Live Long and . . .

June 4, 2018
Shatner, with the assistance of Fisher (coauthor of Shatner’s previous memoirs), opens this frank and witty memoir by admitting, “I have lived a fortunate life.” Shatner, known for his portrayal of Captain Kirk on TV’s Star Trek (and later in the Star Trek films), grew up in Montreal and is candid about his loneliness as a child. He lived at home until he graduated from McGill University, and his relationship with his mother was complex (he asked his mother whom she loved most, and she answered, “Daddy, because he gives me things”). Shatner lauds the courage of his friend Christopher Reeve after Reeve broke his neck in a horse-riding accident, and laments the loss of close friend Leonard Nimoy, “who understood addiction, who knew all about alcoholism and warned me it was more powerful than I possibly could understand.” Shatner delivers sage advice on romance, wealth (“Live within your means... try to stay out of debt”), and his prolific career, and his honesty will resonate with readers (he was so broke at one point that “when Star Trek was canceled, I was Captain Kirk, though I couldn’t cash a $15 check”). At 87, Shatner movingly reflects on his long life as a gifted, troubled, hard-working entertainer.

July 1, 2018
The veteran actor shares what he has learned over a long life and a prosperous career.By now, the voice of Shatner is as familiar on the page (Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man, 2016, etc.) as it is from the stage and screen. The questions remain: Is he serious? Or is he in on the joke? Can he really take himself so seriously? Or is he laughing all the way to the bank? "When somebody asks you what it is you are searching for in life, your answer better be passion," he advises. Fair enough. But later, he elaborates, "mostly, though, I am passionate about continuing to be passionate. The pursuit of passions has influenced every aspect of my life. That has never wavered or changed: I am still in search of the perfect meatball!" Now, at 86, he writes (again) of how his Star Trek comrade Leonard Nimoy was the best friend he has ever had and how he still doesn't understand why Nimoy refused to speak with him for years before his death. Likewise, "several members of the Star Trek cast have never forgiven me for things I didn't even know I had done." His better--or at least less complicated--relationships have come with dogs and horses, and apparently his most satisfying marriage has been to a woman he met through his passion for the latter. He claims that his secret for fulfillment has been, "say yes, yes to life," and he claims that a working actor should never say no. Yet he recounts the time he declined an invitation to a party at the Kennedy compound (he never says why he was invited) and had to be persuaded to accept a role that had been written expressly for him on the TV series TJ Hooker. Though he suspects that his years are finite, he insists, "I never plan for death; rather, I plan for life."Thin on insight, but nobody plays a pompous windbag with more authority than Shatner.

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August 1, 2018
Veteran actor and author Shatner (Spirit of the Horse, 2017), with coauthor Fisher, shares wisdom and anecdotes from his eight and one-half decades on the planet. Professing that he's no expert and is simply drawing from his own experiences, Shatner reveals that the secret to his longevity and vitality is that he simply refuses to slow down. He loves saying yes, be it to a cross-country motorcycle ride or starring in a Priceline ad. He points out that his biggest regrets are the opportunities he declined, such as a chance to take a trip to Antarctica just after he and his wife, Liz, started dating. Though there's much humor and fond reminiscing to be found here, it's not all lighthearted, as Shatner reflects candidly on his fear of death and grief over people and animals he's lost. Anyone who has read a Shatner book or seen him speak in person is familiar with his anecdotal, conversational style, and although there aren't a lot of Star Trek memories referenced here, fans will enjoy Shatner's musings on his passions and adventures.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)