Sex, drugs and depression: New Leonard Cohen biography doesn’t pull punches

Michael Posner is known as the "King of Cohen". He spent $35,000 of his own money to travel the world researching Leonard Cohen, the Canadian Jewish poet legend—and only after the globetrotting and spending did a publisher agree to take Posner on. Posner's biography of the late singer is coming out in three volumes. The first was released last November; the second, this month, almost five years to the day of his death in 2016. Posner has interviewed hundreds of people who knew and admired the troubadour in an effort to compile what is poised to be the definitive Cohen biography. Posner joins today to discuss what he learned about Cohen, including the gritty details of Cohen's escapades, dalliances and inspirations. What we talked about: Find the book at simonandschuster.com Visit Michael Posner's website at michaelposner.com Watch the performance of “Hallelujah” by Tamir Greenberg and Valerie Hamaty on YouTube Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network; find more great Jewish podcasts at thecjn.ca.

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This episode was published on November 25, 2021.

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