Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself by Alan Alda Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself
Book Review: Refreshingly humble
Summary: 4 Stars
No matter how many times we hear about near-death experiences, we cannot appreciate the impact until it happens to us. Alan Alda's brush with a life-threatening crisis prompted him to delve more deeply into the serious questions that such an event often presents. Though he had already written a successful memoir, NEVER HAVE YOUR DOG STUFFED, Alda takes that challenge and looks more closely at the things that have given meaning and purpose to his life and to recognize those things that he would like to define more clearly now that he has gotten a second chance.
It is refreshing to find that a man with the obvious successes that Alda has enjoyed can be humble enough to admit that he still has some learning to do. He still needs to be open to asking questions and listening to answers that can enhance not only his own life but the lives of the many who fall into his sphere of influence. Reading through his conversations with himself about these matters not only provides the fun of eavesdropping on one of our favorite celebrities but also gives us a nudge to be honest about our own conceptions.
THINGS I OVERHEARD WHILE TALKING TO MYSELF is written in the style of conversations with oneself and with others, interspersed with speeches that Alda has given on various occasions. It is not stream of consciousness because the syntax is clear, and there is no problem following his thoughts. Yet, as thoughts and conversations often do, subjects change quickly and jump from past to present and back again as reminiscences come to mind. Throughout this entertaining book, the themes remain clear: What are you doing with the life you've been given? Are you taking it for granted? What will you be remembered for?
While a survey once showed that Alda was found to be more recognizable as Hawkeye Pierce during his 11-year stint on "M*A*S*H" than Abraham Lincoln, he was surprised and wondered why. Despite the fact that he was nominated for an Oscar, and an Emmy and a Tony in his 69th year, Alda still had questions he hoped to answer for himself and to encourage others to answer as well. His search shows us that it's never too late to increase our self-awareness and to spread around some encouragement, some love and some life for those who may be in need. The only thing that surprises me is that, in all his musings, Alda did not reach back to the God of his earlier faith and try to reconnect. I'm just sayin'.
--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding
Book Review: Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this for a gift so I have not read it but I am sure it is a very good book.Book Review: Alan Alda Book
Summary: 3 Stars
An easy read....mostly replay of speaches he has made. Lots of "fluff", but may appeal to many readers. Alan is a liberal with a liberal point of view....fine for some, overdone for others. I'd hate to pay list price for this.Book Review: I'd Forgotten Why I Got Tired With Alan Alda
Summary: 3 Stars
...until I listened to his most recent book. It's really my fault: the guy just wears me out.
That's not to say that this is a bad effort. It's essentially a collection of his commencement addresses from the 1970s to the present, with a little business in between. In it, though, we learn the three secrets of happiness:
1. Love unequivocally: surrender yourself to love.
2. Keep learning: think for yourself and don't let anyone else do it for you.
3. I forgot the third.
He's a man of inexhaustible curiosity and self-confidence. We learn of his showbiz roots, and the influence stage business and acting have on his development as a person. His reflections on the satisfactions of acting are, in fact, some of the best stuff in the book.
He just makes me tired for some reason. Maybe it's the relentless NYC "in yer face" style of writing and (on the audio edition) reading that is so wearing. I envy his energy.
Remember the saying, "I couldn't put it down." Well, in Alan Alda's case, if you don't take occasional breaks, you could have a heart attack...
Book Review: Heart-warming
Summary: 5 Stars
Alan Alda says much about life and attitudes, and the warmth and value of those we know and love. This is a gift to enjoy. It's a piece of life valued even higher than usual, as it was written with the clarity of someone who recieved the gift of life extended in good health, after a frightening medical event, and who translated that into wisdom.