Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead

Unbelievable. Thats the word to describe this book. As many of the other readers, I could not put the book down and only did so to take bathroom breaks. My problem is that I feel as if I AM him. Almost everything that Bernie says, is not only true of the entertainment "biz", but we (Bernie and I) are so simlilar in many ways. The problem I have had (because I am in the entertainment industry, and the owner of a new management and production company) is that Bernie is the first person who seems to actually have the guts to "mentor" people. His "open door" policy makes me cry---I have found no-one to do this for me and so far, I have made it as far as I have gotten ALL BY MYSELF. I have always wanted a mentor, but the other guy, be it my boss or a friend or a co-worker, is always out to get me. It's so frustrating! Bernie makes me believe that if I just keep at it I will find those mentors becasue they are obviously out there. Even if you are a person who is NOT in the entertainment industry, it is an incredibly inspiring book---you should read it! Thanks Bernie--you'll never realize how much you have helped me!

"Where Did I Go Right?" looks like a big rectangular Oreo cookie, with its thin black covers and thick white insides. And it's set up like one, too. "I'm not king anymore." That's the first line. "These days it's good not to be king." That's the last line. Tempting, right? Kind of tasty, hm?. Ah, but wait 'til you get to the sweet stuff in between! What's really interesting about this book is not WHO is in it -- you already know Bernie Brillstein is going to talk about John Belushi and Jim Henson and Mike Ovitz and Gilda Radner and Dangerous Liaisons and [drop big Hollywood name here]. What's best about the book is WHEN it was written. Apparently Bernie decided to sit down with writer David Rensin and talk about his life at one of its lowest points. Then talked through his depression with Rensin long enough to go from the first sentence to the last, from the bottom to the top, and then right on up higher. It turns out to be a typical Bernie journey: do good, get knocked down, get up, do better. And learn something from it. Philosophy, humanity, perspective, humor, wit: Gee, who'd a thunk it from current-day Hollywood? Enjoy your cookie.

Even though I'm in the business, I have, for the past few years, avoided the "Hollywood" book with good reason: most are shallow and short-sighted examples of self-aggrandizing at its worst. Michael Eisner's autobiography is a good example. But Brillstein's book is very different. Not only does he tell a great story in an unforgettable voice that doesn't make you ashamed to be part of Hollywood -- but he's brutally honest in the telling. No sugar-coated confection, this. What comes across most is that Brillstein is a real person, a guy who loves what he does. As he says in the book: "I did it for the thrill of it all, not the thrill of having it all." We need more of those guys in town, but sadly, Brillstein is one of the last--and he knows it. And there's much more, most of it hilarious and wise, as Brillstein shares freely everything he's learned from 45 years of loving, hating, and loving show business. He writes about the importance of passion, instinct and honesty--issues which apply to any business or walk of life. Brillstein is clearly a character, the heart of every memorable story. Get this book!