“A brilliant collection of writings on politics, social and cultural engagement and literary life. . . . Read this book for its insights into Philip Roth, Joan Didion and Michael Chabon. . . . But even more, read it for its passion, its sense that criticism can take us to the heart of everything: aesthetic, emotional, spiritual, political.” —The Los Angeles Times

A landmark collection of essays on literature and culture from one of America's most beloved and influential critics.

Right up until his death in 2008, John Leonard was a lion in American letters. A passionate, erudite, and wide-ranging critic, he helped shape the landscape of modern literature. He reviewed the most celebrated writers of his age-from Kurt Vonnegut and Joan Didion to Thomas Pynchon and Michael Chabon. He also contributed many pieces on television, film, politics, and the media that still retain their freshness. Collected here are Leonard's best writings-many never before published in book form-on the cultural touchstones of a generation, each piece a testament to his sharp wit, fierce intelligence, and lasting love of the arts. The volume also includes remembrances by Leonard's friends, family, and colleagues, including Gloria Steinem and Victor Navasky.

Read the NY Daily Post's homage to the man,  The Lessons of John Leonard, HERE.