Simmons explores the facets of Cohen's life -- from his early childhood in Montreal, to his entree into the worlds of literature and music, his immersion in Jewish culture, obsession with Christian imagery, and deep commitment to Buddhist detachment -- including the five years he spent at a monastery outside of Los Angeles and his ordainment as a Rinzai Zen Buddhist Monk

Born in a suit -- House of women -- Twenty thousand voices -- I had begun to shout -- A man who speaks with a tongue of gold -- Enough of fallen heroes -- Please find me, I am almost 30 -- A long time shaving -- How to court a lady -- Dust of a long sleepless night -- Tao of cowboy -- O make me a mask -- Veins stand out like highways -- A shield against the enemy -- I love you, Leonard -- A sacred kind of conversation -- Hallelujah of the orgasm -- Places where I used to play -- Jeremiah in Tin Pan alley -- From this broken hill -- Love and theft -- Taxes, children, lost pussy -- Future of rock 'n' roll -- Here I stand, I'm your man -- A manual for living with defeat