Who By Fire

War, Atonement, and the Resurrection of Leonard Cohen

By: Matti Friedman

Narrated by: Matti Friedman, Andrew Polk

The incredible never-before-told story of Leonard Cohen's 1973 tour of Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

"Who by Fire is a stunning resurrection of a moment in the life of Leonard Cohen and the history of Israel. It’s the story of a young artist in crisis and a young country at war, and the powerful resonance of the chord struck between them. A beautiful, haunting book full of feeling." —Nicole Krauss, author of To Be a Man

In October, 1973, the poet and singer Leonard Cohen – 39 years old, famous, unhappy, and at a creative dead end – traveled to the Sinai desert and inserted himself into the chaos and bloodshed of the Yom Kippur War. Moving around the front with a guitar and a pick-up team of local musicians, Cohen dived headlong into the midst of a global crisis and met hundreds of fighting men and women at the worst moment of their lives. His audiences heard him knowing it might be the last thing they heard, and those who survived never forgot what they heard.

Cohen’s war tour was an electric cultural moment, one that still echoes today, and one that inspired some of his greatest songs – but a moment that only few knew about, until now. In Who By Fire, Canadian-Israeli journalist Matti Friedman gives us a riveting account of what happened during those weeks in Israel in October, 1973. With access to amazing and never-before-seen material written by Cohen himself, along with dozens of interviews, Friedman revives this fraught and stunning time, presenting an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the artist, and of the young people who heard him sing in the midst of combat.

Who By Fire brings us close to one the greatest, most brilliant and charismatic voices of our times, and gives us a rare glimpse of war, faith, and belonging.

Critic reviews

“A fascinating and intense account of Leonard Cohen’s time in Israel during the 19-day Yom Kippur War of 1973. A must for any Leonard Cohen completist, with excerpts from his unpublished manuscripts from that time. Soulful and thoughtfully done.”—Suzanne Vega

“WHO BY FIRE is a stunning resurrection of a moment in the life of Leonard Cohen and the history of Israel. It’s the story of a young artist in crisis and a young country at war, and the powerful resonance of the chord struck between them. A beautiful, haunting book.” —Nicole Krauss

“A short, symphonic book of remarkable stories of yearning, love, and war, whose leitmotif is a haunted artist bearing secret chords that enchant the world.” —Rabbi David Wolpe

“Matti Friedman excels at finding the great significance in forgotten things: forgotten manuscripts, forgotten wars, forgotten spies. In this account of Leonard Cohen’s forgotten concert tour during the Yom Kippur War, not only is a hidden side of Cohen revealed but so too a hidden side of Israel. WHO BY FIRE is a book about the change that happens when you come through the flames.” —David Bezmozgis

"Friedman illuminates in this fascinating tale an extraordinary chapter in the career of singer and songwriter Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) that left a lasting impact on the state of Israel. … This demonstration of the power of song will stun fans of the legendary artist.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Compelling …. Cohen fans will savor this little-known footnote in the singer’s life.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Who By Fire takes us on an intimate journey[...]"—Jewish Boston

The story of the lady's man

This book is those rare books that I want to finish it at once, but scared to finish it because it means there is no more.

As someone who love Leonard Cohen, or someone who is curious about the mind of the nation and the people of Israel, or someone who wonders where is God and if he just wants it darker, you should all litsen/read this book.

My personal best of 2022

Beautifully crafted almost like poetry

I am a staunch Cohen fan who has all the books and all the albums yet this book brought back to life the whole essence of the man and shed light on an as yet unknown chapter. Told beautifully, it feels as though you re live the war with the bravery of those young soldiers fighting for their tiny country against all odds. The humanity of the Israelis who look after the foal of the mare slaughtered in error and who give water to the Egyptian pilot who parachutes out of the plane he was using to try and kill them minutes earlier (just imagine what would have happened had the tables been turned). This book shows that the legend of Leonard Cohen and his blessings live on far beyond the grave. The Arabs who refused his farewell concert missed out on a golden opportunity, Well Done Mattie Friedman. Am Yisrael Chai!