Drama: An Actor's Education

John Lithgow is an actor I've long admired, but knew little about. In this book, he shares his life with the listener, both professional and personal. I now feel I know the man well. And I also have more to admire about him -- he's an excellent writer. As an actor myself, I learned much about his attitudes toward his craft and his life in the theater, in film, and much of it helpful. His particular career path was a winding one, his experiences, successes and failures, his self discovery -- how he learns from all of it. But it is his relationship with his father that takes center stage. Those are the moments most moving in the book, when he talks about his aging father and literature, drama, the love of words they shared. By book's end, it feels more like a fascinating conversation you've had with John Lithgow over after dinner drinks. Then you suddenly realize, you haven't said a word.

Language to caress the ears

Finding out that some authors can do justice to their written words

no

yes

John Lithgow uses language that takes you into his life story. He reads with pathos and articulation. A pleasure to listen to and an education for my ears.

top of the list

As a theatre professional myself it was so very refreshing and inspiring to hear a seasoned member of our

I really enjoyed this book, because I am a sucker for John Lithgow. I find every role he does fascinating by virtue of the fact it's him. I am, therefore, not a good reviewer because I am very far from impartial. Having been warned: I loved this book. The amount of self-awareness that had to go into creating this honest and self-effacing look at one's own life required someone with the ability to dig into their own dirty laundry and hold up the piece of which you're most embarassed. That is no easy task. If you're a fan of Lithgow, of the live stage, or an adult looking back on the frailties of our parents and ourselves, I think you'll like it, too.

Yes, wonderful story.

John.

His voice is amazing, he brings the story to life.

Yes, I fInished as fast as I could.

I didn't care so much for the long recounting of his childhood. When he hits his professional stride, the story became more interesting. He's a good, but not great, writer but a great actor who brings the non-actor into the heart and purpose of drama.

I would recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in learning about "where actors come from" and in learning more about an interesting person's growth and development. John Lithgow reads his own story, and who better! His narration is a good listen, and there is no question that he knows the subject. I had met John in the early 1970's when he worked at a local theater so I was curious to know more about him. He was a nice guy then, and now I know much more about why he is who he is, and I enjoyed the story of his life. While Lithgow has done a lot of acting, he may not be at the top of the list of "most well known" actors, but that does not prevent the book from being an engrossing and educational listen. Some actor's auto- or bio-graphies tend to be filled with name-dropping and/or self-glorified tales. This book is not that way at all, and reveals more of a personal perspective on the growth of an actor. I really enjoyed the book!

There is something about the way an author reads their own life story that cant be matched. The product would just be that much less impacting if any other narrator took their place.

Told with all the gritty honesty and passion that only Lithgow could have portrayed about his own life journey, this is brilliantly written and stunning to listen to.

John Lithgow played a fairly important role in this... i suppose he would be the stand out for me.

Fantastic engaging storytelling

He is a consummate storyteller.

I actually want to listen to it all again.

I listened to the sample chapter about helping his father later in life and found it compelling. However, very little of the rest of the book was as personal. This is a book for professional actors and directors. I was not interested in the wonders of acting.

I wish it were more personal.

Mr. Lithgow is a marvelous actor and has a great voice, but his perform is not enough to buy this book.