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List Price: $24.95 | | Publisher: Random House
Salesrank: 48863
Released: September 4, 2007 |
| Our Price: $5.87 |
| Used Price: $1.70 |
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| Media: Hardcover |
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Editorial Review:
On the heels of his acclaimed memoir, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, beloved actor and bestselling author Alan Alda has written Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, an insightful and funny look at some of the impossible questions he’s asked himself over the years: What do I value? What, exactly, is the good life? (And what does that even mean?)
Picking up where his bestselling memoir left off–having been saved by emergency surgery after nearly dying on a mountaintop in Chile–Alda finds himself not only glad to be alive but searching for a way to squeeze the most juice out of his new life. Looking for a sense of meaning that would make this extra time count, he listens in on things he’s heard himself saying in private and in public at critical points in his life–from the turbulence of the sixties, to his first Broadway show, to the birth of his children, to the ache of September 11, and beyond. Reflecting on the transitions in his life and in all our lives, he notices that “doorways are where the truth is told,” and wonders if there’s one thing–art, activism, family, money, fame–that could lead to a “life of meaning.”
In a book that is candid, wise, and as questioning as it is incisive, Alda amuses and moves us with his unique and hilarious meditations on questions great and small. Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself is another superb Alan Alda performance, as inspiring and entertaining as the man himself.
Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself Reviews:
Not really.... 
2008-04-22 - Yes, sure, like everyone else over the age of 30 I, too, subliminally believe that Alan Alda really *is* Hawkeye Pierce. And I love watching him get down on the asphalt to sniff the exhaust from an electric car on Scientific American Frontiers. But, really? He's not much more than a competent writer, and at least in this book, he doesn't really have anything to say.
Just in case you haven't picked it up from the other reviews, the bulk of this book is a lot of commencement speeches that Alda has given over the years, in which he tried to give crowds of 20-somethings the benefit of his insights into happiness and personal responsibility. These speeches may have been appropriate to the time and audience for which they were originally intended, but reproducing them in a book is pretty pretentious, particularly given that his advice isn't anything that we haven't already heard. Are platitudes about working hard, making time for our families, practicing some kind of social activism, and accepting happiness as it comes to us more valuable because they're uttered by Alan Alda?
Here's a quick rule of thumb for those contemplating a memoir: if you don't have something truly unique to say, stick to telling interesting stories about your life. This would have been a much better book if Alda had just told the anecdotes he uses as padding between the speeches, although even those are often self-serving (we were actors! protesting! in the 70s! you should be more like we were!). Sadly, I find that I like Alan Alda a lot less after having read this book.
Smooth 
2008-03-03 -
Alda's down to earth brief sketch of his life and career was very enjoyable reading. After reading it I thought that Alda turned out to be a fascinating person in spite of being raised by a not with it mother and distant father. He gave some good ideas on how to live with his recalling of the graduation speaches he was asked to give along the way.
ramblings of a man with nothing profound to say 
2008-02-08 - I reserve a one star review for books I just can't force myself to finish. And this book is one of those. This is a collection of commencement speaches Mr. Alda has given over his career as well as some stories that give background to them. If you love to sit through commencement speaches, this is the book for you. I have better things to do with my time. Sorry Alan.
And, I adore Alan Alda 
2008-01-28 - Just a short note about Alan Alda's newest book; it's average. I adore Alan Alda and wish I could write something more glowing about this book, but it truly is a collection of speeches he has written and delivered along the way. Yes, you do get an occasional insight into his life, (and, that is the best part of the book) but it is only by way of introduction to an essay or speech he wants to lay out for you. As well, the speeches become redundant and somewhat conflicting as you get deeper into the book. I found myself thinking, "Oh, no, not another commencement address!" Just be prepared not to expect too much and you won't be disappointed. I still adore him...
Like Drowning In Syrup...
2008-01-22 - Well,
Alan Alda obviously loves himself. Nothing wrong with that. What we have here though, is a book that one would have thought was intended for his readers benefit, at least in part. Instead, we have huge doses of pretentious, self-serving and gooshy drivel served up by Alan about himself for all to see how award winning, financially successful, talented, charming, pseudo-intellectual and well-loved by all and well-thought-of by all he thinks he is (and how he successfully worked through his challenging middle class upbringing - yawn). Modesty? You must be kidding! He name drops unmercifully (Peter Jennings washed his dishes and his face was better known than Lincoln's due to his television series). He was asked to speak at many prestigious universities, occasionally by Nobel prize winners, no less. And he then reads his speeches and eulogies to us! Geez! A reason for the book, perhaps? - new mileage for old pretentious material (and it might sell!)- never mind that such material was only intended for its original audience. Where is your integrity, Alan? I couldn't finish it. This book may have some knowledge or wisdom that we humble readers might find provocative, humorous or even practical. I couldn't find it though, and, in my humble opinion, you are much better off using your heartbeats elsewhere. There are much better ways to be educated, amused and entertained. This book was a gift to me and I'm sorry that good money was spent for it - I couldn't even finish it. This book is even in audio form, read by, you guessed it, Alan himself.
Now that would be torture...
