Leonard

My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man

By: William Shatner

Narrated by: William Shatner

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

A New York Times best seller

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner first crossed paths as actors on the set of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Little did they know that their next roles as Spock and Captain Kirk, in a new science-fiction television series, would shape their lives in ways no one could have anticipated. In seventy-nine television episodes of Star Trek and six feature films, they grew to know each other more than most friends could ever imagine.

Over the course of half a century, Shatner and Nimoy saw each other through personal and professional highs and lows. In this powerfully emotional audiobook, Shatner tells the story of a man who was his friend for five decades, recounting anecdotes and untold stories of their lives on and off set, as well as gathering stories from others who knew Nimoy well, to present a full picture of a rich life.

As much a biography of Nimoy as a story of their friendship, Leonard is a uniquely heartfelt audiobook written and read by one legendary actor in celebration of another.

©2016 William Shatner (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"Shatner narrates his story with touching reverence for a dear friend...Shatner's authentic performance moves the story along with humor and sincerity, making the anecdotes all the more interesting and touching." ( AudioFile Magazine)

Loved this Book--I've Never Seen Star Trek

I've listened to all of William Shatner's books--he's a believable guy and I didn't want to miss this one even though I've never watched Star Trek. I'd heard of their friendship and wanted to hear Shatner's side of the story. I was always impressed by Leonard Nimoy and his devotion to the arts but this was much more than the superficial fluff that one hears on t.v. entertainment shows. This was real insight--right down to the last conflict that couldn't be changed by Bill's communications to Leonard. Retaining the great memories that were the true essence of this relationship is what it was all about. Makes me want to go call a friend right now.

Portrait Of A Dear Friend

While I was a bit hesitant that this book was going to be a shallow "cash in" on Nimoy's death it turned out to be a fascinating mix of biography and personal memoir in which William Shatner weaves the story of Leonard Nimoy's life and his own 50 year friendship with him. With moments of humor, melancholy, and occasionally, devastating sadness, Shatner both brings Leonard Nimoy to life and respectfully lays him to rest as only a close friend can do, made all the more moving by Shatner's heartfelt narration.

Shatner brings to life an amazing tale about a talented, hardworking man!

For those wanting to understand more about the dynamic relationship Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner developed over their life, this book provides that and so much more. Shatner gives readers a rich tale of two friends and of how their lives were made better for having been put together. Mr. Shatner has a wonderful sense of story that makes listening and reading this book effortless and quite enjoyable. It is wonderful to hear this story told by the man who lived the story. As a fan of Star Trek, a reader can relive their childhood of what the characters of Kirk and Spock meant to them while understanding what those characters meant to the actors who portrayed them. If you are not a fan of the show, you can understand how those characters developed into icons and have a better appreciation for the skill needed to make the characters come alive.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to better understand the man who made Spock and how much he influenced the lives around him.

Well done, Mr. Shatner!

A little disappointing, but still enjoyable.

Too often reads like an IMDb page. Would've enjoyed more personal stories. Shatner's tough to hear sometimes as well.

Great

Great book to check out about Leonard Nimoy. Noticed cuts in audio recording. But I figured it was just moments when Shatner was getting chocked up talking about his late friend/brother since few noticeable changes in tone, Shatner's voice crackled or went a bit high pitched from when you need to pause talking when giving a eulogy. So it kind of added to the story. Great behind the scenes into their friendship and sibling style rivalry throughout the years. Well worth the purchase especially since it's the author reading it (well co-author)

A must read for Star Trek fans; for others, ???

I was a big fan of Star Trek growing up, and so there was no way I was not going to really like this book. And I really liked this book. It's a bio of Leonard Nimoy (Dr. Spock), told by William Shatner (Captain Kirk). It is also a memoir of Shatner, and the friendship between the two of them is important to this telling. As actor bios, it was good, but did not stand out. When the two actors came together as the leads on Star Trek is when the book became most interesting to me. I loved hearing about how Nimoy contributed so much to the character of Spock. The personal lives of both men are a significant part of this book, and their professional lives after Star Trek are covered (especially Nimoy's, who became a poet and photographer), but the focus of this book is the role of Star Trek in the lives of both men. And that's what the book did best. That was also my interest in the book. I enthusiastically recommend this book to Star Trek fans. It might be enjoyed by readers interested in the acting profession, as Nimoy's heavily researched, method-acting approach is pretty fascinating. For all others, I am not sure how much you would enjoy this. William Shatner is the reader. It could be no other way. I loved hearing his voice, but his pacing and volume are inconsistent. I still enjoyed listening to him.

Heartfelt eulogy from the Shat to his best friend

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a nice biography of Leonard Nimoy by William Shatner. It was like listening to a eulogy (so positively biased, but honest) given by a good friend. Shatner compares and contrasts his background with Leonard's, so it is like listening to both of their biographies together.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Leonard Nimoy - interesting to learn more about his background and approach to playing Spock.

Which character – as performed by Willam Shatner – was your favorite?

William Shatner.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The last section was very emotional. Shatner's regrets are understandable and heartfelt.

Any additional comments?

Although sometimes Shatner is difficult to understand, his narration makes the audiobook sing.

From the heart, to the heart.

Shatner provides a heartfelt & touching account of his colleague & best friend, the late, but-never-forgotten, Leonard Nimoy.
Superb

How Spock and Kirk Were Connected for a Lifetime

This is an interesting story about how a simple sci fi television series connected two major personalities over five decades. We hear William Shatner sincerely expressing the depth of a friendship with Leonard Nimoy that had some highs and lows and unfortunately ended on a low.

You do not have to be a Star Trek fanatic to appreciate this biography of Nimoy's career. The biographer brings an intimacy that draws upon the unique experience of sharing the stage with a costar over a lifetime.

Leonard was an inspiration to a lot of people and there is a lot to discover about this interesting man. Captain Kirk is the ideal gifted narrator tell us about the rich complex relationship between two television icons.

Phenomenal Book

What made the experience of listening to Leonard the most enjoyable?

This was not just a book about Leonard Nimoy, it was also about the interaction of him and William Shatner.

What does William Shatner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

William Shatner brings only what a close friend can to the narration, "love". You could hear the love William had for Leonard in his voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I listen to this in the car on the way to work. There were parts of the book that made be laugh so hard, I wondered if the people next to me were looking at me funny. Feeling the love Shatner had for Nimoy, the trouble he had in life with marriage, children and career you could not help but shed a tear.Also, despite some of his obstacles he was always fighting for what was right for others. These parts of his life gives you a strong sense of powering accomplishment.

Any additional comments?

Even if you are not a "Trekie", this book chronicles the life of a truly remarkable actor. Star Trek is only a small part of what made Leonard Nimoy a great actor.