Up Till Now: The Autobiography

This book is a great way for Shatner to avoid opening up too much while taking readers on an entertaining journey through his life. Even those who don't rate as Shatner fans will love the inside-Hollywood stories. But be warned--you never know if what he's telling you is true! I am not a Star Trek fan and have seen Shatner in only few things. I know his reputation is that of pompous, arrogant jerk who takes himself way too seriously. But being interested in the entertainment business I gave him a chance and I'm glad I did. From the start Shatner and his co-author write in a ADHD style that starts to tell a story, then in the middle of the story skips ahead 30 years to another story, before returning to the original story. Then in the middle of a chapter he will suddenly pause in the middle of a story to do a commercial for his website or a movie he wants you to rent. At first it's a little odd, but then you realize that this is pure Shatner humor. He doesn't want to just write another tell-all book; he wants to entertain you in an offbeat way. Everything about the book is humorous, even his serious stories. He refuses to reveal too much about himself or his family or his emotions, but he lets the reader in on just enough to catch glimpses the public has never seen before. His ego is on every page, but it's mixed with a self-deprecation that is appealing. The only caution is that he is an admitted fabricator and it's difficult to know when he's just pulling your leg. At one point he even has to write, "That's the true story of how I made up a story." In the end it doesn't make much difference whether what he tells you is the complete, accurate story. His point is to make you laugh and to mock the traditional autobiography. By that measure the book is a complete success.

I have never been a "Trekkie," although like the rest of the world, I have enjoyed watching Star Trek over the years. However, William Shatner has that rare ability to make others like him. Readers have mentioned that Shatner frequently interupts himself throughout UP TILL NOW. I absolutely LOVED this as it is like having him in your living room. I especially liked how he went on and on about the Star Trek merchandise! Pages and pages of it! There were many instances where I just laughed out loud (somewhat rare for me) while reading this book. It was so enjoyable! And yet, I came away from it knowing how William Shatner really paid his dues and with such respect for his tremendous work ethic. One of my favorite and endearing stories was how William Shatner's mother used to announce to EVERYONE that "I'm William Shatner's mother." How tremendously proud of him she must have been! Kind of reminds me of exactly how Denny Crane's mother would have been! Excellent book. And yes. I DID proceed to [...] (which he shamelessly promotes LOL) and purchased several hundred dollars worth of products for my best friend's Christmas. She IS a Trekkie. Now my next stop will have to be Priceline...

Shatner may be somewhat arrogant, but he sure can poke fun at himself. It made me laugh out loud. There were some very sad events, but it was about real life, flavored with a great deal of humor. It was a great read. I'm glad I bought it.

I just finished reading "Up Till Now," and am sad it's over. Shatner writes from the heart, and made me really "feel." I admire his ability to laugh at himself, and find humor in difficult situations. I learned a lot from the book-- about the acting industry, alcoholism, relationships that many of us deal with everyday. I, like Shatner, have fear of seeing a monster out the the window of a jetliner! I laud him for captivating me from front to cover. Mr. Shatner has class, and I hope he writes another book!

I really have little interest in celebrity biographies. I had little interest in William Shatner, save for his hilarious sendup in a Brad Paisley music video. But I saw this voume and figured it was worth skimming at least. Actually it is extremely interesting. I am presuming Shatner's co-author had a lot to do with the style, but it is Shatner as a person that shines through. It's a surprisingly good book about an actor's life, how so very much of that kind of life is dependent entirely upon random fortune, luck - good and bad. Shatner had been a working actor for years, essentially steadily employed, but not famous. Captain Kirk was his breakout role - and in that he freely admits to being a second fiddle, especially in the beginning, to Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock character. Kirk gave Shatner more freedom than ever to be Shatner, a man open to experiment, taking serious roles as well as spoofing himself and everything in between. Since I am not actually a Shatner fan, I was really surprised at just how much work Shatner has done. There are many memorable scenes and highlights in this book. One that really sticks in my memory is Shatner's explanations for why he works so much, aside from the need to satisfy his creative urges. The first stemmed from a tour of the late Edward G. Robinson's renowned gallery of French Impressionists. This was at a time when "real" actors did not lower themselves to doing television commercials. In a discussion about actors and commercials, Robinson waves his hand at his very valuable and very expensive collection of paintings and asks Shatner how he thought Robinson could afford them. Point well made. The other anecdote is an explanation of why Shatner rarely turns down work: every job opens a door to new opportunities, explains Shatner. What a great philosophy. There are many, many asides, seques and detours in this book, which frankly adds to its character. It is a collection of tips to aspiring actors. It is a journal of the remembrances of a man who has seen good times and bad. The story of his third wife's alcoholism and her accidental death is dad. Likewise, the recounting of Leonard Nimoy's alcoholism came as a surprise to me. There are snippets of the proud father talking about and to his four daughters. Bits and pieces of his four marriages make their way into the narrative. By the last page, you have a pretty good feel for the man who is William Shatner. He's a guy who has had some lucky breaks and, more importantly, never stopped trying to expand his horizons, never stopped giving vent to urge to create. All in all, he comes across as an interesting, talented guy who is at ease with himself. Good reading, even if you are not a Shatner fan. Jerry