Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists

All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists
All I Did Was Ask Conversations with Writers Actors Musicians and Artists
Author: Terry Gross
ISBN-13: 9780786888207
ISBN-10: 0786888202
Publication Date: 10/5/2005
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 12

3.8 stars, based on 12 ratings
Publisher: Hyperion
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

7 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

bookaddicted avatar reviewed All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists on + 131 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Great book for fans of Fresh Air or anyone interested in "celebrity" interviews. Loved the one she did with Jodie Foster (2002). Gross has such a way of questioning her guests that I read all the interviews regardless of my previous interest in the person.
sari-lynn avatar reviewed All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists on + 207 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Although I've heard most of the interviews presented in this collection, it was an interesting read. Terry's short introductions - often just a paragraph long, really enhanced my appreciation. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the way multiple interviews with the same person were presented together. The excellent editing made it the perfect book to read just before bed, because each interview was only a few pages long, so there would be a good stopping point before too long.

Especially recommended for fans of NPR's Fresh Air.
reviewed All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists on + 55 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a fascinating collection of interview snippets of even more fascinating artists. Gross is upfront about the fact that some of these are combined interviews from different times (i.e. Dennis Hopper interviews from 1990 and 1996 merged into one section), so don't expect that you're going to get the same experience reading the book as you might listening to her program. This takes the most insightful or interesting sections of those interviews and condenses them into bite-sized portions. It's a great introduction to Gross' style of interviewing as well as the people she talks to.
reviewed All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists on + 36 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A collection of great interviews. The book is worth reading for Terry's interview with Gene Simmons all by itself. Gene was a complete misogynist, and Terry held her own!!
reviewed All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists on + 6 more book reviews
If you listen to Fresh Air, it's interesting to read these interviews - some I'd heard before, some I hadn't, but it gave me insight into Gross' interview style.
buzzby avatar reviewed All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists on + 6062 more book reviews
Interesting stories, although I'm not necessarily big fans of the people she interviewed, they tend to know how to create as story.
reviewed All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists on + 4 more book reviews
Terry Gross' interviews are as interesting to read as they are to listen to! In this book are transcripts of interviews with everyone from Conan O'Brien to James Baldwin. Includes her "controversial" interview with Gene Simmons.