A book review of Live Long and … What I Learned Along the Way by William Shatner
Stars: ****
Thomas Dunne Books (2018)
Memoir/Aging
224 pages
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Summary: “I have always felt,” William Shatner says early in his newest memoir, that “like the great comedian George Burns, who lived to 100, I couldn’t die as long as I was booked.” And Shatner is always booked.
Still, a brief health scare in 2016 forced him to take stock. After mulling over the lessons he’s learned, the places he’s been, and all the miracles and strange occurrences he’s witnessed over the course of an enduring career in Hollywood and on the stage, he arrived at one simple rule for living a long and good life: don’t die.
It’s the only one-size-fits-all advice, Shatner argues in Live Long and..:What I Learned Along the Way, because everyone has a unique life―but, to help us all out, he’s more than willing to share stories from his unique life. With a combination of pithy humor and thoughtful vulnerability, Shatner lays out his journey from childhood to peak stardom and all the bumps in the road. (Sometimes the literal road, as in the case of his 2,400-mile motorcycle trip across the country with a bike that didn’t function.)
William Shatner is one of our most beloved entertainers, and he intends never to stop entertaining. His funny, provocative, and poignant reflections offer an unforgettable read about a remarkable man.
Live Long and … What I Learned Along the Way
I bought this book because… Star Trek. Yes THAT William Shatner. Turns out it doesn’t talk about Star Trek that much but that’s okay. I intend to read all of his books at some point. This one is more about aging and answering some of the general questions people ask him about life, aging, marriage and career.
I found Shatner’s writing style to be very easy to read. It was like we were sitting and having a discussion. He’s funny and wise and is 90 years old as of this review! I didn’t realize this, probably because he looks great for his age. It’s easy forget that the original Star Trek was in the 60s! It me the 60s are still 40 years ago because growing up I was looking forward to the new millennium and judged time by it. But the 60s were 60 years ago! William Shatner was a grown man when he did Star Trek so yeah, I guess he would be 90.
You absolutely do NOT have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy this book. Like I said he just mentions it a few times in passing. If you want a celebrity seniors opinion on embracing life, this is it.
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