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The Elephant to Hollywood
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Review
Praise for What's It All About?: 'Written with just the right mix of warmth and candour, and in a prose style that is the literary equivalent of his easy-going, up-front persona, this is a super book that informs as much as it entertains.' (Sunday Express )
'It has taken two decades to get a man back on the Moon and the man is Michael Caine. Niven's influence as a writer runs right through it... some genuinely vintage laughs' (Sunday Times )
'Caine gives his public value for money, covering his whole life with David Nivenish charm' (Sunday Telegraph )
'It has taken two decades to get a man back on the Moon and the man is Michael Caine. Niven's influence as a writer runs right through it... some genuinely vintage laughs' (Sunday Times )
'Caine gives his public value for money, covering his whole life with David Nivenish charm' (Sunday Telegraph )
Review
Praise for What's It All About?: 'Written with just the right mix of warmth and candour, and in a prose style that is the literary equivalent of his easy-going, up-front persona, this is a super book that informs as much as it entertains.' -- Sunday Express 'It has taken two decades to get a man back on the Moon and the man is Michael Caine. Niven's influence as a writer runs right through it... some genuinely vintage laughs' -- Sunday Times 'Caine gives his public value for money, covering his whole life with David Nivenish charm' -- Sunday Telegraph
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Longer career and shorter book is not a good combination - read What's It All About? instead
17 Jan 2011
Format:Hardcover
To some extent, the weaknesses of this book are somewhat inevitable. In 1992 Caine wrote What's It All About?, an autobiography that was interesting and a great read from an extremely prolific movie actor who has rubbed shoulders with some of the greats. Caine is a natural raconteur and, one suspects, is terrific company. At the time, he thought that his place as a Hollywood leading man was over - and indeed in that sense it largely was. But in subsequent years he has taken on some terrific supporting actor roles and produced, in my view, some of his most interesting work. There is still then a story to tell, despite the fact that in my view no one should really be allowed to publish more than one autobiography. That could have been fine though if he had just concentrated on those 20 years, but instead, perhaps understandably, he has chosen to repeat the "full life" approach and that's the book's weakness.
Since What's It All About?, there are another 20 years and countless movies to add, and perhaps in recognition that many readers will have read the first book, this time the book is about half the length of the first book. It's harsh to note that some of the stories are the same - of course they are - but with the huge number of movies, there is little scope for any detail as he attempts to precis this period that he's already covered. The result is too much like a list with little interesting detail. There's also some repetition within the book of bits from the first period and the more interesting newer work.
There's good stuff here on his later works not covered in the earlier book, but the feeling is like in pre-digital music when a band you like and have all the albums decides to issue a Greatest Hits with two new tracks. To be fair, I read his first book when it first came out (I'm a huge Caine fan) so some of the repeated stories stood a re-telling as it is nearly 20 years since I read that first book, but certainly if you have read the other more recently, you would feel a strong sense of deja vu.
Because of the brevity of this book too, the list of famous people who are all described as great friends, reads like a who's who and can be a bit repetitive. What it lacks is any insight into the hard work that Caine has undoubtedly put into his career. If we take this at face value, his career looks like an endless stream of good fortune with no work involved, which I suspect is not the case. There's much more colour provided in his first book.
He also constantly makes a point of his working class roots in a sort of "Jenny from the block" manner - and yet while this is indeed where he came from, his politics are far from the working class routes now - supporting the Conservative Party in the most recent election. Again, no problem with making that choice but if you are going to do that, then for me at least you need to tone down the "I'm just a working class boy" rhetoric.
It's just too much of a re-hash and if you are looking for a good source on Caine's life, then I'd still go with What's It All About?, even though that means you will lack the latter part of his career. It's just a better book and more thoughtful - perhaps because the discipline of thinking about these things in the first place gave more insight. If, like me, you read that book a while ago, then this is in no way a bad book - Caine remains terrific company and he has a nice, friendly and chatty style - but the combination of a longer career and a shorter book is not a good mixture and the result is more like a list of events than an analysis of a career and a life.
Since What's It All About?, there are another 20 years and countless movies to add, and perhaps in recognition that many readers will have read the first book, this time the book is about half the length of the first book. It's harsh to note that some of the stories are the same - of course they are - but with the huge number of movies, there is little scope for any detail as he attempts to precis this period that he's already covered. The result is too much like a list with little interesting detail. There's also some repetition within the book of bits from the first period and the more interesting newer work.
There's good stuff here on his later works not covered in the earlier book, but the feeling is like in pre-digital music when a band you like and have all the albums decides to issue a Greatest Hits with two new tracks. To be fair, I read his first book when it first came out (I'm a huge Caine fan) so some of the repeated stories stood a re-telling as it is nearly 20 years since I read that first book, but certainly if you have read the other more recently, you would feel a strong sense of deja vu.
Because of the brevity of this book too, the list of famous people who are all described as great friends, reads like a who's who and can be a bit repetitive. What it lacks is any insight into the hard work that Caine has undoubtedly put into his career. If we take this at face value, his career looks like an endless stream of good fortune with no work involved, which I suspect is not the case. There's much more colour provided in his first book.
He also constantly makes a point of his working class roots in a sort of "Jenny from the block" manner - and yet while this is indeed where he came from, his politics are far from the working class routes now - supporting the Conservative Party in the most recent election. Again, no problem with making that choice but if you are going to do that, then for me at least you need to tone down the "I'm just a working class boy" rhetoric.
It's just too much of a re-hash and if you are looking for a good source on Caine's life, then I'd still go with What's It All About?, even though that means you will lack the latter part of his career. It's just a better book and more thoughtful - perhaps because the discipline of thinking about these things in the first place gave more insight. If, like me, you read that book a while ago, then this is in no way a bad book - Caine remains terrific company and he has a nice, friendly and chatty style - but the combination of a longer career and a shorter book is not a good mixture and the result is more like a list of events than an analysis of a career and a life.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A good read. A fairly easy going written style that is typically Michael Caine as if he is reading it to you. I thought he was name dropping at first, but then I realised it is more the fact that he cannot believe he's actually made it big, mixing with some of the all time movie and entertainment great actors that he has idolised since he was a kid. He gives the impression to have been genuinely star struck on many occasions in his early years and even in advancing years or instead he suffers from a tremendous lack of confidence stemming from his very humble beginnings in life. Never the less the latter seem to have kept him fairly grounded. He mentions briefly his excess drinking and smoking but doesn't really dwell too much on this or how it might affected his family or relationship with his wife Shakira, similarly the endless travelling and taking a fair few parts in dud films. He mentions Jack Nicholson several times giving the impression that he and Jack are very good friends but sadly does not pursue this as I am sure he has a few tales to tell. It does get a bit wearing though when he mentions another famous name and spending countless holidays which are the best he has ever had, in particular the South of France when he has spent most of the book talking about Hollywood. He mentions Peter Sellers briefly. It would have been nice if he had written a little more of his times with him or maybe he didn't know him that well similarly Sean Connery and Roger Moore as there are several pictures of them in the book. Perhaps he valued the friendships more than to start spilling too many beans ..........
This is an easy read. There are some poingant moments for instance when he finds out he has a half brother and that his mother had kept him a secret from him and his other brother Stanley for decades apparently disappearing to visit him every monday for decades without telling a word.
What also comes across is that Caine has much charm, is a good story teller and could also have a third career as a raconteur/stand up simply with all the experiences he has had and jokes he has heard. One gets the feeling he could really let go, but not in this book. He has had quite a career as restauranteur which he tells at some length.
Just a little more weighty analysis and detail in some areas would have earned him 5 stars, but I guess he was getting bored by then and nonetheless wanted to keep something of himself back.
This is an easy read. There are some poingant moments for instance when he finds out he has a half brother and that his mother had kept him a secret from him and his other brother Stanley for decades apparently disappearing to visit him every monday for decades without telling a word.
What also comes across is that Caine has much charm, is a good story teller and could also have a third career as a raconteur/stand up simply with all the experiences he has had and jokes he has heard. One gets the feeling he could really let go, but not in this book. He has had quite a career as restauranteur which he tells at some length.
Just a little more weighty analysis and detail in some areas would have earned him 5 stars, but I guess he was getting bored by then and nonetheless wanted to keep something of himself back.
37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Michael Caine wrote a substantial autobiography a few years ago, so customers who already own that one should be aware: that part of his life hasn't changed, so expect to read about it again! What we get that's new here is his more recent career, covering the gradual revival of his appetite for acting in decent movies after a long period of disillusionment and barely-concealed boredom. There are some new stories, and some interesting anecdotes about what sounds like a very contented personal life. If you haven't read Caine's previous book, and you like him, you'll probably find all of this hugely enjoyable. If you have read the previous book, just don't expect too much that's entirely new - what you'll have is basically a light and entertaining coda to the other volume on your shelf. Caveat emptor.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A lost opportunity
I read his first autobiograghy and loved it, it's an easy read, funny and inciteful and when I finished I was thinking I hope he writes another one as he has done so much since... Read more
Published 15 days ago by Neil
The elephant to hollywood
A good read and you can almost visualise in your mind Michael Caine recounting the story. The title's daft and may put reader's off which would be a shame. Ecosse
Published 4 months ago by ecosse
Michael Caine. Top.
Was read by MC so bought this. He has such a dinstictive voice and hearing him tell the tales you are whisked straight back to the films, to Newcastle, Milan, South London, Norfolk... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tim Chaney
Yes, Virginia, some actors are interesting!
A lot of great actors are not interesting at all: they just think they are because they are well known, so I seldom read any actor's biography; I prefer the biographies of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Claude Lambert
Great Christmas gift
This book was interesting and amusing full of Michael Caines quick wit.
I have bought it for my son this Christmas. Very efficient delivery, too.
I have bought it for my son this Christmas. Very efficient delivery, too.
Published 5 months ago by M. Murphy
good, but perhaps a bit lightweight?
To me an autobiography should follow a simple formula. Cover the subject's childhood fairly quickly highlighting any experiences that help explain their future personality. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. K. J. Santi
Something of a Surprise
I've never been that big a fan of Michael Caine, and in fact did not buy this book, I did borrow it from the Library. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ms. Fiona Allen
Marvellous book!
I bought this book as a sample for my phones Kindle application, just to try out the aplication. I was quickly laughing with the book and couldn't stop reading until my eyes tired... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Momi
More 'Friends' than a facebook user
Good book. However, it really did become very tiring just how many 'Friends' and 'Best friends' he made. I know he's a popular chap, but come on! Read more
Published 8 months ago by A. Hobbs
Dads brithday present
I understand the book arrived in good time and in virtually perfect condition.
As for the the biography, I also understand that too is great and despite putting first reserve... Read more
As for the the biography, I also understand that too is great and despite putting first reserve... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sam Remo
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