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Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard
Drawing on unprecedented archival and family access, Cooler Than The Life of Elmore Leonard, is the first comprehensive biography of the master American crime writer, author of witty, gritty bestsellers like Get Shorty and Raylan.
Over the course of his sixty-year career, Elmore Leonard, “the Dickens of Detroit,” published forty-five novels that have had enduring appeal to readers around the world. Revered by Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Raymond Carver, and Stephen King, his books were innovative in their blending of a Hemingway-inspired noirish minimalism and a masterful use of realistic dialogue over exposition—a direct evolution spurred by his years as a screenwriter.
Leonard’s fiction contained many layers, and at the heart of his work were progressive themes, stemming from his years as a student of the Jesuit religious order, his personal beliefs in social justice, and his successful battle over alcoholism. He drew inspiration from greats like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, but the true motivation and brilliance behind his crime writing was the ongoing class struggle to achieve the American Dream—often seen through the eyes of law enforcement officers and the criminals they vowed to apprehend.
C. M. Kushins tells Leonard’s full life story against recurring themes and evolving storytelling methods of his work, drawing on interviews with primary sources ranging from Leonard’s family and friends to those who acted in, produced, and directed his work onscreen. He also includes never-before-published excerpts from Leonard’s unfinished final novel and planned memoir. Definitive and revealing, Cooler Than Cool shows Leonard emerging as one of the last writers of the “pulp fiction” era of midcentury America, to ultimately become one of the most successful storytellers of the twentieth century, whose influence continues to have far-reaching effects on both contemporary crime fiction and American filmmaking.
Over the course of his sixty-year career, Elmore Leonard, “the Dickens of Detroit,” published forty-five novels that have had enduring appeal to readers around the world. Revered by Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Raymond Carver, and Stephen King, his books were innovative in their blending of a Hemingway-inspired noirish minimalism and a masterful use of realistic dialogue over exposition—a direct evolution spurred by his years as a screenwriter.
Leonard’s fiction contained many layers, and at the heart of his work were progressive themes, stemming from his years as a student of the Jesuit religious order, his personal beliefs in social justice, and his successful battle over alcoholism. He drew inspiration from greats like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, but the true motivation and brilliance behind his crime writing was the ongoing class struggle to achieve the American Dream—often seen through the eyes of law enforcement officers and the criminals they vowed to apprehend.
C. M. Kushins tells Leonard’s full life story against recurring themes and evolving storytelling methods of his work, drawing on interviews with primary sources ranging from Leonard’s family and friends to those who acted in, produced, and directed his work onscreen. He also includes never-before-published excerpts from Leonard’s unfinished final novel and planned memoir. Definitive and revealing, Cooler Than Cool shows Leonard emerging as one of the last writers of the “pulp fiction” era of midcentury America, to ultimately become one of the most successful storytellers of the twentieth century, whose influence continues to have far-reaching effects on both contemporary crime fiction and American filmmaking.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published June 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 10, 2025
"If I just sit here, what am I going to do? I don't have a trade. I don't teach or anything. I just love to make up characters, and gradually build a story around them." -- Elmore Leonard
Tagged with the sobriquet 'The Dickens of Detroit' - although that is his adopted hometown; he was actually born in New Orleans - Elmore 'Dutch' Leonard clocked in a highly respectable and prolific 60 years as a fiction writer. A WWII veteran serving with the Navy's 'Seabees' in the Pacific Theater and then an advertising copy writer for Chevrolet, Leonard initially started his extensive storytelling journey penning many Western novellas during the 1950's and 60's. This soon led to successful silver-screen adaptations - see 3:10 to Yuma, Hombre, and Valdez is Coming - although Leonard gradually moved to the crime genre for which he is best known. For approximately his final four decades he was averaging a book a year, and arguably achieved and cemented his 'cool' status when a trio of his best-selling works - Get Shorty, Out of Sight, and Rum Punch (it was retitled Jackie Brown) - were made into rare critically-acclaimed and commercially successful movie versions, that were all ALSO astoundingly faithful to source material, in the mid-1990's. But does this background make for an interesting bio on said author? Leonard was a pretty chill dude it seems, and mostly lived a relatively quiet and unpretentious life in the suburban Motor City while raising five children. Cooler Than Cool works best when it delves into Leonard's research and writing process, and how he set out to create his durable books such as Mr. Majestyk and 52 Pick-Up. Especially heartwarming was an anecdote in the final chapter where author Kushins details his youthful correspondence to Leonard for writing advice, and Leonard - in a subversion of the old 'never meet your heroes' dictum - responds to him in a sincere, helpful and completely non-condescending manner.
Tagged with the sobriquet 'The Dickens of Detroit' - although that is his adopted hometown; he was actually born in New Orleans - Elmore 'Dutch' Leonard clocked in a highly respectable and prolific 60 years as a fiction writer. A WWII veteran serving with the Navy's 'Seabees' in the Pacific Theater and then an advertising copy writer for Chevrolet, Leonard initially started his extensive storytelling journey penning many Western novellas during the 1950's and 60's. This soon led to successful silver-screen adaptations - see 3:10 to Yuma, Hombre, and Valdez is Coming - although Leonard gradually moved to the crime genre for which he is best known. For approximately his final four decades he was averaging a book a year, and arguably achieved and cemented his 'cool' status when a trio of his best-selling works - Get Shorty, Out of Sight, and Rum Punch (it was retitled Jackie Brown) - were made into rare critically-acclaimed and commercially successful movie versions, that were all ALSO astoundingly faithful to source material, in the mid-1990's. But does this background make for an interesting bio on said author? Leonard was a pretty chill dude it seems, and mostly lived a relatively quiet and unpretentious life in the suburban Motor City while raising five children. Cooler Than Cool works best when it delves into Leonard's research and writing process, and how he set out to create his durable books such as Mr. Majestyk and 52 Pick-Up. Especially heartwarming was an anecdote in the final chapter where author Kushins details his youthful correspondence to Leonard for writing advice, and Leonard - in a subversion of the old 'never meet your heroes' dictum - responds to him in a sincere, helpful and completely non-condescending manner.
April 4, 2025
This is an extremely in depth look into the life and career of one of the greatest authors of all time, Elmore Leonard. It takes you from his upbringing to the development of (I think) every book that he ever wrote (he wrote a LOT) all the way to his final days.
This book is a must read for all Leonard fans and anyone curious to peer into the inner workings of an all time great author. It drags along at times, but this is overall a fantastic biography.
This book is a must read for all Leonard fans and anyone curious to peer into the inner workings of an all time great author. It drags along at times, but this is overall a fantastic biography.
August 19, 2025
Every year I post a reel on my socials when it’s Elmore Leonard’s birthday. As a writer, I copy his sentences, study his style, and have read most of his works.
The publisher gave me a copy of this bio, and I appreciated the details of his life. That said, it was at times a slog through information. I prefer biographers like David McCullough or Ron Chernow for style because they capture the person’s essence in addition to the facts.
Here are some favorite quotes:
When he was a Seabee in WW II he wrote short stories in letters & said “Someday I’m going to get good and drunk and write a book.”
“I was reading very closely —and deciding most people used too many words.”
Elmore defended his choice to write mainstream fiction, saying it was the most assured outlet for a writer to be read.
Of a western story published in 1961, Trail of the Apache, he later commented on a lengthy description: “You hear all that writing in there? I don’t do that anymore.”
“You have to write well enough to get someone’s attention. The writer has to have patience, the perseverance to just sit there alone and grind it out. Hemingway said ‘Anyone who wants to be a writer and isn’t writing, doesn’t.’”
“I’ve heard of writers who claim they don’t read their reviews and find that impossible to believe. You write to please yourself first, if you’re serious and you’re honest. But you’re also communicating, otherwise why have the work published?”
“Publishers have always liked my work, but we’re unable to sell it because it didn’t fit neatly into a category. My work was sort of a hybrid. Not literary, but not pure thriller either.”
About marketing he sent a note to his agent, “I can understand why the sales department (at Delacorte) had trouble selling my books. Maybe they ought to take their head out of their ass and read one.”
“A reporter asked what it’s like to achieve success ‘finally, at your age.’ (1980) I told him I’ve never considered myself unsuccessful, or that being on a bestseller list had anything to do with it. My job is not to sell books, it’s to write them.”
About the book City Primeval, The NY Times said “Leonard is an entertainer of enormous finesse who can write circles around almost anyone active in the crime novel genre today.”
“You hear tales in the picture business, people have been getting F’d since before Birth of a Nation. It’s sometimes part of the deal. I’m taking money, you assume the position.”
Writer John McDonald said of Split Images: “Leonard can really write. He’s astonishingly good. He doesn’t cheat the reader. The images stay in the mind a long time. The character Walter is one of the most dimensional people I have come across in fiction in a long time.”
Leonard had studied McDonald’s Travis McGee books saying, “I read him like a textbook in the 50’s.”
In the 80’s, 30 years into writing, he said “in only the last 5-6 years have I developed my style to the point where I know exactly how I want to tell a story. I think I’ve learned what to leave out.”
“If I were to fade back to a safe place, say just this side of obscurity, at least I’d have time to write.”
“The trick to writing is to remain calm, try not to choke, avoid adverbs, and use not more than 5 exclamation points in 300 pages.”
Of Edgar winning novel LaBrava, a reviewer said “Call it vernacular or the American language, Leonard does it as well as any writer. “
To his agent: “I don’t understand your desire to get me into TV writing. They want plot. But I don’t sit down and plot. I concentrate on people and let the plot happen.”
Nickname and on his tombstone: The Dickens of Detroit.
Regarding films made from his books: “the books are ours; everything else is virgins thrown in the volcano.”
Elmore continued to write all of his books in longhand and remained steadfast in his aversion to computers.
“Anybody who can turn misfortune into a book as witty and satisfying as Get Shorty has obviously learned long ago not to take anything seriously—save his craft.”- Dayton Daily News review
He wore Hawaiian shirts, rock band shirts like 9 Inch nails, Birkenstocks with white socks. Had Aerosmith at his house for a pool party and only served peanuts. He smoked a lot of weed.
Kept a framed photo of a publisher friend on a book stand behind his desk, recalling he had told Elmore “if it isn’t fun, it isn’t worth doing.”
Directors didn’t understand Elmore’s comedy. A screenwriter told Elmore what he thought a book’s theme was, and he said “I didn’t know that. I thought I was just writing a book.”
Quentin Tarantino claimed to owe a big debt to Elmore. He said “ Leonard helped me figure out my style. He was the first writer I’d ever read who let mundane conversations inform the characters.”
When Tarantino took Leonard’s book Rum Punch and turned it into Jackie Brown, the film, Leonard was introduced to a new generation of fans.
“Learn your craft or your art. Dedicate yourself to it. Starve if you have to. Don’t think as much; do. Don’t be impatient. Find out if you’re any good before you try to sell whatever it is you have.”
Writing Road Dogs was a new exercise for Leonard. He had to reference 3 of his previous novels for both continuity and accurate biographical info of his characters.
“John McDonald said you have to write a million words before you know what you’re doing, have real control over your sound that you’re consistent with what you want your prose to sound like.”
On the set of the hit TV show Justified, based on Elmore’s books, the show writers wore plastic bracelets embossed WWED (What Would Elmore Do)
When asked why it took him so long to win a National Book Award (2012) he said “perhaps because I’ve written so much.”
His idea of perfect happiness? “ having time to practice my craft without interruption.”
“Perhaps my epitaph could read ‘He wasn’t a bad writer.’ That would be nice.”
When a professor rhapsodized about his patterns of imagery, Leonard said “What’s he talking about?”
From Hombre, but to describe Leonard at his funeral, “You will never see another one like him as long as you live.”
His advice to the man who became his biographer, “Write every day whether you feel like it or not.”
The publisher gave me a copy of this bio, and I appreciated the details of his life. That said, it was at times a slog through information. I prefer biographers like David McCullough or Ron Chernow for style because they capture the person’s essence in addition to the facts.
Here are some favorite quotes:
When he was a Seabee in WW II he wrote short stories in letters & said “Someday I’m going to get good and drunk and write a book.”
“I was reading very closely —and deciding most people used too many words.”
Elmore defended his choice to write mainstream fiction, saying it was the most assured outlet for a writer to be read.
Of a western story published in 1961, Trail of the Apache, he later commented on a lengthy description: “You hear all that writing in there? I don’t do that anymore.”
“You have to write well enough to get someone’s attention. The writer has to have patience, the perseverance to just sit there alone and grind it out. Hemingway said ‘Anyone who wants to be a writer and isn’t writing, doesn’t.’”
“I’ve heard of writers who claim they don’t read their reviews and find that impossible to believe. You write to please yourself first, if you’re serious and you’re honest. But you’re also communicating, otherwise why have the work published?”
“Publishers have always liked my work, but we’re unable to sell it because it didn’t fit neatly into a category. My work was sort of a hybrid. Not literary, but not pure thriller either.”
About marketing he sent a note to his agent, “I can understand why the sales department (at Delacorte) had trouble selling my books. Maybe they ought to take their head out of their ass and read one.”
“A reporter asked what it’s like to achieve success ‘finally, at your age.’ (1980) I told him I’ve never considered myself unsuccessful, or that being on a bestseller list had anything to do with it. My job is not to sell books, it’s to write them.”
About the book City Primeval, The NY Times said “Leonard is an entertainer of enormous finesse who can write circles around almost anyone active in the crime novel genre today.”
“You hear tales in the picture business, people have been getting F’d since before Birth of a Nation. It’s sometimes part of the deal. I’m taking money, you assume the position.”
Writer John McDonald said of Split Images: “Leonard can really write. He’s astonishingly good. He doesn’t cheat the reader. The images stay in the mind a long time. The character Walter is one of the most dimensional people I have come across in fiction in a long time.”
Leonard had studied McDonald’s Travis McGee books saying, “I read him like a textbook in the 50’s.”
In the 80’s, 30 years into writing, he said “in only the last 5-6 years have I developed my style to the point where I know exactly how I want to tell a story. I think I’ve learned what to leave out.”
“If I were to fade back to a safe place, say just this side of obscurity, at least I’d have time to write.”
“The trick to writing is to remain calm, try not to choke, avoid adverbs, and use not more than 5 exclamation points in 300 pages.”
Of Edgar winning novel LaBrava, a reviewer said “Call it vernacular or the American language, Leonard does it as well as any writer. “
To his agent: “I don’t understand your desire to get me into TV writing. They want plot. But I don’t sit down and plot. I concentrate on people and let the plot happen.”
Nickname and on his tombstone: The Dickens of Detroit.
Regarding films made from his books: “the books are ours; everything else is virgins thrown in the volcano.”
Elmore continued to write all of his books in longhand and remained steadfast in his aversion to computers.
“Anybody who can turn misfortune into a book as witty and satisfying as Get Shorty has obviously learned long ago not to take anything seriously—save his craft.”- Dayton Daily News review
He wore Hawaiian shirts, rock band shirts like 9 Inch nails, Birkenstocks with white socks. Had Aerosmith at his house for a pool party and only served peanuts. He smoked a lot of weed.
Kept a framed photo of a publisher friend on a book stand behind his desk, recalling he had told Elmore “if it isn’t fun, it isn’t worth doing.”
Directors didn’t understand Elmore’s comedy. A screenwriter told Elmore what he thought a book’s theme was, and he said “I didn’t know that. I thought I was just writing a book.”
Quentin Tarantino claimed to owe a big debt to Elmore. He said “ Leonard helped me figure out my style. He was the first writer I’d ever read who let mundane conversations inform the characters.”
When Tarantino took Leonard’s book Rum Punch and turned it into Jackie Brown, the film, Leonard was introduced to a new generation of fans.
“Learn your craft or your art. Dedicate yourself to it. Starve if you have to. Don’t think as much; do. Don’t be impatient. Find out if you’re any good before you try to sell whatever it is you have.”
Writing Road Dogs was a new exercise for Leonard. He had to reference 3 of his previous novels for both continuity and accurate biographical info of his characters.
“John McDonald said you have to write a million words before you know what you’re doing, have real control over your sound that you’re consistent with what you want your prose to sound like.”
On the set of the hit TV show Justified, based on Elmore’s books, the show writers wore plastic bracelets embossed WWED (What Would Elmore Do)
When asked why it took him so long to win a National Book Award (2012) he said “perhaps because I’ve written so much.”
His idea of perfect happiness? “ having time to practice my craft without interruption.”
“Perhaps my epitaph could read ‘He wasn’t a bad writer.’ That would be nice.”
When a professor rhapsodized about his patterns of imagery, Leonard said “What’s he talking about?”
From Hombre, but to describe Leonard at his funeral, “You will never see another one like him as long as you live.”
His advice to the man who became his biographer, “Write every day whether you feel like it or not.”
June 26, 2025
This is an excellent biography for Elmore Leonard fans. Leonard led a productive and happy life, but not necessarily a dramatic one. This must have been a challenge for C.M. Kushkins, but Kushkins made the right decision to focus on the work. You get the inspiration behind Leonard's novels and an insight into his writing process. I think you will want to have read a few of Leonard's novels before reading this. Like I said, this is for the Leonard fans.
The most fascinating parts of the book for me was Hollywood's many attempts to adapt Leonard's work. There are some great movies made from his books (Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Jackie Brown, 3:10 to Yuma), but it's surprising that there weren't more when you consider that Elmore Leonard is one of the greatest dialogue authors ever (not hyperbole) and that about 80% of his novels are told through dialogue (maybe a little hyperbolic).
The most fascinating parts of the book for me was Hollywood's many attempts to adapt Leonard's work. There are some great movies made from his books (Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Jackie Brown, 3:10 to Yuma), but it's surprising that there weren't more when you consider that Elmore Leonard is one of the greatest dialogue authors ever (not hyperbole) and that about 80% of his novels are told through dialogue (maybe a little hyperbolic).
March 8, 2025
4.5 stars a strong biography with lots of detail about Leonard’s writing process
July 23, 2025
This book is for any fan of Elmore's writing, no matter how casual a fan you might be. It's in depth and a really interesting read. You learn so much about how the publishing industry worked back in the '50s, '60s and beyond. Back when a short story could pay a couple of thousand bucks. Plus all the work that goes into making a film from John Wayne to John Travolta. I've read every one of Elmore's books and every one of his son Peter's work and I've never been disappointed. Dutch will be missed.
December 28, 2025
Like most novelists, Dutch's life wasn't terribly interesting. Worth reading for the details into his creative process. His novels were never my favorites but they were always readable and some were genuinely great. My faves were Freaky Deaky and Unknown Man #89.
July 16, 2025
While it is admirable that the author had access to a ton of information about Elmore Leonard, it is obvious he could not decide what to leave out. So what we have here is a rush through the life of one of the greatest American authors.
Pretty much every book written by Leonard gets a rehash, which means it's a few graphs on one book before we're off to the next one. You want him to slow down, maybe leave some of the lesser works out, and talk more about the cream of the crop and the motivations behind them.
What's particularly frustrating is that when he does slow down, the critical study here is quite good. (In fact, right in the middle of all this is a breakdown of George V. Higgins' The Friends of Eddie Coyle that might just be the best thing I've ever read on that book.)
Instead, we speed along through the work and the life, and then, before you know it, Elmore Leonard is dead, and the book is done. Less maybe would have been more?
Pretty much every book written by Leonard gets a rehash, which means it's a few graphs on one book before we're off to the next one. You want him to slow down, maybe leave some of the lesser works out, and talk more about the cream of the crop and the motivations behind them.
What's particularly frustrating is that when he does slow down, the critical study here is quite good. (In fact, right in the middle of all this is a breakdown of George V. Higgins' The Friends of Eddie Coyle that might just be the best thing I've ever read on that book.)
Instead, we speed along through the work and the life, and then, before you know it, Elmore Leonard is dead, and the book is done. Less maybe would have been more?
July 12, 2025
A smooth, fast-moving, and comprehensive biography that pays good attention to three major threads of Leonard’s life: the biographical facts, his work, and the evolution of his craft.
April 17, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this biography about an author who transcended genres, a man who created characters that lived, talked and felt more alive than the people sitting next to one in a coffee shop, an author's whose work, and writing tips will still be talked about as long as people read and create.
I remember having a Mystery Book Club edition of Glitz, with the name Elmore Leonard on the cover bigger than the title. I do think the first book I read was Unknown Man#89, a Dell paperback in green with a group of doctors looking down, from a corpse's point of view. I'm sure that is the first one I read, the vague horror, the faint science fiction title. This was so different from the Sherlock Holmes books I was reading. This was gritty, hard, and so much more speaking than I was used to in a book. I found some more, and was hooked. I don't think I am exaggerating in saying that Elmore Leonard was one of my favorite writers. Whose books have been translated into films, a few of them Out of Sight and Jacke Brown in my top ten, and a few of them well Burt Reynolds was ok. Leonard changed the way crime was looked at, reviewed, and even written. Leonard's tips on writing, don't start with weather, cut out adverbs, have become commandments to many writers. This success wasn't overnight, but over a long period of time, or learning, failing, slipping, climbing, and trying new things. All this is documented in this magisterial biography. Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard by C. M. Kushins looks at the life and career of the man nicknamed Dutch, who loved to read, loved to write, and changed an entire genre, with books that will stand the test of time.
Elmore Leonard was born in New Orleans in 1925. Leonard's parents moved a lot from job to job, until finally Leonard's father landed a job with Chevrolet and they moved to Detroit, the place that Leonard called home, and set many of his early works in. Leonard was a lover of books and dreamed of being a writer like his hero Ernest Hemingway. Leonard broke down stories, getting to what worked, what didn't and why. Leonard also loved to tell stories, one's he would use to get along with people, adding to his popularity. After the Second World War, where Leonard served in the Seebees, building and maintaining airfields in the South Pacific, Leonard went to college, married and was hired to work advertising, something Leonard did to support his growing family. However writing was still something he wanted to follow. Leonard would arise at 5am work until he had two pages done, go to church, than work, come home read to his kids, and do a little editing. These stories were Westerns and within a short time he was placing them in magazines, but the field was dying. Crime or regular fiction was where the money was. Even screenwriting, which Leonard took too. Leonard however kept writing, and soon he found his own style, and a literary career was born.
I could go on, but I will let the book tell the story. This is a fantastic work, one that looks at Leonard's life warts and all. Kushins has really done a lot of research talking to friends, family, researching old interviews and really getting into the mind of the writer. Kushins looks at everything written and even non-published. detailing stories, plots, where characters came from, revisions, changes and more. One sees the slow pace that Leonard's career had, and how Leonard worked on and shaped his craft.
One of the best books I have read about a writer, and one of the most comprehensive. There is really a lot here, especially for writers who wonder about their own work. Reading this gives one hope. Writing two-hours a day, working full-time, playing with his children, and always thinking. Yes Leonard had some luck, but that luck was hard earned and for every success, there was a project that went bad, especially in Hollywood. I can't recommend this book enough, for fans, for future writers and for those struggling to find their style.
I remember having a Mystery Book Club edition of Glitz, with the name Elmore Leonard on the cover bigger than the title. I do think the first book I read was Unknown Man#89, a Dell paperback in green with a group of doctors looking down, from a corpse's point of view. I'm sure that is the first one I read, the vague horror, the faint science fiction title. This was so different from the Sherlock Holmes books I was reading. This was gritty, hard, and so much more speaking than I was used to in a book. I found some more, and was hooked. I don't think I am exaggerating in saying that Elmore Leonard was one of my favorite writers. Whose books have been translated into films, a few of them Out of Sight and Jacke Brown in my top ten, and a few of them well Burt Reynolds was ok. Leonard changed the way crime was looked at, reviewed, and even written. Leonard's tips on writing, don't start with weather, cut out adverbs, have become commandments to many writers. This success wasn't overnight, but over a long period of time, or learning, failing, slipping, climbing, and trying new things. All this is documented in this magisterial biography. Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard by C. M. Kushins looks at the life and career of the man nicknamed Dutch, who loved to read, loved to write, and changed an entire genre, with books that will stand the test of time.
Elmore Leonard was born in New Orleans in 1925. Leonard's parents moved a lot from job to job, until finally Leonard's father landed a job with Chevrolet and they moved to Detroit, the place that Leonard called home, and set many of his early works in. Leonard was a lover of books and dreamed of being a writer like his hero Ernest Hemingway. Leonard broke down stories, getting to what worked, what didn't and why. Leonard also loved to tell stories, one's he would use to get along with people, adding to his popularity. After the Second World War, where Leonard served in the Seebees, building and maintaining airfields in the South Pacific, Leonard went to college, married and was hired to work advertising, something Leonard did to support his growing family. However writing was still something he wanted to follow. Leonard would arise at 5am work until he had two pages done, go to church, than work, come home read to his kids, and do a little editing. These stories were Westerns and within a short time he was placing them in magazines, but the field was dying. Crime or regular fiction was where the money was. Even screenwriting, which Leonard took too. Leonard however kept writing, and soon he found his own style, and a literary career was born.
I could go on, but I will let the book tell the story. This is a fantastic work, one that looks at Leonard's life warts and all. Kushins has really done a lot of research talking to friends, family, researching old interviews and really getting into the mind of the writer. Kushins looks at everything written and even non-published. detailing stories, plots, where characters came from, revisions, changes and more. One sees the slow pace that Leonard's career had, and how Leonard worked on and shaped his craft.
One of the best books I have read about a writer, and one of the most comprehensive. There is really a lot here, especially for writers who wonder about their own work. Reading this gives one hope. Writing two-hours a day, working full-time, playing with his children, and always thinking. Yes Leonard had some luck, but that luck was hard earned and for every success, there was a project that went bad, especially in Hollywood. I can't recommend this book enough, for fans, for future writers and for those struggling to find their style.
October 16, 2025
As a Detroiter, I know that Elmore "Dutch" Leonard was one of ours — the Dickens of Detroit as he is memorialized, the writer of crime novels, mysteries, westerns, satires, many of which were made into movies.
In Cooler Than Cool, author C.M. Cushins takes us through Leonard's long and ultimately successful career with extensive access to his notes, assistants, agents, and family members. Whether you are deeply into his novels or would like to get a real sense of what the life of an author — behind the scenes, complete with battles with alcoholism and family dysfunction — may be like, the book will enlighten you. The detail can at times overwhelm, but it seems clear it's all there as a comprehensive documentation.
It had been a while, so I grabbed one of Leonard's "Jack Foley" crime novels — Out of Sight — and read it with a new appreciation for how dialog carries and even creates the story, so masterfully written as to seem effortless. Like maybe he just recorded it. Of course, he didn't, but the true mark of a professional is to make the difficult seem effortless and perfect.
On a personal note, I was pleasantly surprised to see my own name appear in this book (p. 416 and 425) acknowledging my efforts in 2013 to set up an interview for PBS's American Masters series while I was at the Detroit PBS station. I wrote how he belonged there, comparing it to the importance of Johnny Carson's recent successful portrayal on the series. Although Leonard declined because he was in the throes of trying to finish what would be his last book (but who knew that at the time?), I appreciated the seriously hard effort that Elmore's researcher Greg Sutter made to make my case.
The book also notes another PBS connection:
Favorite fun quote to go out on from agent H.N. Swanson:
In Cooler Than Cool, author C.M. Cushins takes us through Leonard's long and ultimately successful career with extensive access to his notes, assistants, agents, and family members. Whether you are deeply into his novels or would like to get a real sense of what the life of an author — behind the scenes, complete with battles with alcoholism and family dysfunction — may be like, the book will enlighten you. The detail can at times overwhelm, but it seems clear it's all there as a comprehensive documentation.
Leonard had become a workaholic without his ex-wife and grown children and opted to take [agent] H.N. Swanson's advice: "Nothing in this world can take the place of work. It's the best companion you will ever have. It will never upset your life style, and there is always the chance it will make you rich as well as famous."
It had been a while, so I grabbed one of Leonard's "Jack Foley" crime novels — Out of Sight — and read it with a new appreciation for how dialog carries and even creates the story, so masterfully written as to seem effortless. Like maybe he just recorded it. Of course, he didn't, but the true mark of a professional is to make the difficult seem effortless and perfect.
On a personal note, I was pleasantly surprised to see my own name appear in this book (p. 416 and 425) acknowledging my efforts in 2013 to set up an interview for PBS's American Masters series while I was at the Detroit PBS station. I wrote how he belonged there, comparing it to the importance of Johnny Carson's recent successful portrayal on the series. Although Leonard declined because he was in the throes of trying to finish what would be his last book (but who knew that at the time?), I appreciated the seriously hard effort that Elmore's researcher Greg Sutter made to make my case.
The book also notes another PBS connection:
In 1984, he had accepted an invitation from Dennis Wholey, the host of LateNight America, a talk-show out of Detroit and a recovered alcoholic, to contribute an essay to his anthology on alcoholism, The Courage to Change. For the one and only time, Leonard wrote an unbridled, no-punches-pulled chronicle of his youthful addiction, and its effects on his marriage to Beverly and writing career.
Favorite fun quote to go out on from agent H.N. Swanson:
Whenever I am asked what kind of writing is the most lucrative, I have to say, ransom notes.
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July 16, 2025This is a biography of Elmore Leonard. I am a tremendous fan of his. I read pretty much all of his crime books as they were released. He published about thirty of them between 1971 and 2002. I started to reread some of them, with great pleasure.
The problem for Kushins is that Leonard did not live a tremendously exciting life. Leonard was a professional writer. He sat down every day and worked on his current book or script. He produced a huge amount of work, because he worked at it like a job. He didn't party in Paris like Hemingway or experiment with drugs like P.K. Dick or hitchhike cross country like J. D. Salinger. He mostly wrote.
Leonard also spent a huge amount of time writing and rewriting scripts for possible movie productions. All of his book got sold to studios for production. He wrote great stories. He spent a huge amount of time in Hollywood meetings and production meetings. Many of the books did not get filmed. Many were made into mediocre movies or TV shows. Two great movies were made based on his stories, "Get Shorty" and "Jacie Brown".
As a result, most of this book is Leonard outlining and researching his new book, writing the book and the reviews and reception for each book. There are also endless details of movie deals, most of which go nowhere.
Leonard was a fanatic about researching his books. From 1980 he had a full-time researcher, Greg Sutton, working for him. The details of his research are interesting, although the source for the names of each of his characters get a bit much at times.
It is also ironic that this biography of such an elegant and crisp writer is not particularly well written or edited. For example, he misuses "apprehensive", and he describes something as "an issue of ire for many critics" and then there is train wreck of a sentence;
"What had been most unique was the young author's dependence on dialogue, and his grasp of street dialects not often found in the world of his immediate peers."
"Most unique" is not a thing.
Having two things be "most unique" is not a thing
If it is a grasp of street dialects that is sometimes found in his peers, it is not unique.
I found myself skimming as this book went along. My recommendation is, read Leonard's books.
The problem for Kushins is that Leonard did not live a tremendously exciting life. Leonard was a professional writer. He sat down every day and worked on his current book or script. He produced a huge amount of work, because he worked at it like a job. He didn't party in Paris like Hemingway or experiment with drugs like P.K. Dick or hitchhike cross country like J. D. Salinger. He mostly wrote.
Leonard also spent a huge amount of time writing and rewriting scripts for possible movie productions. All of his book got sold to studios for production. He wrote great stories. He spent a huge amount of time in Hollywood meetings and production meetings. Many of the books did not get filmed. Many were made into mediocre movies or TV shows. Two great movies were made based on his stories, "Get Shorty" and "Jacie Brown".
As a result, most of this book is Leonard outlining and researching his new book, writing the book and the reviews and reception for each book. There are also endless details of movie deals, most of which go nowhere.
Leonard was a fanatic about researching his books. From 1980 he had a full-time researcher, Greg Sutton, working for him. The details of his research are interesting, although the source for the names of each of his characters get a bit much at times.
It is also ironic that this biography of such an elegant and crisp writer is not particularly well written or edited. For example, he misuses "apprehensive", and he describes something as "an issue of ire for many critics" and then there is train wreck of a sentence;
"What had been most unique was the young author's dependence on dialogue, and his grasp of street dialects not often found in the world of his immediate peers."
"Most unique" is not a thing.
Having two things be "most unique" is not a thing
If it is a grasp of street dialects that is sometimes found in his peers, it is not unique.
I found myself skimming as this book went along. My recommendation is, read Leonard's books.
June 12, 2025
“Cooler Than Cool” lives up to its name. It’s an amazingly well-researched and utterly gripping read that will delight both dedicated Elmore Leonard fans and those just discovering his work. In this, his third biography, C.M. Kushins delivers a comprehensive and compelling portrait of the man behind the stories and the unforgettable characters.
Kushins masterfully works chronologically through Leonard’s life, seamlessly weaving together biographical details, insightful analysis of his writing, and a vivid sense of the cultural moments that shaped him. We gain a fascinating understanding not only of Leonard’s artistic development, but also of the man himself, his passions, his quirks, and his dedication to the craft. This isn’t just a story of a writer “putting in the work,” it’s a compelling look at a life lived fully.
Beyond the literary insights, “Cooler Than Cool” also offers a fascinating and often revealing glimpse into the publishing industry and the often-turbulent world of Hollywood adaptations. This broad appeal makes it a book that will suit a variety of interests. This story also has a touching and deeply personal connection to be discovered in the afterward, offering insight in to the passion with which the book is written. Ultimately, Kushins brings Elmore Leonard to life as a vibrant, complex individual who embraced life to the fullest, right up until his final days. A highly recommended read for anyone interested in American literature, crime fiction, or the creative process itself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for a digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2025
Here’s a massive authorized biography about a legendary American writer, Elmore "Dutch" Leonard, the “Dickens of Detroit.” While drawing on other biographies of Leonard, Kushins’ biography is the first cradle-to-grave biography of Leonard in which the author was granted full access to the Leonard archives from the University of South Carolina (including Leonard’s annotated manuscripts) and unprecedented access to Leonard’s family (including first wife Beverly). Kushins also interviewed many people who knew or worked with Leonard. Though packed with a treasure trove of information, the book never overwhelms the reader with irrelevant facts or tedious trivia. It approaches its subject with reverence, respect, and wit. Kushins, like Leonard, put in the work and it shows. Cooler Than Cool is the most authoritative account of Leonard’s life and work.
For my complete review, go here.
For my complete review, go here.
December 8, 2025
COMPREHENSIVE - Kushins had lots of access to Leonard's letters, notebooks, and copiouis research materials. He takes you through Leonard's professional life (and personal too - for Leonard struggled with alcoholism until he met his second wife) beat by beat, from a writer of western stories, to the king of Detroit crime novels, to Hollywood success - although this last thing was never without conflict and amusing annoyances. A must-read for his fans, and it will also put together a good reading list for you if you've only read a handful of his books.
July 27, 2025
Excellent comprehensive biography of Elmore Leonard.
You get to know Leonard and the influence his writing had on the world.
I am taking off one star for this biography for being a little too detailed.
I could have easily skipped every name change of Leonard's characters and how he used something similar in an earlier book. The man wrote 45 novels. That's a lot of character tracking.
With that small criticism I would highly recommend this book.
You get to know Leonard and the influence his writing had on the world.
I am taking off one star for this biography for being a little too detailed.
I could have easily skipped every name change of Leonard's characters and how he used something similar in an earlier book. The man wrote 45 novels. That's a lot of character tracking.
With that small criticism I would highly recommend this book.
August 19, 2025
No question Elmo Leonard led a lot of life. And wrote lot of books, at least forty, from westerns to thrillers to hard boiled police – procedurals, and movie scripts based on his books. He also left behind diaries and correspondence filled with and terms of phrase.
Which makes this extensive biography a fun read with insights about his writing process, and the characters in his life, including himself. If nothing else it’s brought me back to reading his literary output.
Which makes this extensive biography a fun read with insights about his writing process, and the characters in his life, including himself. If nothing else it’s brought me back to reading his literary output.
July 4, 2025
This book is an excellent biography of Elmore Leonard and his work. It is comprehensive and shows the work ethic of a real writer. Leonard's legacy covers a variety of topics, writing techniques, character and plotting. This is required reading for anyone looking to write. It is a top book, informative and readable.
November 17, 2025
Mr. Kushins has delivered a very good accounting of his favorite author. I see perils considering the many tremendous fans, including myself, should there be shortfalls. Mr. Kushins' great commitment shines through. Exciting background to the author's beginning story, practice and each of Elmore's projects, charting his prolific production through the final uncompleted novel.
November 29, 2025
If there’s such a thing as “too exhaustively researched,” this is it. For me, the first third of the book, his upbringing, early years and westerns, moved really slowly. Maybe that just reflects my level of interest. Second half of the book moved quicker and had lots of fascinating detail. Elmore Leonard was one of a kind.
August 24, 2025
This book covers a lot of ground. Leonard wrote over 40 novels, plus many short stories and Kushins describes the process of how Leonard for each came up with the story, the characters, and how he wrote them. Also covered is the process of how some are made into movies, whew!
September 13, 2025
I went into this book knowing nothing about Elmore Leonard and came out really excited to check out his work. The pacing drags a bit in spots, but overall it’s worth it and left me ready to dive into his books.
September 12, 2025
Wonderful biography of master-writer Elmore Leonard. Kushins entertainingly balances Leonard's life details, story summaries (there were a lot!), and Leonard's focus and observations on craft.
November 25, 2025
In depth look at a great American writer
November 28, 2025
A detailed biography of the life and career of Elmore Leonard. Now I’m compelled to reread some of his books.
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