Up Till Now: The Autobiography by William Shatner, David Fisher
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Book Reviews of Up Till Now: The Autobiography
Book Review: One heck of a life
Summary: 5 Stars
I really have little interest in celebrity biographies. I had little interest in William Shatner, save for his hilarious sendup in a Brad Paisley music video. But I saw this voume and figured it was worth skimming at least.
Actually it is extremely interesting. I am presuming Shatner's co-author had a lot to do with the style, but it is Shatner as a person that shines through.
It's a surprisingly good book about an actor's life, how so very much of that kind of life is dependent entirely upon random fortune, luck - good and bad. Shatner had been a working actor for years, essentially steadily employed, but not famous. Captain Kirk was his breakout role - and in that he freely admits to being a second fiddle, especially in the beginning, to Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock character.
Kirk gave Shatner more freedom than ever to be Shatner, a man open to experiment, taking serious roles as well as spoofing himself and everything in between. Since I am not actually a Shatner fan, I was really surprised at just how much work Shatner has done.
There are many memorable scenes and highlights in this book. One that really sticks in my memory is Shatner's explanations for why he works so much, aside from the need to satisfy his creative urges. The first stemmed from a tour of the late Edward G. Robinson's renowned gallery of French Impressionists. This was at a time when "real" actors did not lower themselves to doing television commercials. In a discussion about actors and commercials, Robinson waves his hand at his very valuable and very expensive collection of paintings and asks Shatner how he thought Robinson could afford them. Point well made.
The other anecdote is an explanation of why Shatner rarely turns down work: every job opens a door to new opportunities, explains Shatner. What a great philosophy.
There are many, many asides, seques and detours in this book, which frankly adds to its character. It is a collection of tips to aspiring actors. It is a journal of the remembrances of a man who has seen good times and bad. The story of his third wife's alcoholism and her accidental death is dad. Likewise, the recounting of Leonard Nimoy's alcoholism came as a surprise to me. There are snippets of the proud father talking about and to his four daughters. Bits and pieces of his four marriages make their way into the narrative.
By the last page, you have a pretty good feel for the man who is William Shatner. He's a guy who has had some lucky breaks and, more importantly, never stopped trying to expand his horizons, never stopped giving vent to urge to create. All in all, he comes across as an interesting, talented guy who is at ease with himself.
Good reading, even if you are not a Shatner fan.
Jerry
Book Review: Explore Bill Shatner's world
Summary: 5 Stars
William Shatner's UP TILL NOW is an appropriate summation of his 60 year career in entertainment. Shatner takes the high road throughout; often blaming himself for things gone wrong (marriages and personal relationships), and never responding harshly to the criticisms of others. His self-deprecating and tongue-in-cheek humor extends to several digressions for product placement and blatant commercialism: an acknowledgement that the late-career Bill Shatner is more than a highly successful actor-- he's a money-making institution.
This latest autobiography touches on all the familiar acting resume highlights: a famous Twilight Zone episode, 30 years as the most renowned character in sci-fi history, and lead roles in three other very successful TV series. There's no glossing over the missteps, either. Thus, such box office failures as "White Commanche," "The Horror at 37,000 Feet" and Roger Corman's controversial production, "The Intruder" are also covered. Shatner glories in a nude scene he played opposite an equally undressed Angie Dickenson in a typical Corman turkey, "Big Bad Mama" and unashamedly recalls that his recording of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" is considered by some to be one of the worst cover songs ever made.
Shatner's personal life and family history are examined; he discusses current interests and projects with obvious relish. Often within the pages of UP TILL NOW, Bill Shatner *THE STAR* struts like a proud bantam rooster but does so gracefully and with justification. Fans of his many TV shows and movies will not be disappointed in this book.
William Shatner's other autobiographical works, STAR TREK MEMORIES and GET A LIFE! are equally as entertaining and informative.
Book Review: Even the most picky Trek fan should love this book.
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember William Shatner back in the Alfred Hitchcock and Twilight Zone days. I never realized then that he would become such a legend from a science fiction show called Star Trek. Even after sadly watching the original, or as we say now the Classic, Star Trek go off the air we never dreamed what an effect the show and William Shatner would have on society. As a sometime watcher of T.J. Hooker (sorry Bill) a non watcher of Boston Legal (not sorry, just no time) and a fan of the [...] commercials (hard to avoid) I felt this was a great book in that most of Shatner's work is covered. That includes stage, screen and TV. I am not sure how much of this book was written by him or David Fisher, but the Shatner character flows through. At times the writing is a little disjointed, jumping here and there, but that is what is so nice about the book. Not a chronological life story so much as what it would be like chatting in a living room with him. Even the interruptions and plugs to go buy from William Shatner's web page are fun. In fact that is where I got my copy of this book and paid the extra to have it signed. Trust me, it is cheaper than a big Trek convention, fighting your way through long lines of thousands of Trekkies and finding that Mr. Shatner can only sign for a few. Besides, he deserves to make the money. I have read a large number of books on Star Trek and all the books by Mr. Shatner and find that there were still new things to be learned. To me, Star Trek was a special show as I was able to use it in teaching public school and in church classes. William Shatner and the rest of the original crew were my "teaching partners". It is a great book, a fun read and I pray that he eventually gets the answers he wants about God and other things. I'm a bigger fan of his now than I was before. What is especially nice is that his career is still going strong. Thank you William Shatner for all your great work.Book Review: Incredibly Entertaining Book Even for Those Who Don't Love Shatner
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a great way for Shatner to avoid opening up too much while taking readers on an entertaining journey through his life. Even those who don't rate as Shatner fans will love the inside-Hollywood stories. But be warned--you never know if what he's telling you is true!
I am not a Star Trek fan and have seen Shatner in only few things. I know his reputation is that of pompous, arrogant jerk who takes himself way too seriously. But being interested in the entertainment business I gave him a chance and I'm glad I did.
From the start Shatner and his co-author write in a ADHD style that starts to tell a story, then in the middle of the story skips ahead 30 years to another story, before returning to the original story. Then in the middle of a chapter he will suddenly pause in the middle of a story to do a commercial for his website or a movie he wants you to rent. At first it's a little odd, but then you realize that this is pure Shatner humor. He doesn't want to just write another tell-all book; he wants to entertain you in an offbeat way.
Everything about the book is humorous, even his serious stories. He refuses to reveal too much about himself or his family or his emotions, but he lets the reader in on just enough to catch glimpses the public has never seen before. His ego is on every page, but it's mixed with a self-deprecation that is appealing.
The only caution is that he is an admitted fabricator and it's difficult to know when he's just pulling your leg. At one point he even has to write, "That's the true story of how I made up a story."
In the end it doesn't make much difference whether what he tells you is the complete, accurate story. His point is to make you laugh and to mock the traditional autobiography. By that measure the book is a complete success.
Book Review: A Fun Read on a Fun Character
Summary: 5 Stars
As memoirs or autobiographies go, this is one of the best. It is not because there is any great depth to to it but it takes the reader through many emotions from side splitting laugher to pathos and back again. Shatner and co-author David Fisher are great storytellers helped by the fact that the man famous for playing Captain Kirk provides a raft of great material.
Never a Trekkie, I first appreciated William Shatner via his Price Line commercials initially, and now his fabulous work in Boston Legal. The thing that makes this man so interesting is he is prepared to try and do almost anything for his art! Combine this with some very humorous writing on directors, actors and various personnel he has worked with and you have a truly enjoyable book. Shatner tells us about the director who took nineteen takes for the word `no.' The film where a different director `spared every expense,' how he found out Angie Dickenson was not a natural blonde!
For Star Trek fans, I am sure this book is a must. A series that was saved from being canned by a write-in campaign has become an international phenomenon. Shatner provides much insight into the program including Leonard Nimoy's battle with addiction and the fact that the author was not very popular amongst much of the cast.
Now on his fourth marriage, his account of marriage three to an alcoholic who drowned in their swimming pool is searing. While I am sure Shatner has a huge ego, one of the endearing things about the book is that he is not afraid to recount his personal and acting struggles. No matter what happens, the man just keeps going which I think is what you will do once you start reading this light, sometimes poignant, often humorous and genuinely enjoyable book.