, celebrity associates and business contacts. He also writes brilliantly about the music and about Lennon`s artistic and creative processes. The Beatles have just enjoyed their most successful sales decade ever, and this book will be a great gift for the Beatles fan in your life or for anyone with an interest in this British music legend.