I'm Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen Paperback – February 9, 2021

This book is a comprehensive look at Leonard Cohen’s life and work. It’s extremely well-researched, documented, and executed. Simmons really did a fantastic job portraying Leonard and his life; I feel like I know him after reading this book. There were times in the first half when it seemed that the details got in the way of the flow of the book, but it soon found its rhythm. I am grateful to Sylvie Simmons for taking on this project and writing such a wonderful tribute. As she shows in his biography, Leonard Cohen lives on through his work. I was a huge fan before, and I’m an even bigger fan now.

It was in the winter of 1969, June to be precise, and it was refreshingly cool for a change. An interlude. Seven days away from the war, and I am not speaking of the one between the sexes. As would happen so often in subsequent years, the lyrics rolled around in my brain, as I stood on the shore of Sydney harbor: "...and the sun poured down like honey, on our lady of the harbor." The sun indeed felt like honey in the coolness... and there was so much more, just in that one song: that eternal aspiration for someone who liked his physics: "...and she gets you on her wavelength, and makes the river answer, that you have always been her lover..." `Lo these many years later, and thanks to the truly excellent biography by Sylvie Simmons that I finally learned that the harbor was Montreal, and the China that had been (relatively) so near to me, for the past ten months, the origin of those famous teas and oranges that Suzanne so graciously provided, had a local market run by some folks equally far from home, in that most beautiful of Canadian cities. Sure, the version that I loved was sung by Judy Collins, but I had tucked away in one of those cranial recesses, that the man who had provided a bit of peace, tranquility, inspiration, and even a bit of hope was Leonard Cohen.Cohen actively collaborated with Simmons in this impressive work. Typical of the ever so self-deprecating Cohen, he just wanted to make sure it was not a "hagiography," and it is not, and is all the stronger for it. It is a fitting tribute to him, and proved to be an essential read. There were so many missing pieces between the lyrics, and so much background for them, and Simmons provides much, but is content to leave some ambiguity on the table, just as Leonard would have.Leonard Cohen's ancestors, Lithuanian-Russian Jews arrived in Canada in 1860. When Leonard came around, in 1934, the family was prosperous upper middle class clothiers, and hence his tastes for suits, which is referenced in the title to the first chapter. He explored the docks and bars of Montreal in his youth, attended McGill University, wrote some good poetry, but as most folks know, you can't make a living that way, which forced him into music. Off to NYC, a couple of the right intros, and he was off to continued obscurity in the United States, but developed a strong following in Europe. He lived on the Greek Island of Hydra, where he met the Norwegian model, Marianne. He is a "Lady's Man," but not the type that would "notch a bedpost"... with the right chemistry, things just seem to happen. He lived with fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell for a year, and told the world once about a tribute from Janis Joplin in the Chelsea Hotel. "You can't tell the players without a scorecard," as they once upon a time cried at the stadium entrance. But Leonard seemed to be scorecard-less, summed up with his classic line: "I can't keep track of each fallen robin."Like Sir Richard Francis Burton before him, he tried on a few religions, reflecting the spirituality of his lyrics. He found a guru, of sorts, but mainly a friend, in Roshi, Joshu Sasaki, who is still alive at 107, and is famous for saying "Excuse me for not dying." (The most recent controversies concerning Roshi, surfacing in 2013, did not make this bio, published in '12). Cohen became an "ordained" Buddhist monk under Roshi's guidance... but then went off to India, in search of a Hindu guru. While being a monk, he was betrayed by his long-time financial manager, Kelley Lynch, and lost all his retirement money. The world, and perhaps Leonard, is better off for it. He "dusted himself off" and at the age of 73, skipped back out on the world stage, performing concert after concert to sell-out crowds, recouping his losses and more. And it was no "farewell tour," some of his best work may have been produced in conjunction with it, complementing the subject "Hallelujah". On tour, his wit was always with him, and he'd tell the audiences that the last time he was on tour he was "sixty years old, just a kid with a crazy dream."His most fervent fan-base will appreciate his comments on aging:"Everything changes as you get older; I never met a woman until I was sixty-five. Instead, I saw all kinds of miracles in front of me."And there is so much else in this very excellent biography, in which Simmons weaves his lyrics, for the "au courant," and presents balanced assessments, just as you might imagine Leonard doing. Europe and the United States. I thought Simmons nailed the qualities of Cohen's music perfectly: "dark humor, old-world romance, existential gloom and poetry." Why is this so much more popular in Europe than in the United States? A question to discuss, but never to answer, so cherie, just "Dance Me to the End of Love." 6-stars.

Update: I'm now about 200 pages into this book. I am relishing the details and either I've gotten used to this author's style, blocked her out or she's stepped out of the way of the story. In any case it's become easier to read. There's still lots of lines like: the Chelsea hotel's elevator being just big enough for a man and a corpse, which is an observation attributed to no one other than the author. (Rolling eyes) It's worth it to keep going, though. The in-depth information is exactly what I was looking for.Original review:I am hating this author. She puts these stupid observations in that makes the book sound like she's using someone else's voice (one she's just trying on for now). I don't know what this author's relationship was with Leonard, but to me she sounds like she's trying to be the deep and interesting one. This book says it's about Leonard Cohen but is actually so full of this author's dopey attempts at being artistic that it is at least half about her. I don't care, or imagine anyone cares, to read a biography where the author doesn't dissappear. I imagine that sitting there with someone like Leonard would make you want to also be deep, thoughtful and profound, but she is definitely not! I just want her to shut up and focus on the subject. If you want to touch the mind of Cohen I suggest watching any of the hundreds of interviews you can find on YouTube and let this author explore her own voice by herself. It is amateurish writing and it's so disappointing I want to throw it in the trash, but I will probably finish it because I love Leonard's poetry so much. Read his "Book of Longing", it is breathtaking. I am completely head over heals for this master of words and would have loved to have been one of his fallen robins.

If you are a devoted fan of Leonard Cohen, this is a must read.The author must have interviewed hundreds of people- family, friends, children (2), lovers (countless), other musicians, fellow spiritual seekers etc for this book.Other than the very private & personal, I can't imagine a fact about Mr. Cohen's life not covered in this tome of a book.Along with Leonard Cohen, the author goes into much detail about so many people he met on his journey through life.Truly a magnificent tribute to one of the greatest poet, singers & songwriters.Thank you Sylvie Simmons for writing this book.

Gute Bücher sind selten geworden. Diese Biographie über Leonhard Cohen von Sylvie Simmons gehört zu diesen seltenen Exemplaren. Ich habe mich von der ersten bis zur letzten der etwas mehr als 500 Seiten an diesem Buch erfreut. Es war immer wieder spannend weiterzulesen. In dem Buch steckt viel Arbeit. Es ist hervorragend recherchiert und zusammengestellt. Keine Hagiographie - die Autorin hält die Balance zwischen Nähe und Sympathie zum Gegenstand sowie Distanz und Kritikfähigkeit.Einzig die Schwester Cohens kommt nahezu nicht vor, was mich besonders im Kapitel über Cohens Kindheit gestört hat. Das ist für mich der einzige Schwachpunkt im Buch, der aber aufgrund der Qualität des gesamten Buches für mich nicht ins Gewicht fällt.Vielen Dank, Sylvie Simmons!

Good biography so far. I love leonard Cohen and this has been a window to the mand behind the artist. Of course sometimes it's a bit hard to face the person behind and artist we love, with all of his or her flaws. The biography although not desteuctive does not indulge him and seems to be balanced and well documented.

É a biografia que Leonard Cohen merecia.

a great read, about a great man and not an hagiography at all.. leonard cohen the man is as much interesting as the artist.

Una biografía digna del personaje que la protagoniza; la autora te lleva por la vida de Leonard Cohen a través de su variada creación artística, contando detalles que hacen la lectura ligera y mantienen el interés en el libro. Una manera muy agradable de adentrarte en la mente del genio y comprender sus composiciones en un nuevo nivel.