Fascinating memoir of a director of many Hollywood classics of film and TV characterized by intelligence, depth and humanity. His story is the story of his career...the projects and the professionals worked with along the way. Many of his insights about major stars provide clues not just to their process, but also to their cores. His insights about filmmaking cover both the business decisions as well as the creative process. Full of nuggets that may change how you view the actors involved.

I have shared this post with several of my classes and colleagues for their use:


Note: I have no financial interest of any kind in this recommendation.

I have just finished reading one of the best books I have ever read about the life of a Hollywood TV and movie director. It is honest, revealing and records the ups and downs of TV and movie production, from dealing with talent, crew, and the financial backers of a production.

Here is the description from Barnes and Noble's website:

Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood

by Ed Zwick
Links to an external site.
Who wouldn’t want to take a peek behind Hollywood’s curtain? Legendary director Ed Zwick packs decades of wisdom into this dazzling memoir full of name-drops and anecdotes.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER

This heartfelt and wry career memoir from the director of Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall, About Last Night, and Glory, creator of the show thirtysomething, and executive producer of My So-Called Life, gives a dishy, behind-the-scenes look at working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

“I’ll be dropping a few names,” Ed Zwick confesses in the introduction to his book. “Over the years I have worked with self-proclaimed masters-of-the-universe, unheralded geniuses, hacks, sociopaths, savants, and saints.”

He has encountered these Hollywood types during four decades of directing, producing, and writing projects that have collectively received eighteen Academy Award nominations (seven wins) and sixty-seven Emmy nominations (twenty-two wins). Though there are many factors behind such success, including luck and the contributions of his creative partner Marshall Herskovitz, he’s known to have a special talent for bringing out the best in the people he’s worked with, especially the actors. In those intense collaborations, he’s sought to discover the small pieces of connective tissue, vulnerability, and fellowship that can help an actor realize their character in full.

Talents whom he spotted early include Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Denzel Washington, Claire Danes, and Jared Leto. Established stars he worked closely with include Leonardo DiCaprio, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Daniel Craig, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Jennifer Connelly. He also sued Harvey Weinstein over the production of Shakespeare in Love—and won. He shares personal stories about all these people, and more.
Written mostly with love, sometimes with rue, this memoir is also a meditation on working, sprinkled throughout with tips for anyone who has ever imagined writing, directing, or producing for the screen. Fans with an appreciation for the beautiful mysteries—as well as the unsightly, often comic truths—of crafting film and television won’t want to miss it.
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If you are considering a career in movie/TV production, check this informative read out!
Prof Hughes

Edward Zwick has quietly had an impressive career in both prestige television (THIRTYSOMETHING, MY SO-CALLED LIFE) and film (GLORY, THE LAST SAMURAI) and he reviews it all with equally impressive candor. He closes each chapter with a list of lessons learned the hard way, many of them eminently practical, like "Coverage is God's way of giving you the chance to rewrite in the cutting room" and "When in doubt, take a nap." Some of the best sections are about when Zwick had the wisdom to step back from a project and allow other collaborators to take the lead, as with SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and TRAFFIC. He tells stories about actors behaving badly and with uncommon grace, and doesn't hesitate to call out his own poor behavior. He admits that he eyes "the talented young directors coming up with admiration tinged with a certain wariness," regretting that "too many of their films seem not at all interested in holding up a mirror to contemporary life." Above all, HITS, FLOPS, AND OTHER ILLUSIONS ably captures the sweep of a long career in show business and how often it's studded with disappointment and missed opportunities: "In some essential way we are all losers in Hollywood. It's hard to think of any other bond that distinguishes us as a community." Fascinating and honest.

I loved this book - Ed Zwick calls it a "tell-some" rather than a "tell-all" but I'm here to say that he shares a lot and I was here for it. I loved all the behind the scenes of what it takes to make a movie or TV show and made me wonder with all the obstacles how anything ends up on the screen. My favorite chapters were about "Glory" and "Shakespeare in Love" - can't wait to re-watch both. I was always a fan of "Thirtysomething" - watched it in my 20's - and still remember the devastation I felt when a main character died. The author also balances the book by sharing his own life and vulnerabilities - including lots of lessons learned which he intersperses in lists between each chapter. Well written, heartfelt, and so entertaining.

I loved this book! It is both an inside look at the trials and tribulations of television and film production as well as personal and career memoir. Ed Zwick has been the creative force (with his co-collaborator, Marshall Herskowitz) on shows such as Family, Thirtysomething, My So=Called Life, etc. Interesting to note that before they joined the creative team for the show Family, the pilot was produced by Mike Nichols. Zwick also directed some of my favorite films such as Glory, Shakespeare in Love, Defiance. He was inspired by other directors' biographies and kept many notebooks he filled with lessons, tips and ideas from reading these and the classic book Goldman's "Adventures in the Screen Trade." He attended the AFI Conservatory and is self-effacing and humble as he describes his time there and continues with this tone throughout the book. At the end of each chapter is a list of specific lessons and tips he gained throughout this career. He is not afraid to tell tales about actors being demanding and difficult. I won't tell the juicy stories here -- you should just read the book! Highly recommended!

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

4.5 stars! Google Ed Zwick and you'll quickly discover how many great TV shows and movies he's directed. My So-Called Life was one of my favorite shows back in the day and I couldn't believe it when I read that they only made 19 episodes! Ed has a lot of stories to tell and he does an excellent job sharing his 'behind the scenes' of filmmaking. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review - it's out today!

I really enjoyed this book. It had a good amount of information on the entertainment industry and what was required to be successful. He was forthcoming in his shortcomings when directing and writing and it actually makes me want to check out some of the movies he made. Gotta admit I was loving the juicy gossip he was dropping that kept it interesting. He also touched on the backlash to projects he made and how he handled himself in those situations. This was a book that I very much liked and I will probably get because honestly he seems pretty cool. Thanks for the read, it was a fun ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC copy of Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions by Ed Zwick.

What a wonderfully well written memoir of 40 years in the industry. Ed Zwick is casual in a way that it made the book easy and enjoyable to read. I really have to be in the mood for a memoir or autobiography, but this one just hit right in all the best ways. The insights into film making are welcoming, especially to those who have a dream of getting into the industry. Sure, there is gossip here or there, but it is in pretty good taste. I'd recommend it for sure.

Fascinating look into Ed Zwicks life in Hollywood from behind the scenes moments and.eye
opening looks at his creative process I enjoyed the juicy gossip and the real guide to succeeding in Hollywood.#netgalley #gallery

A riveting account of a remarkable career spanning over forty years in the volatile Hollywood industry. This book is not just a memoir, but also a fascinating history, a practical how-to, and an inspiring testament to creating success on one's own terms. From his early days as a studio reader to winning an Oscar, Zwick shares captivating stories from behind the scenes, including encounters with prominent stars and significant moments in film and television. His journey from a young aspiring writer to a successful creator of shows like 'Thirty-something' and 'My So-Called Life', and films such as 'Glory' and 'Shakespeare in Love', is not only about professional triumphs but also personal growth. Zwick's writing is engaging, filled with anecdotes about actors, studio battles, and his insights into the entertainment industry. Uniquely, he avoids the typical Hollywood memoir trope of settling scores, instead focusing on the joy of creation and the importance of relationships. His book offers valuable advice, both for those aspiring to a career in entertainment and for life in general. Overall, it's a positive and enlightening read about the art of creation in an industry not always kind to artists.

If you tempt me with My So-Called Life behind the scenes talk, I'm gonna come running.

This was a really good insight to a filmmakers experience. I don't normally read memoirs by them. Usually I only read memoirs written by actors. However, if you're interested in the point of view from a different perspective of Hollywood, it's worth checking out this book.

I didn't watch a ton of his shows and movies which made it harder to get into. There was a ton of attention given to some and not to others.... unfortunately My So-Called Life didn't get as much attention as I personally wanted. Sometimes I felt like it got a little rambly, but it wasn't enough to lose my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy so that I may give my honest feedback and review.

This is a great example of a modern Hollywood memoir. Logically organizer, just the right amount of dirt, and a genuine reflection on what it means to attempt to make art in a cutthroat business.

Ed Zwick is a fascinating narrator who fearlessly reports various shenanigans experienced over his many years in the entertainment industry. His writing talents created many popular TV shows and movies - Check out his IMDB page! He offers an insider point of view while avoiding the pitfalls of a hagiography. It was eye-popping to read backstories about unexpected celebrities doing self-centered things to “improve art”, sometimes at the author’s expense. Although unwelcomed critiques come with this ego-driven territory, the author is consistently kind, his wise adult self recognizing the pitfalls of youth and an understanding of what early success does to those who become superstars in their 20s. He highlights gracious celebrities as well. .He credits his wife for being a great stabilizer in his life and his own family for being his center, ultimately meaning more to him the fictional Family (and other hits) he created. I enjoyed being in his world.. His candor makes for great reading.

This is an interesting, entertaining memoir by an accomplished director. There’s a little bit of juicy gossip, but I think this book will appeal most to those interested in film-making, as it goes into quite a bit of detail into how much is involved in the process. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited about this because I love nearly every show he’s worked on and have followed his career really closely,

I don’t think memoir writing is his strong suit, He talks in circles a lot and doesn’t really get into the details of anything. It was honestly a little hard to follow at time because he’d go on tangents that really were not very related to the topic (like how time moves and blurs) and then not go back to what he was talking about (pitching a show) and just moving on to the next thing,

I don’t know why the whole book felt like a run on sentence but it did, It was a disappointing mess.

This was an entertaining and fun read. We have all seen work that Ed Zwick has directed, produced or written so it was interesting to go “behind the curtain” on some of these productions. There’s also some good gossip to be had here!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Galley Books for an advanced copy of this memoir of a Hollywood creative who has beaten the odds by being both successful and happy with his work and life, longer than most careers in entertainment seem to last.

Hollywood is a town that burns through people, careers, genres, metrics basically everything like a wildfire out of control. This months Vanity Fair cover could be on a where are they now special 6 months later. People are praised to heaven, even as their agents are changing their number, and moving on to the next thing. A few make it, of course. Most thought burn out quick, or become cranky or social media oddballs. Very few have a career that stretches over forty years. With success in both television, and film. And now in books. Ed Zwick started as a reader for film studios, worked in television, and won an Oscar, and has the stories to prove it. Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood is a memoir, a history, a how-to, and a why not book about creating, living and finding success on one's own terms.

Edward Zwick grew up wanting to be a writer, but really wasn't sure how to go about it. Zwick was good at falling in love, but a bad relationship helped him focus on film school, and becoming a reader for the studios, looking for projects to invest in for films. A chance to work o the show Family, my Mom's favorite show got his foot in the door, and introduced him to his friend, and future collaborator Marshall Herskovitz. Together they began to work together and soon classic shows like Thritysomething, and My So-Called life were winning awards, on the covers of magazines, and making his name. Glory brought him to the big screen, with other movies to follow, either as director, writer, or producer; Legends of the Fall, Traffic, Shakespeare in Love. Zwick has crossed paths or helped nurture careers, Denzel Washington, Clare Danes, Brad Pitt and more. Best of all he has a lot of stories, and is very good at sharing them, from behind the scenes, to ugly spats, to successful premieres.

Ed Zwick really has an amazing career. The shows alone would make him, both popular with a certain segment of society, yuppies and the MTV generation, but the films. Intimate family, big sprawling historical films, and classics like Glory. Zwick is good writer, and while he might sound a little old Hollywood in the beginning what comes clear is that he is a person that loves to create, loves his friends and family, and is happy with his career. Zwick has a lot of great stories, and not a lot of settling of grievances which many Hollywood books would have. There are a lot of stories of actors before they were stars, battles with studios, and the Weinsteins. And a story about an actor I wouldn't have thought, but makes sense watching their career go by. Zwick also offers advice that is both valuable for an entertainment career and for life, ending each chapter with lessons he learned during certain projects or how things came together. A really positive book about creating art, and working in an industry that doesn't have the best of intentions for artists.

Ed Zwick candid memoir of a director and producer of of a few hit movies and television programs is an interesting book.
Zwick gives behind the scene details of how movies get made or don't get made. Zwick provides frank observations of working with superstars like Denzel Washing ton and Tome Cruise..A fun read of fans of Zwick's movies including Glory, The Last Samurai , Defiance and others.

Really enjoyed this show biz biography by the creator and director and writer of many tv shows and movie, most notably thirtysomething-which was must see tv for me and my friends in the 80”s(when we were in the thirties). Zwick is honest, open and not afraid to tell it like it is. His insights into the creative process are insightful(and pithy). A great look by an excellent writer about he creative process in general(with some good Hollywood gossip thrown in for good measure). Highly recommended. .

This was a fantastic history of music. I really like Ed Zwick's writing, it's almost like the music is alive. Love it.