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mick_travel's review against another edition
5.0
I found Alda's anecdotal way of story telling engaging and lively. It is not strictly chronological, but has a red thread that was easy to follow.
I enjoyed Alda's language and his fine play of words. Also he has a lot of interesting stories to tell.
I enjoyed Alda's language and his fine play of words. Also he has a lot of interesting stories to tell.
nico2022's review against another edition
2.0
I think someone in the book club I read this with put it best: this is a fine memoir about a nice man.
This was an easy, pleasant read, not unlike reading my own grandfather's memoirs. There were some poignant moments, but overall it's not a particularly memorable book. Also, if you're a big M*A*S*H fan, you'll likely be disappointed by how little he talks about the show (it doesn't come up at all for over 100 pages and then just spans a few chapters).
He's an incredibly likable guy, but this book just doesn't delve all that deep.
This was an easy, pleasant read, not unlike reading my own grandfather's memoirs. There were some poignant moments, but overall it's not a particularly memorable book. Also, if you're a big M*A*S*H fan, you'll likely be disappointed by how little he talks about the show (it doesn't come up at all for over 100 pages and then just spans a few chapters).
He's an incredibly likable guy, but this book just doesn't delve all that deep.
marlan's review against another edition
Actually 3.5, as there were many parts that were delightful, engaging, and insightful. It just wasn't consistently that way, so, for my own book-reading records, I can't quite give it 4-stars. But it was definitely worth the read, especially the last half. (The first half feels a little distant, like someone analyzing a childhood.) His time on MASH and Scientific American Frontiers made for some great stories. I also enjoyed reading the perspective of someone who's lived many, many decades of a full life. It's an autobiography in the true sense of the word--not half a life story, as written by a 30-year-old.
It was surprising how different Alda is to the character Hawkeye, and how his real personality was just as easy to empathize with. His lifelong quest to improve himself and to understand the world felt so similar to my own. I also identified with his desire to capture genuine emotion, and to draw emotions out of others through his writing. I'm sure many readers have felt this way, but--it was like he was recording my own thoughts and feelings. It was a great comfort to read about someone with my personality on the other side of life, and how he got there.
Note: the audio book is not read by Alda, so you'll get a better sense of Alda's unique vocal inflections if you read it rather than listen to it.
It was surprising how different Alda is to the character Hawkeye, and how his real personality was just as easy to empathize with. His lifelong quest to improve himself and to understand the world felt so similar to my own. I also identified with his desire to capture genuine emotion, and to draw emotions out of others through his writing. I'm sure many readers have felt this way, but--it was like he was recording my own thoughts and feelings. It was a great comfort to read about someone with my personality on the other side of life, and how he got there.
Note: the audio book is not read by Alda, so you'll get a better sense of Alda's unique vocal inflections if you read it rather than listen to it.
gmjlcorley's review against another edition
4.0
Alan Alda is a good man. I had no idea he was so diverse.
boonelul52's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
First book on my new Kindle Paper. It was an interesting read about a favorite actor. His childhood and parental dynamics led to many issues he learned to overcome.
bartendm's review against another edition
4.0
An audiobook that was easy to listen to, but not all jokes. Full of the reality of life and I enjoyed his honest discussion of all he dealt with in life. Makes you want to know him in person.
erinmilmmil's review against another edition
4.0
Another that I listened to. Yay hour long commute -- I get through at least a book a week on audio now. Anyway, I enjoyed Alan Alda's memoir quite a bit. It was... nice. Just the story of a hard-working family man who also happens to be a famous actor. The audio was ok... wasn't overly excited about the guy's reading, but it wasn't terrible. it'd be a good read (or listen) for anyone who likes memoirs.
rach's review against another edition
4.0
M*A*S*H is one of my most treasured TV shows from when I was a kid, as it was one of the few that I enjoyed watching with my parents. To this day, I can turn on an episode and be endlessly entertained by the engaging stories of hilarity and hijinks, sadness and loss. It can't be surprising that my favorite character was the lovable, womanizing rascal Hawkeye Pierce. I have great respect for Alan Alda as an actor, and when I heard that he had written a few memoirs, I knew I wanted to read them.
What a fascinating life Alan Alda has read. I am intensely jealous of his ability to recall memories from his childhood in such detail, and what interesting detail it is! From his childhood traveling with his father's burlesque show all the way to his life-saving surgery in Chile at the age of 67, Alda chronicles the ups and downs of his life as he tried to figure out what it is to be an actor and a person. Every part of this book is engaging and enjoyable, but I must admit that my favorite part was the behind-the-scenes memories from the set of M*A*S*H, the stories of his relationships with the other actors and how on that set he really became a writer and director.
I can't wait to read his second book. :)
What a fascinating life Alan Alda has read. I am intensely jealous of his ability to recall memories from his childhood in such detail, and what interesting detail it is! From his childhood traveling with his father's burlesque show all the way to his life-saving surgery in Chile at the age of 67, Alda chronicles the ups and downs of his life as he tried to figure out what it is to be an actor and a person. Every part of this book is engaging and enjoyable, but I must admit that my favorite part was the behind-the-scenes memories from the set of M*A*S*H, the stories of his relationships with the other actors and how on that set he really became a writer and director.
I can't wait to read his second book. :)
sylvia_p77's review against another edition
4.0
i adore alan alda to begin with, but this very frank and toucking memoir really added to my esteem.