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[Snoopy66]

yes Snoopy, I couldnt help noticing as well that Fred Seaman has a photo of himself in his book standing beside Goldmans book, and mentioning him as a friend, which makes me wonder if theres a lot of fairytales in his book also

Yeah, I know, Nimrod. The connection that may be between Goldman and Seaman always disturbed me. This "friendship" made me sceptical about the accuracy of Seaman's book (which I have read) too. Although there are some passages in Seaman's book which I don't like at all, I still have the impression that the author seemed quite sincere. At least, Seaman did like John, which obviously wasn't the case of Goldman.

Snoopy

[Bulldog]

The Daily Mail newspaper published extracts of the book when it was released. It had a drawn picture of a gaunt John sitting on a bed, smoking pot.

The picture outraged some fans at the time but may have been accurrate.

John was waif like thin in his final years. He also spent a lot of time in the Dakota. Apparently as a house husband, but he would have had several assistants. One of his final interviews he said he sometimes smoked pot but didn't go looking for it.

[Normandie]

I was intrigued to come across this thread last night. This was the very first Beatles book I ever purchased. Some acquaintances of mine were horrified and told me it was widely reviled among Beatles fans, which kind of threw me. I never did finish it, being in the earlier stages of fandom and not having a lot of spare time, and I no longer have it. I'm nearly tempted to buy it again, just to read it out of curiousity.

Does anyone have recent thoughts on this book?

I enjoyed Goldman's book, but you really have to use your judgment when reading it. For whatever reason, Goldman was fond of telling us John's thoughts. Wow, the guy was psychic! So just look for all those passages where it starts, "John thinks..." and you know the rest of that paragraph is all fiction.

I hate it, really hate it, when authors do that. It's appallingly presumptuous.

He came up with somne ridiculous stories, such as the one that John was responsible for Stuart's death by kicking him in the head in Hamburg.

I've read at least two versions of that anecdote in other books and always wondered if there was any truth to it. Unfortunately, the link in Cor's quote, below, has expired.   

I've dug up an old (and brilliant if I may say so  ) post on Stu's cause of death. Read here: http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/m-1117739226/s-34/highlight-cerebral/#num34

[nimrod]

Some of the book is an interesting read Kathy, Im not sure I believe the bombshells though..

Im suspicious about authors who dont make these claims while the subject is still alive though.

Part of me thinks nothing would surprise me about the later version of John after Yukko took over his life though. 

[Moogmodule]

Goldman seems to have done very comprehensive research. Even critics have acknowledged his abilities in that regard. Trouble is he doesn’t really run any sceptical eye over it and presents the most salacious as fact rather than as one possibility. So good researcher, terrible historian.

The Stu head kicking story I think came from a later accusation from Stu’s mother. I don’t think it has any back up.

[Normandie]

Thank you, both, for your input. I've wishlisted it on Amazon and will give it another try, now that, after 30 years of Beatle-fandom, I can read it with a more critical eye.

I see Goldman's book on Elvis caused quite the stir as well. 

[Moogmodule]

I think it’s worth a read. Just hold your nose at certain points.

I haven’t read it for decades but I recall he was pretty jaundiced about almost everyone.