A fabulous book by Ian Leslie looking at the incredibly deep relationship between Lennon and McCartney, analysing both the conscious and subconscious messages in their songs.
The book works through their joint career and life, chronologically, with each chapter named after one of their songs. Alongside the standard biography, it is brilliant to read his insights into the music while playing it in the background. He explains the musical brilliance so well, and then also digs into the psychology and overtime/hidden meanings of the lyrics.
His main thesis is that Lennon and McCartney were deeply in platonic love, a friendship and melding of minds that was truly complete. This drove not only their constructive and productive collaboration, but also the primordial jealousy and competition that generated creative tension but ultimately led to the breakdown on their relationship.
Leslie explains their reactions to each others marriages and solo work through this lens; it’s a compelling idea, and a fantastic read.
