All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono

All We Are Saying presents the complete transcript of David Sheff's interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, conducted in September 1980. The conversations took place at their apartment in New York City, just months before Lennon's death. The interviews cover Lennon's life journey from his childhood through the Beatles years and into his relationship with Yoko Ono. Through direct questions and candid responses, Lennon discusses his music, political activism, personal relationships, and creative process. The book includes discussions of both public events and private moments, with Lennon and Ono sharing their perspectives on media coverage, artistic collaboration, and family life. Photographs from the interview sessions complement the text. The resulting work serves as both a historical document and an intimate portrait, capturing Lennon's voice and worldview at a specific moment in time. The conversations reveal themes of artistic evolution, personal growth, and the intersection of public and private life.

Readers appreciate the intimate, candid nature of this interview conducted just months before Lennon's death. Many note the raw honesty about his relationships, music career, and personal struggles. Readers liked: - Detailed insights into Beatles dynamics and breakup - Lennon's reflections on fatherhood and marriage - The conversational, natural flow of questions - The inclusion of Yoko Ono's perspective - Historical context through footnotes Common criticisms: - Some repetitive questions and answers - Too much focus on Yoko Ono for some readers - Lack of deeper musical discussion - Occasional rambling responses Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (180+ ratings) Several readers called it "the most comprehensive Lennon interview" while others noted it serves as his "final testament." One reviewer wrote: "You feel like you're sitting in the room with them during an honest conversation, not a formal interview."

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🎸 The interview took place over three weeks in September 1980, just three months before John Lennon's death, making it his last major interview. 📝 David Sheff conducted the interview for Playboy magazine, but only a portion was published in the magazine. The book contains the complete, unedited conversations. 🎵 During the interview sessions, Lennon and Ono were in the midst of recording their album "Double Fantasy," and would often pause the conversation to work on music. 🏠 The interviews were conducted in multiple locations, including the couple's apartment in The Dakota building and their recording studio in Manhattan. 🗣️ The book reveals Lennon's frank opinions about each Beatles song he wrote, his relationship with Paul McCartney, and his five-year hiatus from music to be a "househusband" raising his son Sean.