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Rating:  -
I ordered this a s a gift for Christmas. It arrived on time and the recipient has already started reading the book. The coments so far asret he writing is an easy read and enjoyable.
Rating:  -
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my husband, who heard about it through an NPR interview with Alan Alda. My husband enjoyed it and encouraged me to read it.
It appeared to be a quick read, and my husband found it humorous and insightful. As someone who grew up watching M*A*S*H, he also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes stories from Alda's days on that series. It's definitely on my list to read.
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If you know and like Alan Alda, you will like this book. It is definitely worth the read.
Rating:  -
I have always liked Alan Alda's work as an actor and a screenwriter and heard about this new book from an interview he gave on NPR. I never read his first book, 'Never have your dog stuffed' but when he was talking about this book it sounded interesting.
When I was listening to the interview I must have missed the part where he mentioned that he just dusted off a lot of mediocre talks he gave at various and sundry events (graduations, funerals, business and educational functions etc.) and knitted that together with only mildly interesting and marginally coherent thoughts that, apparently in his mind, speak to the path he has taken to find meaning in his life. I won't tell you about the disappointment I got when I got to the end of the book.
To be honest and in the spirit of full disclosure, there is practically no point at which Mr. Alda's world view and mine make any contact whatsoever. That could be the reason I am so disappointed in the book, however, I have read many books by people I heartily disagree with and yet really enjoy their writing. I can't say that about this book. Perhaps his first was a better effort, but I am not going to risk the price of admission in either money or time to find out. I gave this book two stars instead of one because I was able to finish it, one star would mean that was something that I could not do no matter how hard I tried. I would caution you about this book unless someone is selling theirs used for just a couple of bucks. Mine will be for sale shortly, it's not worth keeping and I won't be reading it again. You alone know what your time is worth.
Rating:  -
If you remember Hawkeye from M*A*S*H, you will hear his (Alan Alda's) voice while you read this book. It has that familiar cadence, wit, and stream-of-consciouness of the television character.
Alda provides many interesting autobiographical antcedotes. I particularly liked the passages regarding agent/actor relations. Still in places it gets boring, for instance, Alda repatedly mentions his mentally ill mother without going into much detail.
The autobiogrpahical moments are weaved in with various commencement and other speeches Alan Alda has delivered. The theme of the speeches and much of the book, is, in essence, "live with gusto . . . follow your dreams." It gets rather preachy and repetitive in places. It is easy for someoone who has the talent to win multiple Emmys as well as a Tony, and a Grammy, to say "live your dreams" To be sure, enjoying and finding meaning in life are important. However, for most peopele our dreams of success far surpass actual abilities. Too many people gamble recklessly on unrealistic dreams. Alda went through some lean times as an actor, and became quite successful. Most aspiring actors don't and for them this book would be of little comfort.
Still, Alda's message, like most commencement speeches, that hopes, dreams, and finding meaning in one's life are important and can't be dismissed. And I certainly would prefer to hear "Hawkeye" give a commencement specch than many other people.
All in all, an enjoyable, if easy read. "Things I heard" is certainly a "safe" book to give as a gift to everyone (except perhaps for the struggling actor).
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