Terry D. (tmdaviss) - , reviewed on 3/12/2013 + 72 more book reviews

You know Alan Alda. The son of actor Robert Alda; married to author / photographer Arlene Alda. But you don't know Alan Alda, aside from the characters he has played for you. Where did he come from? How was life growing up with a famous actor from pre- World War II through the 1950's? Alda remembers... mostly.

Good and bad -- life seems to have balance. In this book Alda works hard to share both; wanting us to see the motivations behind his choices. From starting life as an infant on the traveling burlesque circuit, where his first newspaper review claims him to be a pipe smoker at age 2 -- with pictures; to Hollywood, while his father begins to work in films, and Alan comes down with Polio; to New York where his father would act on Broadway and Alan would suffer Catholic school as a teen. Life offered Alda lemons and lemonade and even lemon pie.

This book is also a chance for Alda to share honestly about his own quirks, and worries, and choices. A mother who suffered with mental illness. His discoveries about what motivated him, and what trapped him along the way toward success. In the end, it is his chance to come clean about his feelings toward each parent, how he resolved his issues, and how it made him aware of his own humanity.

While this book has plenty of humor to carry you through each chapter, the subjects are not those for children. In a short time you will come to know the things that took much of a lifetime for him to learn about himself. Enjoy the read.

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