Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai

In 1973, Leonard Cohen performed a series of impromptu concerts for the Israeli Defense Forces fighting in the Yom Kippur War. The performances took place at an important time, not just for his audience but for Cohen himself — who was stuck in a sort of midlife crisis, unhappy with his music and unsatisfied in his personal life. Matti Friedman's Who By Fire is a well-researched analysis of not just how these concerts came about but how they impacted Cohen's future musical development. If you are a serious Leonard Cohen fan, this is an absolutely essential work; for everyone else, it will be an enjoyable curiosity.