The Measure Of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Sidney Poitier)

[***] ISBN: 9780061355431 [audio], 9780061357916 [hardcover]

I think I could tell what Mr. Poitier was trying to do in this book, as evidenced in his title. But I don't think he quite does it. He doesn't really give us anything spiritual on which to hang our hat.

Yes, he waxes philosophical in many places. But I don't think these ramblings can really be counted as spiritual or that enlightening. They really just come across as the opinions of one senior citizen looking back on life. Without any corroborating accounts or data, that all they really are: ramblings and opinions.

On the other hand, when the author really sticks to what he knows - his life - then the story tends come alive and speak. It's in these moments where we actually get some actual glimpses into the 'spirituality' of the man. He doesn't have to pretend to be a philosopher to reveal his spiritual or philosophical side. He should stay with the facts.

Still a fun listen, in the audio version.

My Stroke of Luck (Kirk Douglas)

[****] ISBN: 9780060081416 (audio) 9780060009298 (hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. Who would have thought that Kirk Douglas was so poetic, so thoughtful, so inspirational? While this short volume does focus in on the changes a minor stroke brought to his life, he also manages to give some insights into his life, his family, and his soul. Anyone with older parents struggling with health issues (stroke or otherwise) will benefit from reading this book.

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life (Steve Martin)

[****] ISBN: 9781416553649

Sometimes I think of Steve Martin like an older cousin I never met. We both lived in Garden Grove, California (I even performed on the stage of the theater at Garden Grove High School, which he attended) and we both worked at Disneyland (albeit 20 years apart). It's been fun watching him make good and this book does a good job chronicling that process, up through the beginning of his film career.

What works is that he doesn't sensationalize anything, but he doesn't shrink away from emotional issues, either. He really does seem to want to tell it like it was, successes and failures. What also comes through is the amount of persistent hard work it took to be an overnight success. He seems to personify the saying the luck is being ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it comes.

For any fan of Steve Martin, this is a must read.

Thanks for Tuning In (Richard Ruelas)

[***] ISBN: 9780975282212

There is a sure-fire test to find out if someone grew up in Arizona any time between 1955 and 1998. Do they remember Wallace and Ladmo? I do. So does Stephen Spielberg. This is the story of Wallace, the driving force behind It's Wallace? and The Wallace and Ladmo Show. The latter is the longest running children's television show ever.

Actually, this starts out as the story of Bill Thompson, the sparky son of a successful New York stockbroker. This early history is fascinating and tells us much about how Bill became and remained Wallace. He just never grew up.

I'm glad the author managed to get all of this information out of Wallace and his family and friends and then got it put into a structure that works. He doesn't hide any of the realities of the long and colorful life of this permanent cut-up. But he doesn't dwell on them either. The result is a lovely portrait of a beloved man behind a beloved character.

The Life And Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir (Bill Bryson)

[***] ISBN: 9780739315231 (audio) ISBN: 9780375434303 (hardcover)

Bill Bryson grew up in the fifties in the mid-west. This is his story. I grew up in the sixties in the mid-west and west. A bunch of this is also my story.

In some ways, this is everyone's story. The whole idea of 'kidworld', with its own rules. The inexplicability of adults, especially relatives, and their world. The wonderfulness of creating your own entertainments, followed by television and popular culture taking over and defining our lives.

This is also the story of a disappearing way of life. Neighborhoods full of children playing outside, unchaperoned - vanishing. Cities full of distinctive neighborhoods, stores, and restaurants - homogenized by corporations.

I listened to the author reading his own work, and in this case, he pulled it off. Of course, it's his reminiscence. Even beneath the reading, the words were crafted with poetry and care. The book makes the people and places come alive again, in a distinctive and funny way. I do mark the book down a little (I took away a star) because there are several spots where the author turns a bit preachy on a subject or two, diverting the otherwise delightful stream of memories. Otherwise, I'd recommend this book to anyone that wants a flavor of growing up in the fifties.

Orange County Choppers: The Tale of the Teutuls (Senior, Paulie, Mikie)

[***] ISBN: 9780446528016

This is a good tie-in with the show. Supposedly in their own words, the Tuetuls ('tuttles') and some of their cohorts, describe their pasts, their bikes, their show (American Chopper) and their future.

This isn't really a tell-all book. It's all been told before. But it is comprehensive and colorful, though a bit repetitive (how many times do we need to read that Senior shouts and likes old-school bikes and Paulie is mellow and likes new-school bikes?). The one fact that is not really a surprise, but is under-emphasized elsewhere is the claim that the family makes of being born-again Christians. This does ring true in many ways (they won't do bikes with booze, naked girls or devils). But sometimes the way they act makes you wonder. Then again, who says Christians are perfect (yet)?

All-in-all, a fun read for fans of the show or anyone wondering what it's all about.

It's Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks (James Robert Parish)

[****] ISBN: 9780471752677

I didn't realize that Mel Brooks took his work quite so seriously. I also didn't know how hard he had to work to break into show business. I suppose I should have. Most entertainers are only overnight sensations after they put in years of hard work and paying dues.

I learned a few things about screenwriting and writing comedy, in particular. After writing a script in 30 days myself, working mornings and weekends, I thought someone that devoted full time to it would be able to knock one out in a few months. This especially seemed true of Mel Brooks movies, which seem so unrehearsed at times. But no, he took years to write most of them. And he usually did it with a writing partner or two. Comedy is probably easier to write when you have another sense of humor around to fill in your blind spots.

The biographer himself found a good structure for Mel's story and usually writes well. The text is full of attributions, but doesn't come off as a dry academic exercise. The one disappointing spot I found was the very sparse treatment given to developing Blazing Saddles. This is especially puzzling given the importance of this work in bringing Mel into the national spotlight. No matter, I recommend this to anyone that wants to learn more about this great talent.

Here's Johnny! (Ed Mcmahon)

[**] ISBN: 159859088X (CD) 9780786285785 (hardcover)

This was enjoyable, but I was hoping for so more. Over the course of four-plus hours, Ed regales the listener with memories of Johnny Carson. Often these are new and funny (which is what I expected), sometimes only one or the other, all too often they are neither.

It's obvious that Ed Mcmahon has a high regard for Johnny Carson and he wants to make a convincing case for us to like him, too. Here and there, there are genuine insights into the man that was our late-night master of ceremonies for thirty years. Ed also shares some interesting background on his own journey into television and how he and Johnny were thrown together. Most of the time, however, we are left bobbing on the surface wishing we could see beneath the water line.

How many times must Ed remind us he was a side-show barker? A marine? A mini-celebrity in Philadelphia local television? Why must he tell us the well-known Ed Ames "hatchet throwing story" at all, much less two times or more?

I still have fond memories of Johnny and Ed. They were the "forbidden fruit" of after-bedtime television when I growing up. In this audio book, Ed adds a few more good memories. I just wish he would have added more.

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Richard P. Feynman)

[***] ISBN: 9780393019216

This was quite entertaining to listen to. It's not so much a biography, or even a memoir, as a bunch of personal anecdotes. These happen to be more interesting than the personal anecdotes of most people, even most celebrities. And somehow, Mr. Feynman (and his co-author) manage to organize them in such a way that they actually do say quite a bit about the life of this well-loved and quirky physics professor (there are even some references to the physics he did). Along the way, he manages to say or imply quite a bit about what it means to live life to the fullest. However, I was a bit taken aback (and somewhat disappointed) by some of the more colorful adventures and his free-wheeling attitude toward sex and drinking.

From Sawdust to Stardust: The Biography of DeForest Kelley, Star Trek's Dr. McCoy (Terry Lee Rioux)

[***] ISBN: 0743457625

This is a pretty decent account of the life of the actor that brought to life one of the great cultural icons of my time. After having read the autobiographies of many of the actors behind the other major characters of Star Trek, I had always wished that DeForest had written his as well. Since he did not, I was glad to find someone did it on his behalf.

There's plenty here to like. There are many details about his formative years and pre-Trek career in cowboy films and television. There's also an appropriate amount of detail about his later illness and passing. I really like how the author was able to elicit plenty of memories and opinions from De's neighbors and friends. Oh yeah, she also includes plenty of anecdotes about making the Star Trek television shows and movies.

What didn't work is expecting the reader to always remember the cast of unknown characters surrounding the Kelleys in their private life. I've never heard of these people, so it was hard to keep them straight. I needed a bit more structure so I could remember how they fit into the picture (was that someone he met at the Long Beach theater or is it the mail man?). One other annoyance for me was the occasional lapse into editorial by the author, as she waxed poetic about the meaning of Star Trek or DeForest Kelley's career. But this was usually excusable.

Recommended for anyone who loves Star Trek, or cowboy movies.

I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! (Bob Newhart)

[***] ISBN: 1401384862 (abridged CD) 1401302467 (hardcover)

I love Bob Newhart. My dad shared his humor with me, so I shared this book with him for his birthday and then downloaded the audio version from the library. It had me giggling in the car. Even routines that are as old as I am (since both my life and Bob's career started in the 1950's) brought at least a smile. They're no longer fresh. But they are still funny.

What's richer is hearing Bob tell them in the context of the story of his career. Sometimes he let's us in on where the idea came from, or how much work it was to create or how someone stole his material. His life has been interesting, but not overly so (other than being a celebrity). He's just this guy from Chicago.

There's nothing shocking here. Yes, he smoked and quit. Yes, he drank and still does. But, thank God, neither has led to real tragedy. He courted and stayed married. He raised kids. He has not renounced his faith or church. He kept working and still does. I still like Bob Newhart.

Strange Angel (George Pendle)

[****]

The sub-title says it all: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons. I saw this lying on a table at the library and was fascinated by the cover, both the title and the pictures. Reading the jacket convinced me, I had to know more about this goofy mad scientist that worked on rocket engines and hung around with science fiction authors and spiritual con men at the dawn of the rocket age. I had never heard of him before and now I will never forget him.

Living Dangerously: Merian C. Cooper (Mark Cotta Vaz)

[****]

This is the biography of the creator of King Kong. I had not previously known that this guy had lived a life rivaling Indiana Jones or any other adventurer. I thoroughly enjoyed this and might have to read it again. But not too soon, or I'll spoil any chance I have of writing my story about the origins of Kong.

Dean & Me (Jerry Lewis)

[****]

I heard Jerry discussing this book on public radio and (being a fan) knew I had to get my hands on it. Wonderful stuff. Of course, you have to take into account who's writing (Jerry and his ghostwriter), but Jerry does seem to have gotten over his split with Dean Martin and shows substantial love and admiration for him as a key member of their team. I was surprised to find out how quickly they got together and worked up the act and how short their partnership was (only ten years). Anyone interested in Martin and Lewis, just Jerry or the pre-Rat Pack Dean should read this book.

Blessings In Disguise (Alec Guiness)

[**]

I like Alec Guiness's work. It's nice that he felt he had an interesting life, and he probably did. The problem with this memoir is that he makes it all seem boring. Too many names of obscure (to me) English stage actors, directors and producers. He needed to expand a bit more on who these people were/are and why they are cool.