John and Paul

THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION
'A triumph.' Deborah Levy, New Statesman 'Tremendous.' Alwyn Turner, The Times 'Revelatory.' Simon Schama, Financial Times 'The gold standard of Beatles books.' Anthony Quinn, Observer 'As enthralling and astonishing as their music.' Jon Dennis, Sunday Telegraph 'A masterpiece.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard
'[Ian Leslie] reframes the whole relationship for me . . . He roots it in a kind of love. It's so moving, so moving. I was crying so much.' Paul Mescal 'I so loved John and Paul. I found it completely absorbing and painfully moving . . . It has rather turned me into a bit of a Beatles person.' Nigella Lawson 'The first new Beatles story in decades - and the one that will make your heart burst.' Caitlin Moran 'The most moving and revelatory book on Lennon and McCartney I have ever read. So joyful, so sad.' Tom Holland
---
We think we know John & Paul. We really don't.
At the centre of The Beatles was the volatile, madly creative chemistry between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. This is the story of how two young men merged their souls and multiplied their talents to produce one of the greatest bodies of music in history. It is also a love story, full of longing, laughter, pain and joy.
'John & Paul is a masterpiece, a classic, and a book that should be read by anyone who wants to really understand how the Beatles worked.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard

Readers are raving about John & Paul:
'I've never been so into a book.' ----- 'A surprising fresh take on this relationship, after so much has been written.' ----- 'The Beatles book I've been waiting for.' ----- 'Thoroughly enjoyable, insightful and delightfully written.' ----- 'I can't listen to another Beatles song in the same way ever again.' ----- 'Such a fantastic book - really insightful and charming.' ----- 'I read this book in more or less one go . . . Incredibly moving.' ----- 'Rekindled my interest in The Beatles. A masterful work.' ----- 'Full of love . . . A very worthwhile addition to the library of even the most jaded Beatles reader.' ----- 'I cannot recommend this book highly enough.' ----- 'Excellent. Just buy it.' -----

Ian Leslie's book John & Paul was a Sunday Times Bestseller w/e 29-03-2025 through w/e 19-04-2025

Ian Leslie is the author of acclaimed books on human psychology: Born Liars, Curious and How to Disagree. He has written for, among others, the New Statesman, Economist, New York Times and Financial Times. Leslie is the author of a popular newsletter on culture, creativity and ideas: The Ruffian. He has been a Beatles fan since he was seven. @mrianleslie