- Paperback: 358 pages
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0283070641
- ISBN-13: 978-0283070648
- Product Dimensions: 15.4 x 3.2 x 23.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,920,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Up Till Now
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
William Shatner makes it clear fairly early on this book that his keyboard is firmly in his cheek as he retells the story of his life and trys to sell you stuff from his on-line store.
While some will find the style off-putting this is a very personal memoir from a television icon - an actor for almost 60 years he has at least three great shows to his name (Star Trek, T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal) but the book is about more: his joys, his tragedies, his life "up till now".
If you are a fan of his work there are plenty of anecdotes about the well known shows and horror stories about the unknown films. Other facets included are his family, his charity work and his passions - food, woman, horses - maybe not in that order but you get the idea.
Shatner admits to making stuff up in the past, being no good at marriage for many years and making some truly awful films but he does it all in a way that makes you like him and, you get the sense, that may be his aim in all he does
While some will find the style off-putting this is a very personal memoir from a television icon - an actor for almost 60 years he has at least three great shows to his name (Star Trek, T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal) but the book is about more: his joys, his tragedies, his life "up till now".
If you are a fan of his work there are plenty of anecdotes about the well known shows and horror stories about the unknown films. Other facets included are his family, his charity work and his passions - food, woman, horses - maybe not in that order but you get the idea.
Shatner admits to making stuff up in the past, being no good at marriage for many years and making some truly awful films but he does it all in a way that makes you like him and, you get the sense, that may be his aim in all he does
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Up Till Now will appeal to Shatner fans and those who are thinking about acting careers. He provides a "lite" look at what it was like where even the tearful moments are mostly played for laughs.
William Shatner and David Fisher provide lots of entertaining fare that manages to explain his roles and attitude toward life. Being an actor brings an appreciation for irony: An ordinary role may create stardom while a great role may lead to a cancellation. Mr. Shatner's long and successful career has taught him to appreciate simply being able to work and save a little money. He also humbly understands that building and maintaining a marriage while acting is even more difficult, an area where he has not excelled.
The book contains lots of humorous details that were hidden to the camera at the time and the writing sparkles with bon mots like: "This was a series that spared every expense." "Call me 'Lost my life savings in uranium' Shatner. But don't call me collect!" "Where divorce is concerned, it takes two to tangle."
The writing also simulates a conversation in which Shatner continually changes the subject just as you get the juicy part, such as interrupting a story about performing nude with Angie Dickinson with another story about learning how horses can help physically and emotionally handicapped kids. I assume this is Shatner's personal style.
There's also a lot of peek-a-boo in the book, where an allusion is made to some secret that reveals much of the secret without getting into the whole detail such as in the book's final question (I won't say what it is, that would be a spoiler).
Star Trek fans may be a little disappointed that the book doesn't revolve around the series and movies. But most of Shatner's career involved non-Enterprise appearances.
The book kept me laughing throughout. Unlike most books where I race through the book, the entertainment value in this one kept me reading closely.
Why didn't I rate the book a little higher? Shatner was so coy for so long that I didn't feel like he was playing consistently fair with me. Perhaps he doesn't know any more what his own feelings are compared to what he knows will entertain.
William Shatner and David Fisher provide lots of entertaining fare that manages to explain his roles and attitude toward life. Being an actor brings an appreciation for irony: An ordinary role may create stardom while a great role may lead to a cancellation. Mr. Shatner's long and successful career has taught him to appreciate simply being able to work and save a little money. He also humbly understands that building and maintaining a marriage while acting is even more difficult, an area where he has not excelled.
The book contains lots of humorous details that were hidden to the camera at the time and the writing sparkles with bon mots like: "This was a series that spared every expense." "Call me 'Lost my life savings in uranium' Shatner. But don't call me collect!" "Where divorce is concerned, it takes two to tangle."
The writing also simulates a conversation in which Shatner continually changes the subject just as you get the juicy part, such as interrupting a story about performing nude with Angie Dickinson with another story about learning how horses can help physically and emotionally handicapped kids. I assume this is Shatner's personal style.
There's also a lot of peek-a-boo in the book, where an allusion is made to some secret that reveals much of the secret without getting into the whole detail such as in the book's final question (I won't say what it is, that would be a spoiler).
Star Trek fans may be a little disappointed that the book doesn't revolve around the series and movies. But most of Shatner's career involved non-Enterprise appearances.
The book kept me laughing throughout. Unlike most books where I race through the book, the entertainment value in this one kept me reading closely.
Why didn't I rate the book a little higher? Shatner was so coy for so long that I didn't feel like he was playing consistently fair with me. Perhaps he doesn't know any more what his own feelings are compared to what he knows will entertain.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Like a lot of people I only really bought this book as I'm a fan of the original Star Trek series. However, I must also admit to being a bit of a fan of his music. "Has Been" was great, but if you can, try and track down "In Love" - it's brilliant.
I really enjoyed this book and I avoided doing what I do with many biographies by actors, musicians, etc, I didn't skip any bits. I did buy this with an attitude: I'll read about the Star Trek period, but miss out the rest, but I didn't.
The book is easy to read and it's refreshing to read about a star (as that's what Our William is) who doesn't take himself too seriously. For example there's a great line about a review he'd had when Star Trek was first aired, he'd been called 'wooden'. Bill writes in the book that this didn't bother him at the time and it's continued not to bother him for the last forty years!
I would heartily recommend this book, it can be sad, touching and laugh-out-loud funny.
William, you are really something!
I really enjoyed this book and I avoided doing what I do with many biographies by actors, musicians, etc, I didn't skip any bits. I did buy this with an attitude: I'll read about the Star Trek period, but miss out the rest, but I didn't.
The book is easy to read and it's refreshing to read about a star (as that's what Our William is) who doesn't take himself too seriously. For example there's a great line about a review he'd had when Star Trek was first aired, he'd been called 'wooden'. Bill writes in the book that this didn't bother him at the time and it's continued not to bother him for the last forty years!
I would heartily recommend this book, it can be sad, touching and laugh-out-loud funny.
William, you are really something!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Loved it
An inspirational Senior Citizen, from Kirk to Denny Crane, "Work leads to work". Written with self promotion at the fore and humour through out.Up Till Now
Published 7 months ago by The Tai Chi Club
Bill the Great
This was the first book I downloaded on a Kindle while I was on Holiday because I was going into withdrawal over Boston Legal. Read more
Published 9 months ago by racingred
Refreshing
If you think that Shatner is an egotistical old luvvie, this book will do nothing to shatter that illusion. Read more
Published 17 months ago by honestfi
Interesting, honest read but the sales-pitch jokes go a bit far
William Shatner's latest autobiography has a vey quirky feel to it, and focuses mainly on his acting career. Read more
Published 20 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
Just say yes to almost anything
Just say yes to almost anything
I am interested in showbiz memoirs particularly if the person concerned seems to keep working when supposedly more talented... Read more
I am interested in showbiz memoirs particularly if the person concerned seems to keep working when supposedly more talented... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Peter Wade
Laugh out loud funny
Great reading this very funny Bio.....
there are many Bill Shatner Bio's out there... but this would probably be one of the best
there are many Bill Shatner Bio's out there... but this would probably be one of the best
Published on 19 May 2010 by Mr. P. Martin
The art of not taking life too seriously
Many people have many opinions about Bill Shatner( including the man himself)! There is no doubt that he has enjoyed an interesting and varied life, one filled with huge successes... Read more
Published on 14 April 2010 by Earthmover
A nostalgia trip
It's hard to believe that I was enjoying the original Star Trek series nearly 40 years ago and so this was a nostalgic book for me. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2010 by Bluebell
William Shatner, Up Till Now
This is a really enjoyable book. It took only a few days to read and I did not want to put it down. Humerous, serious and most of all it gives an insight into what makes him tick.
Published on 15 Oct 2009 by Derek Iveson
He gets the joke
Never bothered reading a showbiz biog before, but some of the reviews this got in the press piqued my interest. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2009 by L. M. Stephens
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