Up till Now: The Autobiography

Loved It!

Before picking up this book, I knew nothing about William Shatner, except his three famous TV roles on Star Trek, T.J. Hooker, and Boston Legal. After reading the book, I feel I know a lot more about him, and appreciate his personality and work ethic. The man has done a little of everything in show business! I completely enjoyed the book and appreciated how he does not take himself too seriously! I think the book was written in a very entertaining matter and made me chuckle out loud in many places. I think he wrote it in a honest manner 'at least I hope so'. It's a fun read and I think most anyone would enjoy it. The book made me aware of his 'Rocket Man' performance, which I since looked up on youtube and found extremely funny and entertaining albeit in a very off-beat manner. I'm glad to stumbled upon the book and read it. I enjoyed it very much.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

As a long time Shatner fan, I'd buy it again

On compact disk there are times when he drops his voice to a near whisper, hard to hear from my auto cd player

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Very Entertaining

A humorous glimpse into the life of William Shatner.

awesome book

i love william shatner and his novels and i cant wait for his new book coming out next month, shatner rules.

????

I wonder what the samples like

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended. Kudos

I totally enjoyed this book. I could not put it down. I cannot wait to read his next book coming out in November. This book is awesome. I would grade it an A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ to eternity. Read and you will definitely enjoy. Thank you.

Shatner's Book a Chatty Read

Reading Bill Shatner's autobiography has been a delightful experience for me. I have been a Star Trek fan for many years and getting a behind the scenes look at the prime character was great fun. I've also been involved in community theatre for most of my life and have watched some of the folks go on to bigger things along the way. His look on the life of a fledgling actor is illuminating and his remarks about the Stratford Festival where particularly interesting to me because we have gone there for about 33 years. Just the flavor his reminiscences give to what has been the joy of my summers has been wonderful.

My Shatner also pokes fun at himself as he has done in many commercials for the past few years. The chapters are punctuated with what I can only call "commercials" and done in a very tongue in cheek way. The sad or bad moments in his life are acknowledged and commented on but not dwelt upon. It's obvious that this is meant to be a fun read. I enjoyed it.

As Shatner ages he gets more interesting!

When Shatner played Captain Kirk he was not necessarily liked by his peers. He was oblivious which is why he was not liked by some of his peers. This is a funny, thoughtful and interesting look at a man who is no longer 35 and a Captain of the spaceship. It is the man in his 70's who is totally surprised that he has gotten this old. The older he has gotten the more interesting he has become ... and his acting is better.

Everything you wanted to know about "THE SHAT" and more.

This book is a scream! Bill Shatner tells of his life and does it in his own self-mocking way. It is funny, but also touches on some deeply sensitive areas of his history. Basically a great autobiography. If you are not a Shatner fan, this will make you one. Very entertaining.

Shatner being himself...

Bill Shatner has written a "bio" once before many years ago titled "Star Trek Memories"... in that book, he came across as very self-absorbed and quite assured of his own abilities. In this book, written with the hindsight of age, his overinflated view of himself has been toned down somewhat and his sense of humor and abiility to poke fun at his own failings is more evident. Having said that, he's still Shatner - while he makes an honest effort to acknowledge that his behavior throughout his life has often been less than perfect, his admissions of that are not accompanied with any real expression of contrition. The book centers FAR more on himself than it does with any of the people who have been connected with him along the way - as a example, during the book he offhandedly mentions that by this point or so he has a child to care for but absolutely nothing about when that child was born, the circumstances surrounding its birth - just "oh, and by now there's a kid". He goes into a little bit more detail about his marriages and into great detail about the drowning death of his third wife, but overall these most personal relationships are glossed over.

Having said that, the book is humorously written (the words are not entirely Shatner's own, as he partnered with David Fisher to produce this tome), is well paced and it's a quick, fun mind-candy selection. If one likes Shatner (and overall I do) or if one liked "Star Trek", it's a nice addition to one's bookshelf and can engender some lively conversation.

Fantastic Fun

This book doesn't contain the bizarreness of Pryor Convictions regarding Richard Pryor's life. Nor is it as funny as American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot by Craig Ferguson. However, I would rate it very high for providing a "fun" reading experience. Just plain, simple fun.

The book spared me the minutiae of all the behind the scenes action - there was some but not too much. It did provide me a detailed picture of the events that shaped Shatner. The risks that he took should be taught in every high school. Risk-taking 101 with the William Shatner Workbook. Those risks defined him as an actor and as a man.

I also enjoyed the writing which made the book sound like you were actually sitting with Bill Shatner while he told his stories. The forgetfulness, the tangents, the tongue in cheek self promotion...all of it combined for an effect that really made Shatner jump off the page. Excellent job.

Am I a Shatner fan? You bet. From Star Trek to Boston Legal. Any time he is on the screen, it is electric. And nowadays, I never miss an airing of Raw Nerve. Great television and in my book, the best interviewer we have ever had the pleasure of watching.

I just can't wait to see what he is going to do next.

I hope you find this opinion helpful.

Michael L. Gooch
Author of Wingtips with Spurs

IT IS SO William Shatner!!!

The narrative moves along ... much like William Shatner "moves along."

He's like the brother you just knew was different ... a good different ... but different.

There's a "glow" at the end of reading this book ...

....it is SO WILLIAM SHATNER!!

So endearing....

I have been a fan of Shatner's since childhood. He has always entertained me no matter what show he was on. He has an amazing career but more than that, his book truly shares the person he is. He has had so many ups and downs in his life. He has handled everything that life has thrown at him in such a real way. He doesn't sugar coat who he is but at the same time allows the reader to step into his brain and understand how he gets thru. I hope that I get to meet him someday. I had a brief window in which I was going to do a show on horses with him years ago but then he got busy with Boston Legal (I think Denny Crane is really alot of Shatner). I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did.

Denny Crane in real life

Absolutely love the book. I feel that he is as close to the character Denny Crane in real life. The book is hilarious and full of adventure in the life of William Shatner. I feel that he expresses himself quite well. I enjoyed the fact that he moved around quite a bit from topic to topic, which allowed the book to be nothing but exciting and interesting and most of all hilarious!

just ok

Shatner is a good actor, but not a good writer. His thoughts jump around as if he's bipolar. At times I thought, ok-enough is enough, move on. Had a difficult time keeping focused on the reading because he rambled on and on. What an ego.

The People's performer

William Shatner writes just like he talks.I had the opportunity to see him at 92nd. Y & he was very engaging & funny.It's an honest,hilarious & sometimes reflective book,especially about his third wife,Nerine.I may not be in show business,but I can relate to Bill.I find him & his book to be fascinating.

This should be a must read !!!

I cannot wait to read this book...saw him on Fox and Friends today. He has such a great sense of humor. Who could not enjoy him..and Spader..as they converse with the scotch and cigars on Boston Legal !!!

The finest starship captain in the fleet!

Bill Shatner really is an icon, and has developed many memorable characters over the course of his acting career. Forever the dashing, and charismatic Captain James T. Kirk, he was very much a father figure type during Star Treks run in the late 1960s. But, more importantly, he has always stayed close to his craft and pushing it in new directions: reinventing himself. In many ways, we all relate to Bill, and his new book is an insight into one of hollywood's legacy actors from the late 1950s through today. If your a fan of any of his memorable characters, you'll enjoy this humorous expose of his autobiography. Mr. Sulu - ahead warp factor two!

I cant wait

I cant wait for Captain Kirk's book, I wonder if he writes like he speaks!

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