Read a Good Book Lately?

Read a good book about your craft? Or just a good book in general? Share it here.

Kenneth Adrian Ellis
All time list book. Best book.list.

My book is on an all time list of inspirational and motivational books a 766 titles list. NOTATION: J.K. Rowling's SORCERERS STONE (with over 9 million readers ratings), and The Alkemist (with over 2 million readers ratings) are on the list as well. I suspect that The Purpose Driven Life is also. PE...

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New Journalism Meets A Good Story

I've not read it in ages, but I had occassion to recommend The Bonfires of the Vanities to a friend recently. If you've seen the movie and were unimpressed, you should consider giving the book a shot anyway as it is (of course?) far superior. Tom Wolfe is the man; fantastic prose and insights for miles.

Marcel Nault Jr.
Screenwriting from the Soul by Richard Krevolin (1998).

A humorous, slapstick version of a screenwriter's self-help book.

Written in the style made famous by Rainer Rilke in “Letters to a Young Poet" in 1929, Krevolin doesn't pull any punches as far as the difficulties and delusions of grandeur of the Hollywoodian pipe dream. Mind you, this was written in...

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Ashley Renee Smith

I've never heard of this one, thank you for sharing, Marcel Nault Jr.!

Marcel Nault Jr.
Difficult Men by Brett Martin (2013).

The full title: Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution: from The Sopranos and The Wire to Mad Men and Breaking Bad, by Brett Martin, published in 2013 for Penguin Press.

It essentially tells the ascension of the figure of the sole creator of a TV series, i.e. a showrunner, with man...

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Emily J

I’ve been wanting to check this out, thanks for sharing!

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Finished this towards the end of last year. Decided, as I like writing about vampires, I really ought to have read this hugely influential classic. Wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it because of the structure of piecing the story together from things like journals, diaries, newspaper cuttings, teleg...

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Ashley Renee Smith

I've never taken the time to stop and read it, but the way you're describing the experience makes me want to, Dominic Murphy! I'll have to add it to my list.

Dominic Murphy

Hi Ashley. Yes, I found the same - never gotten round to reading it. But I'm glad I did. I can see now that it's a classic for good reason. Hope you enjoy it if you do manage to get round to it.

Screening the Undead: Vampires and Zombies in Film and Television [Ed. by Leon Hunt, Sharon Lockyer, Milly Williamson]

Okay, so it depends on your definition of 'Lately', because I finished this in 2021, but for anyone interested in the topic, this book of essays is a really fascinating, educational and enjoyable read. I thought I knew a thing or two about vampire and zombie movies, but this really opened my mind. T...

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A Fever In The Heartland by Timothy Egan

Brilliantly researched and written. Lays bare brutal truths and stark history about 20th century organized racism in America that became a powerful political platform but inspires with a story of those who fought against it (as we must continue to do every day). A completely gripping book.

Ashley Renee Smith

This sounds fantastic, Sam Sokolow! Thank you for the recommendation!

Dominic Murphy

Looks fascinating, Sam! Thanks for the recommendation!

Amanda Ryan Knopp
Save the Cat: Writes for Television

I just got the audiobook version of Save the Cat: Writes for Television as I've come to realize television is the primary direction for me.

Any thoughts on this read?

(I've read the original which was very interesting and perspective-changing)

Shane McAndrew

I have listened to the original Save the Cat and Save the Cat Strikes Again, and I have recently seen this audio book appear on Audible. I have also just got it, my only hesitation is that it isn't wr...

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Emily J

I am a McKee and Syd Field-purist lol, so I generally don't go with the Save the Cat guides (whether for TV or film) - but I do think that generally speaking they all hit the same core beats and that...

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Amanda Ryan Knopp

Emily Jermusyk, do you have any other recommendations? The way Save the Cat looks at genre, character development, beats, etc. is very eye-opening to me.

Amanda Ryan Knopp

Shane McAndrew, the book is actually written by one of the original author’s first ever mentees. He was filled in on all the ideas Save the Cat presents before the book was even published! Definitely a credible source in place of the OG.

Emily J

For TV writing specifically I like WRITING THE TV DRAMA SERIES, THE HERO SUCCEEDS, and WRITING THE TV PILOT (William Rabkin)

Alexandra Shields
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series

I know that anything marketed at young women tends to get scoffed at, but sometimes you just want to read something fun! I'm going to say that I've been having a blast and a half reading this series and I don't care who knows it. Is it a guilty pleasure? No, because I refuse to be guilty about it. D...

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Emily J

A could not get past the first ACOTAR book (I'm sorry! lol) but I really enjoyed her other series THRONE OF GLASS (it went a little off the rails), and I also ripped through all the Bridgerton books l...

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Ashley Renee Smith

This has been on my list for so long, but I haven't slowed down to read them yet. I really need to fix that.

Ashley Renee Smith
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

I just finished this book last night and it was the most fun I've had reading all year. I highly suggest it! The Shakespearean references and themes are brilliantly weaved into the larger mystery and character journeys.

Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jail - for a murder he may or may not h...

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Emily J

Nice! I'll have to check it out!

Alexandra Shields

Ooo added this to my Goodreads!

Ashley Renee Smith

I really think you'll enjoy it, Alexandra Shields!

Ashley Renee Smith

When you do, you have to tell me your thoughts Emily J!

Nick Waters
LIGHTER by Yung Pueblo

I'm not usually one for "self help" books, but a friend of mine recommending this one and I loved it. Yung Pueblo is a poet and philosopher with a really interesting background. He shares his stories on finding clarity in your mind so you can live a "lighter" life. Highly recommend. He also has a great instagram account.

Amanda Toney

You have me following him on Instagram so now I have to read his book!

Jenean McBrearty
Hoolywood Party (Kenneth Lloyd Billingsley)

A MUST READ story about the Communist infiltration of Hollywood that covers the unionization/strikes/and movie stars involved in the pro-Stalinist era in the 20, 30,40 & 50s. Do you think you know about the blacklisting/McCarthy hearings from movies made about the Hollywood Ten? McCarthy was never i...

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