First published 2011
Shirley MacLaine has reached the point in life where clarity trumps politeness. She catalogues everything she no longer has patience for: repetitive people, ill-mannered youth, the toxicity of fame, and the pressure to stay young in Hollywood. But she also identifies what still captivates her: perfect lighting techniques learned from Marlene Dietrich, the impossible vanity of male costars, and the thrill of live performance. MacLaine weaves together stories of Hollywood legends like Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Jack Lemmon, and Jack Nicholson. She reflects on her romantic entanglements with politicians, scientists, and fellow actors. Her observations range from the personal to the universal, examining what deserves our energy and what we should abandon. This collection reveals an uncompromising spirit who has learned to distinguish between what matters and what merely distracts.
Genres: biography, autobiography, memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-journey
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
224 pages · Hardcover · Atria Books