As a long-time fan of Degrassi, I was very excited for this book. It did not let me down. I learned a lot more about Stephen, and a bit about the behind the scenes of Degrassi, which I greatly appreciated. It gave me a deeper respect for Stephen Stohn.

Whatever It Takes was a surprising look into the television and film industry from a perspective that you don't normally get to see, coming from outside of Hollywood. It was rather enlightening.

Fans may not recognize Stephen Stohn by name, but he’s behind some of this generation's favorite musicians and TV shows. He’s best known for “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” but has also helped launch the careers of notable musicians. “Whatever It Takes: Life Lessons from Degrassi and Elsewhere” lets Stohn tell his own story of how he started out as a wide-eyed hippie with grand dreams of being a musician to an entertainment lawyer and executive producer who’s worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

The book is filled with stories about Stohn’s career and how he eventually wound up in the entertainment industry. While he highlights his many successes, he doesn’t shy away from his failures, like the promising TV show, "The L.A. Complex." Other memorable highlights include securing the rights for Canada’s Hockey Song and working on the Juno Awards, but the best parts deal with musicians he’s worked with throughout the years.

Stohn’s passion for music bleeds all over these chapters. He recounts events like discovering k.d. lang, helping the Cowboy Junkies get signed to a label and seeing Alannah Miles’ “Black Velvet” reach number one on the charts with the same excitement and energy he must’ve had over 20 years ago. He clearly loves music whether it’s creating it himself or helping others share theirs with the world and it shows. His passion leaps off the page and makes you excited to follow Stohn’s journey.

The book is also an insider’s guide to how the entertainment industry works. There’s not necessarily any juicy gossip or scathing accounts here. Rather, it’s a behind the scenes look at how a TV show gets made, how artists get signed to labels, and how singing competitions, like “American Idol,” actually work. These make for some of the most fascinating chapters even if Stohn does have the tendency to be verbose. Pop culture junkies will love finding out what goes into negotiating an artist’s contract or how finalists on singing competitions each have to record their own version of their first single.

While the book gives readers a better understanding of how the entertainment industry works, it does have its share of problems. Stohn tends to stuff his chapters with too many unnecessary details. At the beginning of the book, he jokes about his editor suggesting he trim down chapters about his time as a musician. He should’ve taken the advice. Spanning across six chapters, stories of Stohn and Christopher Ward playing music in Turkey run for far too long. Some parts are interesting, but after chapter two you’re ready to move on.

Fans don’t just hear from Stohn throughout the book. Various chapters feature blurbs from people he’s worked with over the years. It provides some insight and more details for projects Stohn’s worked on, but it’s a distraction. He doesn’t establish from the start that other people will have a voice in his story. So when you’re suddenly reading from the viewpoint of someone else later, it’s jarring. It doesn’t flow with the rest of the narrative and catches you off guard taking you out of the story.

The book also feels a bit misleading when it comes to Degrassi. Since he mentions the show on the cover, fans would hope to learn more about the series. He does spend a few chapters talking about its origins and eventual cancellation, but it’s a small part of the book. When he does discuss it at length, it’s about the making of the school shooting episode, “Time Stands Still,” working with Aubrey Graham before he was Drake, and a short section about his favorite Degrassi moments. Degrassi is only a small part of Stohn’s career, but many fans of the show will pick up this book based on the title and will be disappointed.

“Whatever It Takes” isn’t the most riveting or exciting story about working in the entertainment industry, but it’s an enjoyable read. At times Stohn is verbose, but his passion for what he does and who he’s worked with throughout the years gets you excited to embark on this journey with him. There are great facts about well-known musicians and the inside look at studios will leave you wanting more. His story also provides a positive outlook for those who dream big. He may not have been a successful musician, but he found a way to turn his passion into a career he’s excited about. It shows no matter what you love, whether it be music, writing, or painting, you can turn it into a career with hard work, passion and determination.

I had trouble enjoying this book. I was never really a Big Degrassi fan. This book did provide an interesting insight into the tv and music world.

Whatever it Takes is a memoir focusing in on the life of its author Stephen Stohn. Stephen Stohn is a Canadian entertainment icon as he is well known for his various works in music and television, including being a songwriter for many hit Canadian songs and creating the hit show Degrassi. Stohn takes you on the journey of his life, painting all of his success and most importantly, sharing all of his failures. It can be hard to convey these emotions, especially these raw and insecure feelings seen in show business. He recognizes his journey in life is unique, and like Degrassi’s iconic theme song, he believes you must do “whatever it takes” to make it through life.

Whatever it Takes is a novel you will want to finish in one sitting. The delicious insight to show business is what really draws you in, and Stohn’s evident knowledge in the field is what keeps you reading. Degrassi is my favorite TV show of all time; it has been a large part of my life and still is to this day. The “insiders” look on Degrassi was fascinating to read about in my opinion; it was a real treat to learn about the ups and downs that come with creating a controversial television show. I know any Degrassi fan would be jumping up and down to read Stohn’s insight, but even if you’re not a Degrassi fan, you won’t be able to deny the interest that comes with learning about the secrets of entertainment.

I really like this book. Stohn’s writing is quick in the sense that it is not only fast, but it also carries a lot of heart within in a short amount of time. I feel telling the different points of his life, when he was younger up until he was an adult, was paced well to show how every event made an impact on him. It was nice getting to know Stohn through his novel; not only does he seem like a smart guy but through his voice I can feel his passion and drive for life. His writing overall is well done; I enjoyed the humor and love that was evidently put into each story/anecdote. I believe Stohn does a great job of creating an idea of what it is like to go into show business, and gives it to you honestly: you will fail at times but you must continue to work hard. I suggest this book to anyone who is interested in television, music or media. This quick read teaches you that sometimes life gets rough but as long as you work hard to make it through, you will achieve your dreams someday.