The cynical idealist : a spiritual biography of John Lennon

A radio playlist could easily follow John Lennon’s "Mind Games" with "Do Ya Think I’m Sexy." But comparing the two, it becomes obvious that Lennon had more in common with the great thinkers of any age than with the songwriters who were his contemporaries. Cynical Idealist reveals, for the first time, the spiritual odyssey of this extraordinary man. Out of a turbulent life, from his troubled, working-class childhood throughout his many roles -- Beatle, peace advocate, social activist, househusband -- Lennon managed to fashion a philosophy that elevates the human spirit and encourages people to work, individually and collectively, toward a better world. Like Socrates, Lennon wanted to stimulate people to think for themselves. "There ain’t no guru who can see through your eyes," he sings in "I Found Out." Cynical Idealist beautifully articulates this and the other lessons John Lennon passed along through his songs and through the example of his life.

Here, for the first time, is the spiritual odyssey of this remarkable artist, honored with John F. Kennedy and Ho Chi Minh in 1969 as Man of the Decade. Mining Lennon's lyrics, poetry, prose, and interviews, Gary Tillery tracks his thinking as it evolved from his troubled, working-class childhood throughout his many roles as Beatle, peacenik, social activist, and househusband.

At the height of fame, in 1965 Lennon crashed and began an honest search for meaning. He came to believe that, for society to improve, people must stop idolizing cultural heroes like he was. With Socrates, Lennon encourages us to view experts with cynicism and think for ourselves. We ought to live life as art and to aim at self-transformation, for our own sake and for a better world. Lennon's songs like "Instant Karma" and "Mind Games" remind us that we ourselves have the power to shape, not a future we dread, but one we want. His legacy endures as a beacon of truth that urges us to be the change we want to see.

The roots of rebellion. Nowhere land ; Rock 'n' roll ; Help! The long, dark cynical night. God ; Love ; Meditation ; Cynicism Life as work of art. Reborn artist ; Peace advocate ; Social activist ; Househusband Cynical idealism. Superstars ; Mind games ; Imagine ; Shining on.