this was a really well done biography, you could tell that the author had passion for the project. I overall enjoyed reading this and look forward to the next project from Mr. Starr.

As a long time fan of classic Trek, having started viewing while still in diapers, I have never known a life that didn't have William Shatner in it. And it was the better for it.

As far as this particular biography of The Shat, all I can say is it not sanctioned by the man himself. I don't know how accurate all the details are (although I know most are true), but I can tell you that the author is definitely PRO-Shatner and this biography was written to pay homage to this unique man and NOT to expose him or rip him apart.

An enjoyable read for any Trekkie (Trekker) but anyone not into Star Trek you can give this a skip. (Although, I can barely conceive of someone NOT being a Star Trek fan. Perhaps you need to seek professional help?)

But since this is MY honest review in exchange for this free copy received from Netgalley, MY rating will reflect that.

Thanks for reading my review and going where many have gone before. (Definitely sounds more boring that way. But not to me!)

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

Enjoyable biography of the Star Trek actor even if it felt a little light. Frustrating that Shatner himself didn't take part and actually shut down some people the author tried to speak to!

Shatner is an openly unauthorised biography about the iconic actor, William Shatner.

Despite active roadblocks against the author, this book was an interesting insight into the man behind the legend and the highs and lows of his career. It shows a man very controlling over his image and publicity (perhaps why he was so against this biography?) and his feuds with his co-stars.

An interesting, but rather sad man who appears to be redeeming himself in his later years.

**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

At 88 years old, William Shatner is still working hard and being a source of endless fascination. Sometimes derided, sometimes idolised, there is no escaping the Shatner brand. I was born around the time of Star Trek, so most of my knowledge of Shatner comes from Denny Crane which is still one of the best characters I think to have been on TV. (and when I saw him live in 2011 in his one man show)
Although Shatner didn't agree to participate in the book, there are enough quotes and information available that the author was able to give a thorough, and well balanced account of Shatner's career and some of his personal life.

Recommended to those who are fascinated with this larger-than-life character.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an ARC copy for a honest review...

So let's start with a couple of comments....

Why was William Shatner so against a biography by the author?

Why had William Shatner taken a dislike against the author and blocked him on Twitter?

I guess we will never know...

Reading biographies and autobiographies, and knowing the personality of William Shatner, and read some of his books I think I understand.

William Shatner liked to control his own publicity, he also liked to control his career, especially when he believed he could make more money.

He enjoyed the limelight and the fame, and yes I believe correctly he enjoyed being on the screen and making sure he had most of the on time screen, but I guess he was the star.

I believe he was jealous of Leonard Nimoy's acting ability and talent, and directing which caused friction, he treatment of co-stars on Star Trek was bad, as many later autobiographies stated in their books.

But he has had a long career with many high and lows, always wanting to keep busy, often saying yes to below average films, commercials, but he worked to keep his family, his wife's his daughters and of course divorce settlements.

During low points in his career, becoming involved in so different genres to keep himself busy, with music, books, commercials, voice-overs, radio, stage, television and many, many guest roles in his career.

I think as he has aged he has bellowed, and co-stars in later shows actually said he was nice to work for, especially in his best work in Boston Legal and TJ Hooker, where earlier co-stars from Star Trek will not speak to him and very long feuds. Did not attend Leonard Nimoy funeral, saying they had not spoken for years, so sad, did not attend George Takei wedding, why, we will never know.

A man not afraid to argue, put forward his opinion, stand up for his thoughts, maybe why he is still working at nearly 89 years old in 2020, like it or not a success

Interesting book, a three star book for me.

A good biography on actor William Shatner full of interesting information and well researched i recommend for any fan of the actor

LOVED this book...it was a deep dive into the man, the mystery, the legend that is SHATNER! As a life long fan, I loved reading it and it was a fun read overall.

Shatner is a fun and informative look into Bill Shatner’s life. The author is candid in stating that Mr. Shatner didn’t want to provide his own input on the book, and even provided a funny antidote about the whole experience of trying to garner interviews for it. Once the forward is done, the author removes himself from the book entirely, only stating the facts as he knew them. The research is extensive and unbiased. Starr doesn’t portray our Starship Captain as a villain nor a hero, but a human. He paints a picture of Bill that is both flawed, and strong, serious but funny, and ego ridden yet humble. The accounts in the book start from Bill’s parents meeting, up to now, over 80 years later. This book is a must-read for all Trekkie fans!

Shatner by Michael Seth Starr is, as you know, an unauthorized biography pf William Shatner. The author is very honest about it being unauthorized and even goes into detail about how Bill blocked him on Twitter and told people not to have any contact with the author. Roadblocks were up in full force but we still got a pretty detailed book with some information I didn't previously know. I was worried knowing the challenges that this would be a sensationalized account but was pleasantly surprised by the objectivity presented.

If you are a fan of Bill's from Star Trek you get quite a lot of information about that part of his career as it's probably the most well known and therefore documented. We also get to see other aspects of is professional life that span more that many people know and actually showcase he's not just a 'bit' actor and has a lot more range that many people realize.

The story also delves into William Shatner's personal life, which is ever changing. We get to learn about his relationships with his family and some of his friends. If the subject had been involved in the writing of this story I'm sure this section would have had a more unique insight, as it is I think parts were taken from information in his autobiography. As his life is constantly changing no book can have it all but the author did a good job balancing the story and information available while providing a sympathetic character.

I received an advanced copy of this story through NetGalley and would like to thank them, the author and the publisher for making it available. This review and views expressed within are my own and are given honestly and voluntarily.

This as author Michael Seth Starr points out is an unauthorised biography, indeed perhaps not surprisingly he found himself blocked from Shatner's twitter account because of this. However, despite the lack of access to the man himself and his personal archives, we have here a comprehensive and objective account of the life and works of this most enigmatic of characters. A seasoned reporter and columnist Michael Seth Starr has written other celebratory biographies. This book is both informative and very readable eschewing sensationalism and relying on known facts as well as relying on the sometimes contrary accounts given by his fellow actors.

Shatner even though approaching his 90's has an amazing appetite to continue working and his longevity in the entertainment business is matched by the sheer diversity of his work. Theatre, films, television, commercials, records, books, actor, author, producer, director, screenwriter, and singer have all been covered. Of course Shatner became a cultural icon for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the now cult 79 Star Trek television programmes from the 1960's and Star Trek forms a large but not exclusive part of the book. There is also space devoted to his other two famous television characters,T.J. Hooker and Denny Crane.

He has to say the least a rather up and down career combining this with a far from straight forward personal life. Indeed I read just today that he has now filed for divorce from his fourth wife, meaning his propensity for making news means that even this recently published book now needs updating. Whether any biography will enable the reader to fully understand the full Shatner personality is doubtful but this certainly takes them a step nearer.

A fascinating look at a fascinating man. Really great one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A very comprehensive and fair-minded biography of the fabled actor. Full of quotes and references the book looks at the actor's whole life and his many activities in film, TV, commercials, books, music, and even social media (I'm exhausted just writing this).

I liked so much that Starr does not gloss over the difficulties of Shatner's life, but presents them in a sympathetic way.

It's an outstanding book to learn more about the man behind Captain Kirk and Denny Crane.

I've struggled how to write this review as the focus should really be on the book rather than on its fascinating subject. I'm not sure that I will be able to suceed separating the man from the biography. perhaps that is a sign of a well written biography.

Shatner, a biography wriiten by Michael Seth Starr, is the latest of what seems to be a multitude of books about William Shatner. In it, the author informs the reader that Mr. Shatner was not involved with the writing of the book, evidently refusing to be interviewed and even blocking Mr. Starr from his twitter account. I'm not sure why he was unwilling to be involved as the book seems to be rather evenly balanced. It does not read as a "hit piece" nor is it so over-the-top in love with its subject that it is "stalkerish". Rather, Mr. Shatner's highs and lows, his good and bad points are discussed in an even tone. Star Trek, while discussed does not dominate the text, which in my opinion is a good thing as that is among the parts of his life that many of us are likely to be most familiar. Each time in his life gets attention.

Star Trek is what introduced William Shatner to my sister and me in syndication. I remember sitting on the floor with her on Saturday nights while our mother made dinner. It was, and is a great show, especially for kids as it showed us what could be. It sparked our imaginations in many ways. It showed, without any great fanfare or tricks, a future where people were just people. Genderless, colorless, it was a place of good will and possibility; so many life lessons presented in a subtle way. It brings to mind the way Dr. Seuss could also show us the way without necessarily hitting us over the head. There's no need, show how things can and should be, we get it and we work towards making it happen.

That's enough Star Trek, at least for now, Mr. Shatner has enjoyed such a long and varied career of which Star Trek is really the middle act. Think of it, stage, big screen, little screen, radio, music, the written word, the equine world, you name, I'll bet he has done it! I know that if I see his name listed, heck, I'll give a try and I haven't been disappointed yet. He has a terrific sense of humor about himself which is rare to find in anyone let alone a celebrity. How great is that?

I knew this would happen, I've ended up reviewing the subject and not the book. I apologize, it seems awfully difficult to separate the two. Here this is about the book ... it is well written, the research is extensive. Like the man, it is engaging and entertaining.

The author did the impossible - he was able to find tidbits of information that many of us hadn't read before about William Shatner. Shatner is a legend and there has been so much written about him, but this biography actually has some new information and it is well written.

When a biographer admits that the subject of the biography refused to be interviewed, blocked them on Twitter and asked friends not to speak to the author, you know you are not going to get many new revelations. This book is a rather pedestrian, if very sincere, plod through Mr Shatner's long career, gleaning quotes and snippets from his autobiography and from those colleagues who would talk about working with him.

The book touches several times on the animosity felt by other Star Trek cast members, it quotes Shatner wherever possible but presumably only from second-hand sources, and often digresses into information about co-stars rather than the subject himself. The book is generally chronological, but does occasionally dart back and forth in time, which can be a bit disconcerting.

Having said that, it is an interesting read about Shatner's career, and it does provide some information about the man and his personal life, but you don't feel he is speaking on the page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rowman & Littlefield and Applause for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read two of Shatner's biographies and each time walked away wondering why I wasted the time because of the size of his ego. But I've always enjoyed when Bill Shatner "played Shatner" so I thought I'd read this book. The good and the bad about Bill Shatner are looked at in this biography.

Despite the fact that the author interviewed many people for the book, I still feel like we're just scratching the surface of what makes Bill Shatner tick. I thought the author did a good job of addressing his marriages and relationship with his daughters.

There was just the right amount of Star Trek for the casual fan or die hard Trekkie.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Another interesting book about William Shatner. I'm amazed by how many things he has done in his career and continues to do with his life!

Interesting, objective biography

I enjoyed this book. It was neither a character-assassination nor a tribute, just an objective look at William Shatner’s life. But objective definitely doesn’t mean boring. Author Michael Seth Starr wrote a fascinating story about Shatner, that was hard to put down. A large part of the appeal of this book is its objectivity. I didn’t want to read a fan piece. The rest of the appeal of the book is Starr’s writing style. He writes in a conversational tone and didn’t linger unnecessarily at any one point in the book. The book wasn’t more weighted towards Star Trek than was Shatner’s life. Even as a fan of the original Star Trek series, this didn’t bother me. There are lots of books on Star Trek and I didn’t want to read another one. I recommend this book for fans of William Shatner and for anyone who likes biographies.

I was always a fan William Shatner, therefore I enjoined reading this book and getting some interesting informations very much. Not one boring moment in my view. I'm sure each and every fan of Mr Shatner will feel the same as I.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy!