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oliver_rami's review against another edition
1.0
Brian Grazer disguised privilege with curiosity. Grazer gave us an egoistic story about how “curiosity” changed his life and could change yours. Overall, the book was hard to read due to the way it tried to conceal the real reason for the author’s success, however, some of Grazer’s point on curiosity in our current society are well put and interesting to think about.
entamewitchlulu's review against another edition
you ever read a book that could have been an email
princesspersephone's review against another edition
4.0
Insatiably curious is a character trait easily applied to any voracious reader. How else would i continuously pour through 300+ pages of a nonfiction book to find the overly complex answer to a question that can be simply, though less intricately, explained in a quick google search. Grazer starts off his book talking about the politics of curiosity and how it is typically seen as a foray against the order of our carefully run society. Sadly, not everyone has the free range to be as overtly curious as him in his project interviewing the noteworthy and famous. The examples Brian Grazer gives are charming and a bit ostentatious at times, but are enjoyable as they go far beyond the curiosity of the mundane that most people experience daily. This book is deeply inspirational to the point of enticing you to push your own boundaries of curiosity.
pizzamyheart's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second fastest nonfiction book I've ever read. First and foremost, the size is misleading. If you flip to the back of the book, you'll see that it's 300 pages. The last 100 pages is comprised of notes, a list of famous people he's met with and expanding on meetings he mentioned previously in the book. In reality, the book is only 200 pages.
As I said earlier, I flew through this book. I found it incredibly motivating. Reading about his start in Hollywood was the best part. He took one chance, one opportunity and used it to change his life around. He went from a boring desk job to working his way into the film industry. He reiterates time and again that life is made up of chances and choices. It's not all about luck. It's 50% lucky, but 50% choice. What will you do about those opportunities you are presented with? If you heard of a great job opportunity, would you act on it or just sit around thinking "that sounds great" but do nothing about it? The moral of his book is to always keep your eyes and ears open. You never know what is around the corner.
While at first some of Grazer's stories don't make sense, he eventually brings everything back together. Before you know it you've learned a valuable life lesson through his experiences.
This book is a fast read. It's not perfect and could have used more editing. At times I felt that he was dragging things out to meet a publishing quota. If this was paired down to 150 pages, I would buy this book and present it to every graduate I know. It's a great example of how being curious can get you places. Always ask questions. Always try to look at things through another person's eyes. This isn't a book just for creatives and Hollywood types. It's for anyone looking to get the most out of their life. At times it felt like a great speech given given at a graduation ceremony. If you're looking for motivation in life this might be the book for you.
As I said earlier, I flew through this book. I found it incredibly motivating. Reading about his start in Hollywood was the best part. He took one chance, one opportunity and used it to change his life around. He went from a boring desk job to working his way into the film industry. He reiterates time and again that life is made up of chances and choices. It's not all about luck. It's 50% lucky, but 50% choice. What will you do about those opportunities you are presented with? If you heard of a great job opportunity, would you act on it or just sit around thinking "that sounds great" but do nothing about it? The moral of his book is to always keep your eyes and ears open. You never know what is around the corner.
While at first some of Grazer's stories don't make sense, he eventually brings everything back together. Before you know it you've learned a valuable life lesson through his experiences.
This book is a fast read. It's not perfect and could have used more editing. At times I felt that he was dragging things out to meet a publishing quota. If this was paired down to 150 pages, I would buy this book and present it to every graduate I know. It's a great example of how being curious can get you places. Always ask questions. Always try to look at things through another person's eyes. This isn't a book just for creatives and Hollywood types. It's for anyone looking to get the most out of their life. At times it felt like a great speech given given at a graduation ceremony. If you're looking for motivation in life this might be the book for you.
davecee's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
Interesting idea repeated over and over. Listing of all his conversations.
tiffanydasilva's review against another edition
1.0
I found this book on a table surrounded by the books I love to read: books about decision making, how people make mistakes, how your brain works etc.
This is not that kind of book.
If this book was perhaps in the "how to be a producer" table, or publicized as a Brian Grazer biography than maybe I'd be interested. But unfortunately for me I bought this book hoping I'd understand a bit about why curiousity is important to human kind...
Instead I read 200 pages filled to the brim with name dropping and an in-depth analysis of how cool Brian grazer thinks he is. I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes this much while reading a book.
Sadly, 90% of the book was unnecessary to make his point. If he had started with the last chapter and went from there, it probably would have been a decent read. Maybe.
Side note to Mr. Grazer: when you interviewed Michael Jackson and told him to take off his gloves because it was bothering you. I'm not sure what you intended the reader to think. That incident didn't make you more likeable... it just makes you rude.
This is not that kind of book.
If this book was perhaps in the "how to be a producer" table, or publicized as a Brian Grazer biography than maybe I'd be interested. But unfortunately for me I bought this book hoping I'd understand a bit about why curiousity is important to human kind...
Instead I read 200 pages filled to the brim with name dropping and an in-depth analysis of how cool Brian grazer thinks he is. I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes this much while reading a book.
Sadly, 90% of the book was unnecessary to make his point. If he had started with the last chapter and went from there, it probably would have been a decent read. Maybe.
Side note to Mr. Grazer: when you interviewed Michael Jackson and told him to take off his gloves because it was bothering you. I'm not sure what you intended the reader to think. That incident didn't make you more likeable... it just makes you rude.
craftygoat's review against another edition
3.5
3.5-ish. I'm not big on memoirs disguised as self-help books, & I almost gave up on this one when I realized it was yet ANOTHER one of those written by a famous person I hadn't heard of. But it was better than I expected. Some name-dropping, for sure. But also some interesting stuff. Good reminder to embrace curiosity and really be open to questioning / listening to / connecting with the people around us.