Grapefruit: A Book of Instructions and Drawings by Yoko Ono

Came quickly, un damaged, in great condition. Glad I bought the book, a very lax but thought provoking read of many poems. Exactly what you’d expect from Yoko. If you enjoy her other works, you’ll enjoy this.

I mean...I'm not sure how to review this book. It is a piece of incredible artistic work, only because it really allows you into Yoko Ono's thought process. It gives us a glimpse of how she viewed the world, her ideology and her quirkiness. Her creativity came through in every piece, it really gave me a clear idea how she worked and how she is an artist in every sense of the word. It is an intimate look into her works - music, art, poetry, film and exhibitionism. In every aspect of her life, her uniqueness shone. There were parts that probably went completely over my head, and others where I found myself pausing for a minute to reread and let it sink in. Although this is a book of instructions, I will openly admit that I barely followed any of the instructions given in this book. I think Yoko Ono might appreciate that I didn't, taking it as a sign of individualism, of assertiveness, maybe even rebellion? I don't know. I think I may be talking out of my ass - excuse the language. But that's the effect that Yoko Ono has on you, really. Some instructions were very simple: "Light a match and watch till it goes out" Others were interesting: "Carry a bag of peas. Leave a pea wherever you go." Others were impossible: "Fly." Some instructions were creative: "Painting to be slept on. Hang it after sleeping on it for more than 100 nights." And some were intimate: "Listen to each other's pulse by putting your ear on the other's stomach." Some instructions your mind couldn't help but follow: "Think that snow is falling. Think that snow is falling everywhere all the time. When you talk with a person, think that snow is falling between you and on the person. Stop conversing when you think the person is covered by snow." Then there were passages that were just beautiful thoughts: "It's sad that the air is the only thing we share. No matter how close we get to each other, there is always air between us. It's also nice that we share the air. No matter how far apart we are, the air links us." What beautiful poetry, and what a beautiful thought. Then there's humor and satire: "I wonder why men can get serious at all. They have this delicate long thing hanging outside their bodies, which goes up and down by its own will." A gem of a book, definitely worth keeping around.

I love this book so much. Most of her instructions can be treated like little exercises for your imagination or your mind, and this can help you to think differently than you normally would. In the era of overstimulation, low creativity, and short attention spans, we desperately need stuff like this. Thanks, Yoko! ❤️

She is so funny and sharp...This book is literally my friend...

Inspiring and thoughtful, this little book of instructions already has me thinking of exercises I can to to get my creativity going again. I'm only sorry I waited two years after putting this on my wish list to purchase it. I started following Yoko's Twitter feed, and she's pretty much doing the same thing there. If you love Fluxus, Dada, and Surrealism, you will love this book. Imaginative little gems range from the Imppossible ("Drill a hole in the sky...") to the Possible ("Draw a map to get lost.") to the Inspirational ("Listen to the sound of the earth turning."). All her words are aimed toward touching the creativity of the thinking person and igniting the imagination. If you don't get this book, you should read a bit about the Fluxus movement, Surrealism, and Dada before attempting it again. You do have to have a bit of background knowledge about art to understand why this is art and why it is important. If art doesn't make you think or feel, then it is not doing its job. (Even if it makes you angry that its called art--then it has succeeded in being art.) As others here have mentioned, Ms. Ono was a very well off and respected artist long before her association with John Lennon. Admittedly, I didn't really understand her work until I attended her retrospective at the SFMOMA a few years ago and was completely inspired. Her work has a way of opening the mind unlike any other artist. It is important when engaging with her art to not be mentally closed off. Not always easy! But you can do it! As a long time Beatles fan, I did originally hold some reservations about Ms. Ono, but the more I engaged with her work and learned about her, the more I have come to love and admire her. After all, how could I respect and admire John Lennon so much and not appreciate the person he loved so dearly and inspired his most beautiful work?

I had the original copy of this book with a picture of Yoko and John on it. I no longer have that edition and remember enjoying Yoko's quirky ideas so I bought this one. Still a fun read. It really gives an idea of some the craziness circulating in the art world during the 60's. Some people would find it ridiculous and foolish but others will enjoy Yoko's unique sensibilities.

Great book for any artist also makes a nice coffee table piece

You should read this book if you don't actually know anything about Yoko.

A very inspiring woman! Happy to have this book.

Love it, it's absolutely wonderful. The book itself is like a work of art, it's a very entertaining read, good to keep an open mind and be open to the most obscure yet creative ideas.

デュシャンでなくオノヨーコさんだと思います。 アートのあり方を変えたのは。 YESと想像すること。 素晴らしいコンセプトだと思います。

Condizioni perfette, consegna impeccabile

Yoko Ono has always been a figure of constant fascination to me (and incidentally; has nothing to do with the fact she was married to John Lennon - she is her 'own' person) and also a figure of great 'admiration' to say the least, but this book at first - I'm ashamed to say did not quite 'grasp'. However, I had a brain-wave to ring an old friend of mine who is a retired School Teacher whom I thought might enlighten me. Though old enough for Yoko Ono to have come to his attention at the time of The Beatles and so on, he knew very little about her and what she did, and so I read him a few passages from this book over the 'phone. Each time I did, he would laugh out loud! At first I was a little offended, since I love everything Yoko Ono does, and therefore would have not taken kindly to any form of ridicule. However, my thoughts were misplaced, since when asked why he laughed, he simply said: 'I'm amused because of its simplicity - yet meaningfulness - she' a genius'!! He then went on to explain some of the passages and what she meant by them as far as he was concerned. He went on to say that he believed her a very intelligent woman. It was then we got into a much longer conversation than originally intended about other things she has done over the years, and her work. After this, I went back and re-read the book with much more understanding. But like the Reviewer M. P. Dala has said; this is a book that you'll more likely wish to 'dip into' for some real gems - and not necessarily a book to be read from cover to cover. (which is perhaps where I went wrong!) Thanks Yoko - this is a marvellous little treasure!