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| Up Till Now: The Autobiography | 
 enlarge | Authors: William Shatner, David Fisher
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $12.98
You Save: $12.97 (50%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $12.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  (42 reviews)
Sales Rank: 9145
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8 x 6.5 x 1.2
ISBN: 0312372655
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.45028092
EAN: 9780312372651
ASIN: 0312372655
Publication Date: May 13, 2008
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
?It is now Bill Shatner?s universe---we just live in it.?---New York Daily News After almost sixty years as an actor, William Shatner has become one of the most beloved entertainers in the world. And it seems as if Shatner is everywhere. Winning an Emmy for his role on Boston Legal. Doing commercials forPriceline.com. In the movie theaters. Singing with Ben Folds. He?s sitting next to Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel, and he?s practically a regular on Howard Stern?s show. He was recently honored with election to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.He was atarget on a Comedy Central?s Celebrity Roast entitled ?The Shat Hits the Fan.? In Up Till Now, Shatner sits down with readers and offers the remarkable, full story ofhis life and explains how he got to be, well, everywhere. It was the original Star Trek series, and later its films, that made Shatner instantly recognizable, called by name---or at least by Captain Kirk?s name---across the globe. But Shatner neither began nor has ended his career with that role. From the very start, he took his skills as an actor and put them to use wherever he could. He straddled the classic world of the theater and the new world of television, whether stepping in for Christopher Plummer in Shakespeare?s Henry V or staring at ?something on the wing? in a classic episode of The Twilight Zone. And since then, he?s gone on to star in numerous successful shows, such as T.J. Hooker, Rescue 911, and most recently Boston Legal. William Shatner has always been willing to take risks for his art. What other actor would star in history?s first---and probably only---all-Esperanto-language film? Who else would share the screen with thousands of tarantulas, release an album called Has Been, or film a racially incendiary film in the Deep South during the height of the civil rights era? And who else would willingly paramotor into a field of waiting fans armed with paintball guns, all waiting for a chance to stun Captain?er, Shatner? In this touching and very funny autobiography, William Shatner reveals the man behind these unforgettable moments, and how he?s become the worldwide star and experienced actor he is today.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...
 The Shatner I Never Knew August 27, 2008
I have never seen a complete episode of Star Trek. I have no appreciation for the show, its characters, or anything else about it. So why would I read a book by the man who made a fortune being Captain Kirk? It was a gift because I'm a huge fan of Boston Legal. And, I'll admit, I wasn't all that excited about reading this book. But no sooner did I start it than I was hooked.
There is a wonderful, self-depricating style that Shatner uses here. It completely disarms the reader and carries you along through the entire book. I gained more than insight into the actor, I gained a real appreciation for the man. A big career, a big life, a big ego, and a big sense of humor. Wrap that all up with talent and it's a pretty interesting picture.
I am a much bigger Shatner fan for having read this book. He's actually somebody I'd like to have chat with over coffee. This is not a heady book, but it's a quick, fun read.
Amusing book August 27, 2008
I was reading this in the doctor's office and I had a hard time restraining my mirth. He's a funny guy. This is a book about a man who enjoys life.
I love the guy, but... August 25, 2008
My worship for William Shatner was born in my childhood, watching Star Trek episodes, and it has gotten into the marrow of my bones, never to be dislodged. It is part of who I am, my love for this guy. But he seldom fails to disappoint. This book makes clear his motivations and work ethic, which I admire. There are interesting tidbits for us Star Trek and Shatner fans. But at times he signals that he is spinning a fable. More than once he'll say something interesting, and gullible me will eat it up, and then he'll conclude with something like: "That may not be true. But it could have been." I know from his interviews that he had little to do with writing this book - he just spoke to a talented writer. So this is the Shatner I worship, whom I would love to sit down and chat with, whose stories I find enthralling. If I had first encountered him when I was an adult, I would not have been overly impressed. But it's too late for that! I identify with the lead characters in "Free Enterprise," who were disappointed when they met their childhood idol, but they also came away loving the guy.
Need a laugh? August 15, 2008
I first became a fan of William Shatner when I heard him on Howard Stern. I like his attitude about life. He works hard to live life to the fullest. Through the book you can enjoy his adventures. Mr. Shatner lives up to the motto on Star Trek: "Live Long and Prosper."
If you like the picture of the William Shatner on the cover of the book you probably will enjoy the book. It reflects the tone of the book. His expression is dumbfounded, (like life sometimes) and amusing.
I enjoyed learning about his childhood. It is always interesting to see how parents influence a person. Mr. Shatner grew up in the beautiful city of Montreal.
I like the story about his appearance at a Star Trek Convention. Mr. Shatner encouraged his audience to live life in the present moment. He told his audience "it is just a TV show." In other words quit "wasting your time."
There are a few bits of advice in his book, which I like as well. But the book is not too advicey. (I made up that word.)
For instance I like his advice on page 283. "When you show up on a set nobody is interested in your problems at home. They're dealing with their own issues." Work is not a good place to air your problems.
I enjoyed the story about the people in Iowa, because I know a lot of wonderful people from there. As William Shatner discovered the people in Riverside, Iowa, population 982, were the nicest people that he had ever met. They bent over back wards to help him on his silly film, Invasion Iowa.
The book touches on the tragic death of his wife. He married her to rescue her, but she failed to stop her drinking. The relationship with his current wife is also touched on.
I enjoyed seeing him on Boston Legal. His acting on that show is superb. His character on that show, Denny Crane, seems true to his real personality. His stories about that show are amusing as well.
The book dragged a bit so I am giving it four stars instead of five, but there were humorous stories throughout the book, which I enjoyed. It was light reading, and good for a laugh.
 A fun book August 14, 2008
This is a fun book where Shatner pokes fun at himself, compliments people whom he finds talented and critisizes people whom he finds flawed. I thought this was a very evenly flowed written book, one of which I had a low expectation for but made me laugh with comments I did not expect. A good read.
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