|
 Gary Tillery spent two decades in the business world—primarily as co-owner of an advertising agency in suburban Chicago—before turning his time and energy to his lifelong passion for literature and art.
Tillery's fascination with “the intellectual Beatle” led him to write The Cynical Idealist: A Spiritual Biography of John Lennon. The book is the first to examine Lennon not as a pop superstar, but as a man of ideas. In the wake of a little-known 1965 spiritual crisis, Lennon undertook to fashion a philosophy of his own. By exploring his creative work and transcripts of his interviews, the book pieces together the philosophy that underpinned such Lennon hits as “All You Need Is Love,” “Give Peace a Chance,” and “Instant Karma,” and was encapsulated in his masterpiece, “Imagine.” His philosophy—idealistic yet pragmatic—is more relevant today than ever.
Tillery also published Darkling Plain—a novel-like collection of short stories set in Vietnam, and two humorous novels featuring “soft-boiled” detective Jack Savage—Death, Be Not Loud and To an Aesthete Dying Young.
Tillery is also a professional sculptor. He favors the traditional mediums of metal and stone, though using them to express contemporary ideas. His most prominent work is the sculpture for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Chicago. He also created the bronze bust of Steve Allen for the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood. He has displayed in galleries from Pennsylvania to New Mexico and appeared in shows as far away as Shanghai. His works are in the private collections of Patricia DuPont and General Tommy Franks, and the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago possesses two pieces in its permanent collection.
A native of the Southwest (Phoenix, Arizona), Tillery served in Vietnam with the United States Air Force in 1968-1969. Subsequently, he returned to Phoenix and earned a Bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies from Arizona State University and a Master's degree from the American Graduate School of International Management.
12/18/09 |
John Lennon: A Spiritual Biography |
|
www.cynicalidealistbook.com
|
