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Up Till Now: The Autobiography

Authors: William Shatner, David Fisher
Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

4 reviews
Sales Rank: 2625

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 358
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.5

ISBN: 0283070587
EAN: 9780283070587
ASIN: 0283070587

Publication Date: May 16, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new book dispatched from stock in the UK

Also Available In:

•	Paperback - Up Till Now

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Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Stuff! July 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

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!

1 out of 5 stars

The ego has landed July 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Never trust a man who uses exclamation marks - they're the prose equivalent of canned laughter, signalling looming comic intent together with a fierce distrust that we will not get the joke. Shatner gets the joke. Shatner is the joke.

This tedious book charts the life of Shatner - childhood, Star Trek,and beyond. Shatner's career is certainly interesting, and he has had a lenghthy career in show business. In this book, however, he attempts so many times to be humorous and self deprecating that he actually seems to diminish his own work time and again. Maybe this was a calculated move but it comes across wrong.

4 out of 5 stars

Shatner Plays It "Lite" . . . with Tongue in Cheek and a Wink June 12, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

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.

5 out of 5 stars

An absolute gem June 6, 2008
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

One of the few books that make you laugh so hard it hurts. My partner is already fed up with me constantly quoting from it. Bill Shatner sends himself up brilliantly, and shows both humility and confidence in equal measure. Some may question his acting credentials (I don't), but I defy any 'acclaimed' actor to better this. Highly recommended.