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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | When the Actors Studio faced possible extinction in 1994, Lipton (An Exaltation of Larks) engineered a partnership between the Studio and the New School for Social Research to create a degree-granting program. Thus was born the Actors Studio Drama School, with Lipton as both founder and dean. The school's craft seminars, in which Lipton interviewed leading actors and directors, became the basis for Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio, and since 1994, he has been that series' executive producer, writer and host. Looking back over the show's parade of personalities, he intercuts autobiographical flashbacks with quotes from the TV interview transcripts. These brief selections, excerpted from his sessions with Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Jack Lemmon, Mike Nichols, Sean Penn, Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep and many more, may leave some readers wishing Lipton had published the transcripts in full. Raising the curtain on his own memories, he traces the path of his multifaceted career as radio actor (The Lone Ranger), TV actor (The Guiding Light), Broadway lyricist (Sherry!) and novelist (Mirrors). Along the way, theatrical truths emerge and amusing anecdotes abound since Lipton is a witty and engaging writer. The free-associative transitions from interviews to autobiography occasionally read like two different books shuffled together, but that only makes this exaltation of Lipton doubly enjoyable. The 48 illustrations include Al Hirschfeld's caricature of Lipton. (Oct. 18)
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| | Product Details | | Author: | James Lipton | | Hardcover: | 512 pages | | Publisher: | Dutton Adult | | Publication Date: | October 18, 2007 | | ISBN: | 0525950354 | | Package Length: | 9.2 inches | | Package Width: | 6.2 inches | | Package Height: | 1.8 inches | | Package Weight: | 1.75 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 18 reviews |
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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 An uneven, occasionally fascinating read Sep 20, 2008
Many of the people who have reviewed this book seem disappointed that there is so much Lipton and not enough "Inside the Actors Studio." Actually, I had quite the opposite reaction.
I wanted this book for all the inside scoop on "Inside the Actors Studio" yet found myself getting swept up in Lipton's fascinating life and, more importantly, his rich and colorful writing style (I was so taken with his writing that I went out and bought his novel, "Mirrors.")
I wanted to wallow in the words and the saga of this fascinating man, not sure if I wanted to race through it because it was so captivating, or slow down to savor each page.
My own disappointment came when it actually came to the reason I wanted the book in the first place--the story about "Inside the Actors Studio." Lipton's fawning over each guest got to be so nauseating that while I had devoured the first part of the book, it took me a much longer time to get through the end of it. These are actors. Good actors, to be sure, but not gods and goddesses, not heads of state, not nobel laureates. They are simply ACTORS, yet Lipton treats each one as if he were greeting the Pope, the Dali Lama or the Queen of England. It was fawning to the n'th degree and the only reason I stuck with the book to the end was that I had so enjoyed it up to that point.
I also wanted to know who this St. Bernard of Piveau that Lipton gushes about in every show really was, and never got a satisfactory answer to that, other than that he was apparently a French talk show host, another living legend to be fawned over.
I give this book three stars--if it had stayed at the level of the first half, I would enthusiastically give it five stars, but it is a very disappointing second half (for me).
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Even the half that isn't Inside is Great Aug 16, 2008
I loved this book!!! James Lipton can write and does indeed write extremely well. The first half is indeed more autobiographical in nature but is a very interesting behind the scenes story of his life and art. Mr. Lipton includes plenty of self-congratulation, but contrary to some reviews, which made the book much more interesting for me.
Most of the last half is about "Inside the Actor's Studio", a TV-series that I never missed once I discovered it. I ran into a dozen or so passes that were quite moving as I read this book. I highly recommend the book for anyone who enjoyed the series and/or finds James Lipton to be an interesting fellow.
Just ignore the title and expect more than just about going Inside "Inside the Actor's Studio". If you only want the TV series part, read chapters 11-17 and view the photo section. Be warned, however, that you will miss some real nuggets.
What I wished he had included (think future edition) is a list of the 200 or so guests who appeared on "Inside the Actor's Studio", in order, in an appendix.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A Most Enjoyable Journey Aug 10, 2008
James Lipton provides the reader with a modestly-written account of his multi-faceted career and his many accomplishments. It is easy to journey with him from his initial efforts to earn money for law school to his accomplishments on radio, in television, on the stage and, finally as a (the?) principal of the Actors' Studio. That's the first half of the book. The second half is a review of many of the actors, actresses, writers and directors who were interviewed by him on "Inside the Actor's Studio" arranged with emphasis less on the individuals and their fame and more on their mettle. For devotees of the program, it is another wonderful journey with Lipton. For those who have not watched his television series on Bravo and who don't know James Lipton, it is an introduction to a most talented and accomplished individual who has a wonderful story to tell. "Inside Inside" is a most enjoyable read.
 Stay Outside Inside Aug 05, 2008
In a nutshell:
Despite a long introduction assuring us it's not all about James Lipton, it's all about James Lipton.
Pompous and self-serving, ponderous reading.
Word for word rehashing of the tv shows' conversations with little to no new information or insight.
Mr. Lipton never misses an opportunity to sing his own praises (or to quote others who also, invariably, sing his praises). I'm a fan of the show and had no idea Mr. Lipton was so accomplished in so many areas. But a reader can only take so much and this unending litany of "aren't I wonderful and oh, by the way, aren't I wonderful." It gets tiresome quickly.
Lipton's life, craft and show reveal more than suspected. Jun 18, 2008
I, like most readers I assume, ventured to this book under the auspice that it could possibly reveal some kernels from behind-the-scenes of a show so devotely watched and scrutinized. I, also, have joined the legions that have enjoyed mocking, mimicking and wondering what possibly could have spawned such a fawning, erudite boob. Yet, while Lipton has over the years been the easiest of targets (i.e. Will Farrell, Ali G, etc.) there has always been an aspect that you cannot dismiss about him altogether.
Not only has he survived such ridicule with aplomb, but he has embraced it. (i.e. having Ferrell on show, appearances on Conan O'Brian)
What emerges in the book is a life enmeshed with literary and artistic giants but also a portrait of grace, intelligence and generosity. Lipton is uncommonly frank and is only discreet when the embarrassment is for someone other than him.
Most likely unknown are his previous best-selling books, Broadway musicals and collaborations with Arthus Miller, Baryshnikov, Stella Adler and other world movers that he can count as friends and heroes.
While I, too, was seeking more on the likes of Johnny Depp, Dustin Hoffman and Martin Scorcese, what I found was something more interesting. My own assumtions eroded and a new appreciation of the man, the arts and all the people that come and go through his long journey to the show. It's quite impressive.
That being said, be WARNED. Lipton is an erudite, a son of a writer, who published a book on words themselves ('The Exhaltation of Larks'). Don't go two steps from this reading without a dictionary in hand. Think I'm kidding? Then ask yourself- Are you a sesquipedalian?
Not a tell-all, nor a peep backstage, but a deep and winding discovery of a treasure hidden in plain sight.
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