Life Itself

A Memoir

By: Roger Ebert

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

"I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out."
—from Life Itself

Roger Ebert is the best-known film critic of our time. He has been reviewing films for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, and was the first film critic ever to win a Pulitzer Prize. He has appeared on television for four decades, including 23 years as cohost of Siskel & Ebert at the Movies.

In 2006, complications from thyroid cancer treatment resulted in the loss of his ability to eat, drink, or speak. But with the loss of his voice, Ebert has only become a more prolific and influential writer. And now, for the first time, he tells the full, dramatic story of his life and career.

Roger Ebert's journalism carried him on a path far from his nearly idyllic childhood in Urbana, Illinois. It is a journey that began as a reporter for his local daily, and took him to Chicago, where he was unexpectedly given the job of film critic for the Sun-Times, launching a lifetime's adventures.

In this candid, personal history, Ebert chronicles it all: his loves, losses, and obsessions; his struggle and recovery from alcoholism; his marriage; his politics; and his spiritual beliefs. He writes about his years at the Sun-Times, his colorful newspaper friends, and his life-changing collaboration with Gene Siskel. He remembers his friendships with Studs Terkel, Mike Royko, Oprah Winfrey, and Russ Meyer (for whom he wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and an ill-fated Sex Pistols movie). He shares his insights into movie stars and directors like John Wayne, Werner Herzog, and Martin Scorsese.

This is a story that only Roger Ebert could tell. Filled with the same deep insight, dry wit, and sharp observations that his readers have long cherished, this is more than a memoir-it is a singular, warm-hearted, inspiring look at life itself.

©2011 Roger Ebert (P)2011 Hachette Audio

We need more Roger Ebert in the world.

I needed to read this. It's filled with kindness. And that's the best of things.

Beautiful!

I could picture Roger Ebert speaking and telling his life story. There were many tear jerkers and plenty of laughter. This is not a story about alcoholism but he does discus his alcoholism in a very frank and honest manner.

Inspiring read.

If you could sum up Life Itself in three words, what would they be?

Life is short.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Roger Ebert, of course. Roger Ebert critiqued his last movie. That movie being, his life.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Roger Ebert reviews his last movie.

Any additional comments?

This was a good read. Boy, some people has such interesting lives. My life is so little compared to some folks.

Roger Ebert Life Itself

What did you love best about Life Itself?

Roger Ebert is such a well thought out and impassioned writer, and this book allows his writing to come through in a more personal manner. I found his life story to be an unlikely one, and I finished the book feeling like he was an old friend. I am also from Chicago, so it was fascinating for me to hear personal accounts about Chicago favorites like Studs Terkel and neighborhood places back in the day, as I listened to the audio book and ran through the city streets.

Some chapters really stick out - like the one dedicated to Gene Siskel and, of course, the one about the love of Ebert's life, his wife Chaz. There were definitely moments that brought me to tears, and others that made me laugh out loud.

Also the performance by Edward Herrmann is spot on. Sometimes, lost in the story, I actually forgot it wasn't Ebert narrating. I highly recommend this book!

Enjoyable on every level

I loved everything about this book--the story of his life, Roger Ebert's wonderful writing style, and Edward Herrmann's flawless recording. There's a lot here for anyone who loves biography or memoir, and all the better if you're a film lover, because he treats us to some terrific profiles of the notable directors and actors he's met along the way. (I've never been a fan of a couple of the directors that Roger writes about in selected chapters, but I feel like I have a new insight into their work and will go back for a second look at some of those films.) I also have a new appreciation for and deep respect for the challenges Roger has faced in his life. He is a man of great depth, humor, intelligence, and compassion. The wonderful thing about an audio book is that you don't always have a sense of how far along you are in the work. I listened to this book over the course of several days and just got lost in it--in the best kind of way. If it had lasted another hundred hours, I would have loved every minute of it.

I wanted to love it but.....

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I love Roger Ebert, faithfully read his blogs and watched him on his television shows. However, I found this memoir hard to listen to, as it weirdly repeated phrases and events in more than one chapter in the book.

Well Worth a Listen

I grew up listening to Roger Ebert, and it was incredible to hear more about his life and not his reviews. Give it a listen and hear more about the his charming life–in all of its emotion and humor.

Great parts and slow parts to this life story

I was a big fan of the Siskel and Ebert movie review TV show, and really looked forward to this memoir. I enjoyed the beginning which covered Roger Ebert as a child, high-schooler, and college student. I liked his early years as a reporter. But then there was about a 90 minute stretch which talked about places he loved in Europe. Not much about Ebert or other people, Just one place after another. It got really boring to me. Then, when Ebert gets into reviewing movies, there was one snippet after another about entertainers he meets. Not too interesting to me as I did not know too much about those people, nor care. I skimmed ahead a bit until I got the the Siskel chapter, which I loved. The rest of the book was very good. We got to the love life of Roger Ebert, including learning about Chas, his wife. He finally dealt with his alcoholism, and then with his cancer. Those last three hours were very engaging. So, for me, good first third, boring middle third, and very engaging final third. I expect that if you are a real student of the movies (and even better, of Europe, too), you will like the whole book.

Two thumbs up!

What did you love best about Life Itself?

I enjoyed hearing how Ebert gained his fame. Many of the stories and anecdotes about famous people are interesting. I was a big fan of his show and still to this day value his reviews over anyone else's.

What about Edward Herrmann’s performance did you like?

His reading makes this book much more enjoyable. This could have been a dry, slow collection of old stories but the narration makes this very easy to listen to.

Any additional comments?

As another reviewer said the first one third of the book is a bit slow. The repetition of some stories is odd. Overall it was an easy listen and if you are an Ebert fan you should enjoy this book.

newspaper life and movies. a fascinating book.

although Roger didn't/couldn't read his story, the sound of his voice animates this entire book. It was funny and moving and bittersweet. one of my favorite Audible offerings to date. Edward Herrmann's reading was pitch perfect.