John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs with Ian Leslie

"One of my favourite writers" MALCOLM GLADWELL

"The first new Beatles story in decades - and the one that will make your heart burst." CAITLIN MORAN

Ian Leslie is the author of acclaimed books on human psychology and behaviour, translated into over a dozen languages. Previous books include Curious, about the desire to learn, and How To Disagree, on the art and science of productive disagreement. Ian has written for the New Statesman, the Financial Times, the Economist and the New York Times on culture, technology and psychology and he is the author of a popular Substack newsletter, The Ruffian.

He joins us for his majestic new book John and Paul, telling anew the story of the love and jealousy between two geniuses behind The Beatles, who merged their souls and multiplied their talents to produce one of the greatest bodies of creative work in history.

John & Paul begins in 1957, when two teenagers in suburban Liverpool meet and decide to play rock n'roll together. It ends twenty-three years later, when one of them is murdered. In between, we see them become global stars, create countless indelible songs, and play a central role in shaping the modern world.

Lennon and McCartney were more than friends, rivals or collaborators. They were intimates who both had the fabric of their world ruptured at a young age, and who longed to make emotional connections; with each other, and with audiences. The pop song was a vessel into which they poured feelings of grief and euphoria and everything in between. When they couldn't speak what they felt, they sang it. After the break-up of their group, they maintained a musical dialogue at a distance, in songs full of recrimination, regret, and affection.

Leslie traces the twists and turns of their relationship through the music it produced and offers rich insights into the nature of creativity, collaboration and human connection. Drawing on recently released footage and recordings, this is a startlingly fresh take on two of the greatest icons in music history.

Leslie's majestic and wildly enjoyable biography will make us see and hear Lennon and McCartney anew.

"Ian Leslie has done the impossible, and breathed new life into one of the world's most studied bands." GQ

"The most moving and revelatory book on Lennon and McCartney I have ever read. So joyful, so sad." TOM HOLLAND

"This thoughtful, fresh look at the creative collaboration of Lennon and McCartney turns the cliches on their heads." SUNDAY TIMES