Norman focuses on the effect Lennon's mother Julia had on his entire life, in addition to drawing on insightful interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, George Martin, and a moving discussion with Sean Lennon, the artist's second son. The book also provides new spins on well-known Lennon stories like his life with his aunt Mimi, his work with McCartney, and how his relationship with Ono changed both him and the Beatles. "At once retrospective and immediate, the author pulls us through time with luminous detail, wisely resisting the temptation to psychoanalyze Lennon from afar," wrote Monitor critic Lorne Entress. "The result is a wonderful unfolding of Lennon’s life with all its talent, tenderness and tragedy."
