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Books like The actor's life
A warm, witty, and pragmatic mentor-in-a-book for anyone trying to survive the grueling realities of a creative career. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The actor's life.
- warm
- grounded
- hopeful
- resilient
- 01
Paddle your own canoe
Nick Offerman
A hearty, wood-scented manifesto on living deliberately, loving fiercely, and finding joy in the simple things.
- 02
Why not me?
Mindy Kaling
A hilarious, cocktail-hour catch-up with your most successful, unapologetically ambitious friend.
- 03
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)
Felicia Day
A warm, hyperactive hug of a memoir that celebrates the messy, beautiful reality of being a geek.
- 04
Talking as fast as I can
Lauren Graham
A highly caffeinated, deeply comforting chat with a witty friend who has great stories and doesn't take herself too seriously.
- 05
A challenge for the actor
Uta Hagen
A masterclass in a book that demands your full intellectual and emotional presence to unlock the truth of human behavior.
- 06
Failure is an option
H. Jon Benjamin
A hilarious, anti-inspirational manifesto that gives you full permission to lower your expectations and embrace your inner slacker.
- 07
The art of asking
Amanda Palmer
A fiercely vulnerable manifesto that feels like a late-night heart-to-heart about the terrifying beauty of letting yourself be seen and supported.
- 08
Yes Please
Amy Poehler
Like sitting down for a boisterous, wine-fueled dinner with your funniest, wisest friend who isn't afraid to tell you the messy truth.
- 09
Confessions of a video vixen
Karrine Steffans
A raw, unapologetic plunge into the glitz and grit of the hip-hop industry's golden era.
- 10
How to fail at almost everything and still win big
Scott Adams
A wry, contrarian playbook for turning a string of embarrassing failures into a personalized system for success.
- 11
Real Artists Don't Starve
Jeff Goins
A pragmatic, energizing manifesto that gives creatives permission to thrive financially without compromising their art.
- 12
True and False
David Mamet
A blistering, no-excuses manifesto that strips the mysticism away from the craft of performance.
