In the Arena: An Autobiography

Charlton Heston's larger-than-life screen presence comes through on every page of his wonderful 1995 autobiography, which is a really great read. Heston grew up poor in the woods of northern Michigan, where he was lonely and painfully shy. He gained confidence in his high school's senior play, and as he says, he never looked back. He won a university scholarship, and there he had his first-ever date. Her name was Lydia; she was an acting student, and they have been happily married now for over 60 years. Heston began his career on the stage; he loves acting in and directing plays, especially Shakespeare, and has done almost as many plays as movies. We get all the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, learn which movies he is most proud of and those that make him cringe, the co-stars he admired and those he didn't. He has no false modesty about his power as an international movie star, yet he comes across as a genuinely nice man who treasures his family. Fans of Charlton Heston are sure to enjoy this heartfelt autobiography. Kona

Charlton Heston's autobiography is a wonderful journey of his life, from shy teenager to Hollywood legend! A director/actor who has helped in recreating history, not only on film, but on the stage too, with some of the biggest names in the acting arena. His book reflects, with great wit,love and affection his personal life; with the love of his life of more than 60 years, his wife, Lydia, his co-stars, his directors' and his love affair with his work. His book is honest and gives his fans an indepth look at what it's like to be one of the greatest actors that ever walked on this planet. I highly recommend it! I wrote to him this week, as you know, he is not in good health, we wish him well. There is only one Ben Hur!

This is a great book. If you are a fan of Mr. Heston's work, then you will most certainly enjoy this book. I read it because I love his movies so much, and I very much admire the man. Reading this book just increased that admiration. The book also offers many insights into the movie making process behind the scenes, directors, producers, actors, etc. Heston's writing is easy to follow, with many observations about numerous topics offered for thought. Lets face it, Heston is one of THE greats of all time, and will always be.

This is a great book. Charlton Heston looks back on his enormous acting career with lots of emotion and lots of funny memories. I admire the man for his convictions and integrity and now also on his writing abilities. If you are a Heston fan, this book is a must. I don't understand why it's out of print!!! I got a copy out of the library and then I bought a used copy.

Here's a life worth learning about! Heston (along with Lancaster and Douglas) were probably the most successful actors of the most fertile period for films, the late 40s - mid 60s. Heston's secret: unbelievably hard work. The man was constantly developing roles and productions. Reading "In the Arena", you find yourself asking Chuck to slow down so you can catch up. Although the elites, now preoccupied with Chuck's political incorrectness, downplay Heston's importance in American film and stage, "In the Arena" will remind you of Heston's tremendous accomplishments.Some of the material of the book is based on his journal entries from 1956-1976, "The Actor's Life", but with the perspective of an additional twenty years.Celebs lives are shoved in our faces as "important", mostly as marketing gimmicks by the infotainment industry. Charlton Heston's work and human decency are a monument to a great era in American film and stage.