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The Art of Men: I Prefer Mine Al Dente
Emmy Award-winning actress Kirstie Alley’s candid and audacious memoir about her life and the men she has shared it with—for better and for worse.
John Travolta.
Parker Stevenson.
Ted Danson.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Kelsey Grammer.
Patrick Swayze.
Woody Allen.
Woody Harrelson.
And many others. . . . In three decades in Hollywood, Kirstie Alley has lived with, worked with, loved, or lost all of these men, and in this revealing memoir, she peels back the layers (and sometimes the sheets) on her relationships with all of them.
From the early days of her childhood in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by her loving father, her inquisitive and doting grandfather, and a younger brother she fiercely protected when she wasn’t selling tickets to see him naked, Kirstie Alley’s life has been shaped and molded by men. “Men, men, glorious men!” gave her her first big break in Hollywood and her awardwinning role on Cheers , and through two marriages, a debilitating cocaine addiction, the death of her mother, roles in some of the biggest comedies of the last twenty years, and a surprising stint on Dancing with the Stars , men proved to be the inspiration for multitudes of the decisions and dramas in Kirstie Alley’s life.
In this collection of linked essays that’s both hilarious and poignant in turns, Kirstie chronicles all the good, the bad, and the ugly men who have influenced and guided her. She demonstrates how men can be the air that women breathe or the source of all of their frustrations. But for better or worse, Kirstie shows that a life well lived is a life lived in the company of men, especially if they
remember to put the lid down. The Art of Men (I Prefer Mine al Dente) is a hilarious excursion into love, joy, motherhood, loss, sex, and self-discovery from one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
John Travolta.
Parker Stevenson.
Ted Danson.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Kelsey Grammer.
Patrick Swayze.
Woody Allen.
Woody Harrelson.
And many others. . . . In three decades in Hollywood, Kirstie Alley has lived with, worked with, loved, or lost all of these men, and in this revealing memoir, she peels back the layers (and sometimes the sheets) on her relationships with all of them.
From the early days of her childhood in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by her loving father, her inquisitive and doting grandfather, and a younger brother she fiercely protected when she wasn’t selling tickets to see him naked, Kirstie Alley’s life has been shaped and molded by men. “Men, men, glorious men!” gave her her first big break in Hollywood and her awardwinning role on Cheers , and through two marriages, a debilitating cocaine addiction, the death of her mother, roles in some of the biggest comedies of the last twenty years, and a surprising stint on Dancing with the Stars , men proved to be the inspiration for multitudes of the decisions and dramas in Kirstie Alley’s life.
In this collection of linked essays that’s both hilarious and poignant in turns, Kirstie chronicles all the good, the bad, and the ugly men who have influenced and guided her. She demonstrates how men can be the air that women breathe or the source of all of their frustrations. But for better or worse, Kirstie shows that a life well lived is a life lived in the company of men, especially if they
remember to put the lid down. The Art of Men (I Prefer Mine al Dente) is a hilarious excursion into love, joy, motherhood, loss, sex, and self-discovery from one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2012
29 people are currently reading
636 people want to read
About the author
Kirstie Alley
7 books22 followersKirsten Louise Alley was an American Emmy Award winning actress best known for her role in the TV show Cheers, where she played Rebecca Howe from 1987-1993, winning an Emmy as the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for 1991. A year later, she won a Golden Globe for her performance in Cheers as well. She won an Emmy in 1994 for her role in the TV-drama David's Mother. Other critically acclaimed roles Alley is known for include: playing Diane Barrows in It Takes Two and a single mother in Look Who's Talking, Look Who's Talking Too, and Look Who's Talking Now (all co-starring John Travolta). Alley won two People's Choice Awards in the years 1991 and 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
November 30, 2012
I went into this book thinking I wouldn't want to finish it. However, it had me laughing within the first couple pages. And it kept getting better. It was very entertaining and a very quick read. I didn't know very much about Kirstie Alley before this. After reading this book, i actually like her a lot. She's not afraid to admit when she was wrong or stupid. She doesn't hold anything back. And she makes fun of herself. I really did enjoy this book. She mentions a lot of celebrities, but it doesn't seem like she's name-dropping. It seems like it's all relevant. This was a very fun book to read and it had me laughing throughout.
July 3, 2013
I loved the way this book feels like a conversation or many conversations with Kirstie Alley. It made it completely enjoyable and hard to put down. I love it that she shares her life in such a down-to-earth way, freely admitting that she has done things she shouldn't have and has many regrets. We all have done things in our lives that we would have done differently. The important thing is that we learn from our mistakes. This is what life is about: growing, changing, bettering ourselves. As I have read many biographies, I find it sad that so many actors and actresses have had such a struggle in life. When you find out these things, you can't help but wish them all the best and feel that they deserve our respect for the hard times they have gone through.
I don't know what the answer is, but I wish there was a better formula to biographies. I have a very chronological mind and wish for things to be in timeline order, but most books are not written that way for whatever reason (memories, points they wish to make, etc.). I think for my next biography, I will keep a journal handy to jot notes so I can later refer to them when the years keep going back and forth in the story. This is just a pet peeve, not a complaint about the book. This book wouldn't appeal to all, but I can appreciate her sense of humor and the spirit of her writing.
I don't know what the answer is, but I wish there was a better formula to biographies. I have a very chronological mind and wish for things to be in timeline order, but most books are not written that way for whatever reason (memories, points they wish to make, etc.). I think for my next biography, I will keep a journal handy to jot notes so I can later refer to them when the years keep going back and forth in the story. This is just a pet peeve, not a complaint about the book. This book wouldn't appeal to all, but I can appreciate her sense of humor and the spirit of her writing.
December 20, 2012
I had seen Kirstie Alley in a number of movies, moreso when I was younger obviously and had liked her, but when she appeared on Dancing with the Stars the first time around, I really fell in love with her sense of humor and relationship with Maks (her pro dancing partner). I then saw a review of her memoir in People, got super excited about it and requested it right away at the library. I wasn't really aware of all her rendevous' with famous gentlemen, other than the flirtations she had with Maks and maybe would have appreciated it a little more if I was fans of, or knew about, her old flames. This is a book that truly stands by it's title, with every chapter dealing with "The Art of Men" in some form or another. She doesn't just talk about romantic dealings either, which is nice. She discusses friends, her father, her son, friends who become loves, and loves who became friends. Kirstie (and this book) is definitely the type of girl you'd grab a bottle of wine with, sit down and chat for hours while getting super silly. The way she writes makes me want to be one of those friends she does it with, and that's a talent in itself.
December 1, 2012
I started the book mainly to skim the juicy details and see the pictures. I came away with the vision of a very self absorbed woman who thinks she is irrestible to any man that walks. She also actually believes she a size six. I recently saw an interview of her on the Dr Oz show. She is funny, but I just can't get over her insistance that she believes she is thin. The book was shallow, as I expected.
December 16, 2018
I loved Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe on Cheers (and Look Who's Talking is a lot of fun too!) so I was looking forward to reading this - and it turned out to be exactly the type of celebrity memoir I love! Lots of name-dropping, forthright, and detailed (while still keeping private things private.) Growing up in Kansas, she talks openly about her Hollywood wealth, her clothes, her cars, her houses - which I actually found refreshing.
Even before her Hollywood years, Kirstie starts by telling us about her previous two marriages, her former drug use, and decision to join Scientology. Her career as an actress starts at Chapter 15 when she was hired by director Nicholas Meyer for a main role in Star Trek II.
Kirstie's chosen to frame her memoir around the men she's loved (not all physically, but some.) This includes stories about: Tim Matheson, Patrick Swayze, Sidney Poitier, James Burrows, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Woody Harrelson, John Travolta, Woody Allen, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Jonathan Knight (from New Kids on the Block!), Burt Reynolds, Carl Reiner, and Prince. The photo section at the back of the book also included pictures of Tom Selleck, Mark Harmon, David Crosby, Patrick Dempsey, Gil Bellows, Craig Robinson, and Steve Guttenberg.
I really wish this memoir had been released on audiobook. Four stars!
Even before her Hollywood years, Kirstie starts by telling us about her previous two marriages, her former drug use, and decision to join Scientology. Her career as an actress starts at Chapter 15 when she was hired by director Nicholas Meyer for a main role in Star Trek II.
Kirstie's chosen to frame her memoir around the men she's loved (not all physically, but some.) This includes stories about: Tim Matheson, Patrick Swayze, Sidney Poitier, James Burrows, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Woody Harrelson, John Travolta, Woody Allen, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Jonathan Knight (from New Kids on the Block!), Burt Reynolds, Carl Reiner, and Prince. The photo section at the back of the book also included pictures of Tom Selleck, Mark Harmon, David Crosby, Patrick Dempsey, Gil Bellows, Craig Robinson, and Steve Guttenberg.
I really wish this memoir had been released on audiobook. Four stars!
January 30, 2015
All you need to know about Ms. Alley's skill as a writer is in the title, where she first uses an art metaphor for men before suddenly switching to a food metaphor. The effect of this is nonsense.
This book is riddled with poor writing. If there was a ghost writer present, they were either incompetent at their job, or chose to have so ghost-like a presence as to be unnoticeable. Alley capitalizes words unnecessarily, I guess to let the reader know that these words have emphasis or are being yelled, but they're also followed by about 50 exclamation points (that is a conservative estimate), which accomplish the same effect. I guess she thought, "if I want to get my point across here, I better turn the dial to 11!"
Her metaphors/similes are terrible (see the title), and often offensive. At one point she writes, "Like a black man to the KKK, they were indistinguishable to me!" Does she think that's funny? Or, worse, witty?
The dialogue she reconstructs here is wooden and, frankly, unrealistic, which is mind boggling, since this is, supposedly, a memoir, meaning the words she has people saying were actually uttered. If that's true, my response is "on what planet?" If you read this and say to yourself "yes! This is how people talk and interact in my life," then I feel sorry for you.
Worse, Alley is a lazy writer. At one point, in writing about her Cheers co-stars, she says "Below, I will do my best to describe their amazing amazingness." I can't believe an editor didn't force a change there. Alley often makes up words when she feels like it, my personal favorite being "sparklery," which I guess is meant to imply something has the characteristics of a sparkler, but I don't quite understand why "sparkly," a real word, wouldn't have sufficed, since the main property of a sparkler is that it is sparkly. She also repeats herself. The opening to one (short) paragraph is something like "Maybe there is a grain of truth in that..." and then, less than two sentences later, in the same paragraph, she says "maybe there is some honesty to that." YES WE KNOW BECAUSE YOU SAID THE SAME THING IN THE TOPIC SENTENCE TO THIS PARAGRAPH.
Look. I get it. Kirstie Alley is an actress. She's not Toni Morrison. I knew what I was getting when I picked this book up. My critiques are off point because she shouldn't be expected to write well. To which I say, she should still be able to write in a literate manner, because we are wasting paper and other publishing resources to put this book out into the world, and it should, therefore, have some value.
Finally, perhaps all this wouldn't matter if the book itself were interesting; if the stories Alley had to tell were intriguing, or salacious, or profound. But they are not. Alley tries to spin tales of sex and desire and men that reflect the glamour of the life she's lived, but in trying so hard to be sexy, the end result is laughable and, often, off putting. If anything, this book is a testament to the fact that Alley managed to build a stunningly successful career portraying herself as a sex kitten when, in fact, she apparently is anything but sexy. If she had dug into this idea, explored the dichotomy between self and image, maybe this book could have been something. Instead, we got this piece of trash.
Just terrible.
This book is riddled with poor writing. If there was a ghost writer present, they were either incompetent at their job, or chose to have so ghost-like a presence as to be unnoticeable. Alley capitalizes words unnecessarily, I guess to let the reader know that these words have emphasis or are being yelled, but they're also followed by about 50 exclamation points (that is a conservative estimate), which accomplish the same effect. I guess she thought, "if I want to get my point across here, I better turn the dial to 11!"
Her metaphors/similes are terrible (see the title), and often offensive. At one point she writes, "Like a black man to the KKK, they were indistinguishable to me!" Does she think that's funny? Or, worse, witty?
The dialogue she reconstructs here is wooden and, frankly, unrealistic, which is mind boggling, since this is, supposedly, a memoir, meaning the words she has people saying were actually uttered. If that's true, my response is "on what planet?" If you read this and say to yourself "yes! This is how people talk and interact in my life," then I feel sorry for you.
Worse, Alley is a lazy writer. At one point, in writing about her Cheers co-stars, she says "Below, I will do my best to describe their amazing amazingness." I can't believe an editor didn't force a change there. Alley often makes up words when she feels like it, my personal favorite being "sparklery," which I guess is meant to imply something has the characteristics of a sparkler, but I don't quite understand why "sparkly," a real word, wouldn't have sufficed, since the main property of a sparkler is that it is sparkly. She also repeats herself. The opening to one (short) paragraph is something like "Maybe there is a grain of truth in that..." and then, less than two sentences later, in the same paragraph, she says "maybe there is some honesty to that." YES WE KNOW BECAUSE YOU SAID THE SAME THING IN THE TOPIC SENTENCE TO THIS PARAGRAPH.
Look. I get it. Kirstie Alley is an actress. She's not Toni Morrison. I knew what I was getting when I picked this book up. My critiques are off point because she shouldn't be expected to write well. To which I say, she should still be able to write in a literate manner, because we are wasting paper and other publishing resources to put this book out into the world, and it should, therefore, have some value.
Finally, perhaps all this wouldn't matter if the book itself were interesting; if the stories Alley had to tell were intriguing, or salacious, or profound. But they are not. Alley tries to spin tales of sex and desire and men that reflect the glamour of the life she's lived, but in trying so hard to be sexy, the end result is laughable and, often, off putting. If anything, this book is a testament to the fact that Alley managed to build a stunningly successful career portraying herself as a sex kitten when, in fact, she apparently is anything but sexy. If she had dug into this idea, explored the dichotomy between self and image, maybe this book could have been something. Instead, we got this piece of trash.
Just terrible.
January 4, 2013
I have always loved Kirstie Alley and thought that she was one funny and sassy bitch. About a year ago while following her on twitter I saw that she was writing a book. Once it was up on Amazon I purchased the book on pre-order. Although my hubby read me a review of it and it was a horrible review but I said you know what I love her I am going to read it anyways (plus I bought it so might as well read it). Well lets be honest it wasn't a prize winning book here, but it sure as hell was funny. It was a look into her life and all the men that have played a role in her life. I really had a lot of laugh out loud moments while reading. Just like she is on twitter and probably in real life, she is candid and straight forward and very funny. Yet, oddly my favorite aspect of the book is when she talks about her religion. To be fair I know nothing about scientology other than what I have seen on South Park and read in tabloids. I liked how she explained her relgion and gave an inside look into some of her fundamental beliefs. Although I know this is only one very small look into the relgion it was fascinating look into the relgion. I would say anyone who likes Alley should pick up this book, it is a quick and enjoyable read. Yet, because I know it wasn't the best written book ever for the general reader I will give it 3 out of 5 stars.
January 12, 2013
This made me just feel really sad. Sad that she relishes her lack of innocence even as a young girl when it came to men. And she did some questionable things even to her brother! I found this book very disturbing and very sad and more so because she obviously still has some major issues with men, sex, drugs, and just human decency.
"True, all that cocaine stuffed up my nose could have ruined my rep and put me in prison but I was willing to take that risk. I wasn't willing to be known as a tasteless designer."
"It was riveting to poke his weiner with a stick, and although I was only five I was bright enough to know that flesh touching flesh was taboo....it dawned on me: I was in full control of Henry's weiner!.... The power of sexual domination flooded through me." (Sad to think that's how she felt at age five)
Enough said.
"True, all that cocaine stuffed up my nose could have ruined my rep and put me in prison but I was willing to take that risk. I wasn't willing to be known as a tasteless designer."
"It was riveting to poke his weiner with a stick, and although I was only five I was bright enough to know that flesh touching flesh was taboo....it dawned on me: I was in full control of Henry's weiner!.... The power of sexual domination flooded through me." (Sad to think that's how she felt at age five)
Enough said.
April 8, 2013
I hadn't expected to enjoy this as much as I did. Fun stories of her wild days, told from the perspective of her 60's. She came across as very real, very funny, honest and someone I'd like. Thanks for a good read, Kirstie.
May 29, 2015
I like Kirstie Alley but she probably should have refrained from writing this book. It is fluff..at best.
February 12, 2013
Kirstie is very entertaining...and in a strange way is very down to earth. There was not a lot of details, but still an entertaining, light read.
December 21, 2022
Kirstie Alleys 2012 memoir The Art of Men: I Prefer Mine Al Dente is an amusing look back on her life with two husbands, lost loves, male friends, and her dad who she believes influenced her most. In her closing notes she realizes that women have influenced her as much, but in a more subtle way. There are also two picture sections of her with many people from her life, including celebrities.
She died earlier this month from recently-discovered colon cancer at the age of 71.
Al Dente refers to slightly undercooked pasta. It can also mean tender, but firm. Having read about the men she passionately loved, I'd say they were men of strength and integrity with a tender side.
While I liked her in the hit sitcom Cheers, I didn't watch any of her other TV shows or movies except for Look Who's Talking and her second season with Dancing With The Stars. I'm intrigued with her miniseries North and South because she and actor Patrick Swayze were very smitten with each other and she says she decided not to break up their marriages.
The chapter where she explains how and why she got involved with Scientology was quite interesting bullshitting. She was a cocaine addict of a couple years or so and was drugged out when she was interviewed and accepted. She credits L.Ron Hubbard,, author of Dianetics and founder of the cult, for saving her life and doesn't mention that his career was spent writing science fiction pulp.
Throughout the book she says she's 5'8” and her perfect weight was 115 pounds. I don't think so. Her official bio has her at 5'7”. She doesn't mention her weight problems or being spokesperson for Jenny Craig.
I would've enjoyed more stories of her with John Travolta, the greatest (platonic) love of her life, but she had a lot of men to cover. I'm sorry she divorced two good men who loved her just because she finally got bored with them! She mentions having three husbands, but it was two: a distant relative and Parker Stevenson, the “other” Hardy Boy in my opinion.
Curiously she grew up in Witchita, Kansas, not too far from me.
She made me smile often. Good enough!
She died earlier this month from recently-discovered colon cancer at the age of 71.
Al Dente refers to slightly undercooked pasta. It can also mean tender, but firm. Having read about the men she passionately loved, I'd say they were men of strength and integrity with a tender side.
While I liked her in the hit sitcom Cheers, I didn't watch any of her other TV shows or movies except for Look Who's Talking and her second season with Dancing With The Stars. I'm intrigued with her miniseries North and South because she and actor Patrick Swayze were very smitten with each other and she says she decided not to break up their marriages.
The chapter where she explains how and why she got involved with Scientology was quite interesting bullshitting. She was a cocaine addict of a couple years or so and was drugged out when she was interviewed and accepted. She credits L.Ron Hubbard,, author of Dianetics and founder of the cult, for saving her life and doesn't mention that his career was spent writing science fiction pulp.
Throughout the book she says she's 5'8” and her perfect weight was 115 pounds. I don't think so. Her official bio has her at 5'7”. She doesn't mention her weight problems or being spokesperson for Jenny Craig.
I would've enjoyed more stories of her with John Travolta, the greatest (platonic) love of her life, but she had a lot of men to cover. I'm sorry she divorced two good men who loved her just because she finally got bored with them! She mentions having three husbands, but it was two: a distant relative and Parker Stevenson, the “other” Hardy Boy in my opinion.
Curiously she grew up in Witchita, Kansas, not too far from me.
She made me smile often. Good enough!
November 20, 2025
Some photos, color and black and white of the author and her celebrity friends. Fans will enjoy the name-dropping and occasional mild humor. Other than her Scientology background the book mostly highlights her promiscuity and other additions (drug, alcohol). interesting jacket design by Jeene M. Lee.
November 3, 2017
I love Kirstie Alley. I hate this book. Go figure.
Bailed after 20 pages.
Bailed after 20 pages.
January 11, 2013
Entering this book with an open mind, I was quickly disgusted by the author's admission of childhood sexual play, drug use, sexual manipulation of almost every man she ever met and her blaming her mother or the men in her life for any of her problems! Add to that her pushing of her "religion" (which she makes sound like merely a wholesome anti-drug support community) which she turned to when she was high on cocaine and you'll very quickly conclude that this is one screwed-up woman. The book is a fascinating read, but only in the way reading the autobiography of a serial killer shocks you with what's on the pages, being somewhat entertained but disgusted when you're done. It makes you feel sick to think that this woman actually believes she is funny when talking about her childhood when she charged people money to see a little boy's private parts. She comes across as a complete psycho who should probably be arrested for some of the admissions in this book. Her Kansas family and friends should disown her for what she wrote.
If you are looking for inside celebrity gossip you won't find much. She does slam a couple minor people, including throwing her defenseless ex-husband Parker under the bus, but the big names she mostly keeps to herself while bragging about bedding a major star who turns into a monster who almost chokes her to death.
It all is supposed to be written in a style that is to "help" other women avoid the "traps" she fell into. But she actually set most of the traps herself--or knowingly forced her way into them. She should accept the blame for destroying so many people's lives, check herself into sex rehab (or jail!), deal with her weird grandpa-pleasing obsession and truly turn her life around with something like an honest faith in something greater than herself. If she thought this would make people appreciate her more, she was sorely mistaken. It ends up making her look despicable.
If you are looking for inside celebrity gossip you won't find much. She does slam a couple minor people, including throwing her defenseless ex-husband Parker under the bus, but the big names she mostly keeps to herself while bragging about bedding a major star who turns into a monster who almost chokes her to death.
It all is supposed to be written in a style that is to "help" other women avoid the "traps" she fell into. But she actually set most of the traps herself--or knowingly forced her way into them. She should accept the blame for destroying so many people's lives, check herself into sex rehab (or jail!), deal with her weird grandpa-pleasing obsession and truly turn her life around with something like an honest faith in something greater than herself. If she thought this would make people appreciate her more, she was sorely mistaken. It ends up making her look despicable.
March 3, 2015
One of the reasons Kirstie Alley became an actress was that she could make out with handsome men.
That is the kind of blunt and unapologetical confession you get from this book. She confesses what no one else has the guts to do.
So… moralists are not going to like it. There will be drugs. There will be a lot of flirting. And just inadequacy in general. If you can’t get past that, this memoir is not for you. According to narrow minded individuals, she is not a model of “human decency”.
Also, she is not very modest. She knows she is attractive, and how that attractiveness affected her, although she is conscious of her humble beginning, likes animals, had drug addiction and confesses she screwed up a lot of things in her life.
Fine by me. I prefer to read someone who made many mistakes and learned with them, than endure the moral arrogance of others who “did everything right”.
She as mostly influenced by men, hence the funny title (Yes, I only read it for the title). As a pretty, funny, vivid, confident and borderline bitchy woman, the obvious outcome is that guys like her. Handsome guys. Talented guys. Even her assistant was incredibly handsome.
We hear about her marriages… and platonic crushes with co-stars: men like Patrick Swayze, Woody Harrelson and John Travolta. She is incredibly honest about all of them. Sometimes I’d wonder: “Has she really said that?”or “Aren’t her friends going to be furious that she revealed so intimate details about their lives?”
That is the kind of blunt and unapologetical confession you get from this book. She confesses what no one else has the guts to do.
So… moralists are not going to like it. There will be drugs. There will be a lot of flirting. And just inadequacy in general. If you can’t get past that, this memoir is not for you. According to narrow minded individuals, she is not a model of “human decency”.
Also, she is not very modest. She knows she is attractive, and how that attractiveness affected her, although she is conscious of her humble beginning, likes animals, had drug addiction and confesses she screwed up a lot of things in her life.
Fine by me. I prefer to read someone who made many mistakes and learned with them, than endure the moral arrogance of others who “did everything right”.
She as mostly influenced by men, hence the funny title (Yes, I only read it for the title). As a pretty, funny, vivid, confident and borderline bitchy woman, the obvious outcome is that guys like her. Handsome guys. Talented guys. Even her assistant was incredibly handsome.
We hear about her marriages… and platonic crushes with co-stars: men like Patrick Swayze, Woody Harrelson and John Travolta. She is incredibly honest about all of them. Sometimes I’d wonder: “Has she really said that?”or “Aren’t her friends going to be furious that she revealed so intimate details about their lives?”
February 12, 2016
I had a hard time enjoying this book. Its really sad how I started this book being a huge fan of alley and now after reading it she seems like a delusional wreck. It just rubbed me the wrong way. she basically describes in the book that every guy she has come in contact with in her life has wanted to run away and marry her even when she was already married. To her its like every guy that would say hi to her would become passionately in love with her. the entire book seems a bit narcissistic. She went even as far as to say she had an emotional affair with Patrick Swayze. I found it to be a little convenient for her that she would come out with a story about this when he is not here anymore to comment...it screams LIES to me. After reading it I wonder if all of what she has written was in her head. It just seems like a cry for attention from an actress thats not really in the spot light anymore. Even if it is true which i doubt it is some things of your personal life should stay personal.
January 4, 2013
I've always thought Kirstie Alley was a good actress - I have enjoyed the films and tv shows she has done. It wasn't until I watched her shows Fat Actress and Kirsties Big Fat Life that I really understood how funny she is. Kind of crazy and spacey but, funny. I started following her on Twitter - she tweets a lot! I watched her on DWTS and just loved her and Maks and their relationship on that show - we all know it takes a special person to get along with Maks!
I enjoyed this book - I had heard reveiws that it was funny but, I did not find it all that funny although there are some funny moments in Kirstie's tales of her life. Mostly it is about Kirstie's life and the men that influenced her. It's not all pretty, not really glamorous and yes, she does skim over things a bit but, this is not a autobiography so much as it is just talking about the men that made differences in her life. She lays it all out there without being too graphic, she takes responsibility for her choices and she makes no excuses for her mistakes.
I enjoyed this book - I had heard reveiws that it was funny but, I did not find it all that funny although there are some funny moments in Kirstie's tales of her life. Mostly it is about Kirstie's life and the men that influenced her. It's not all pretty, not really glamorous and yes, she does skim over things a bit but, this is not a autobiography so much as it is just talking about the men that made differences in her life. She lays it all out there without being too graphic, she takes responsibility for her choices and she makes no excuses for her mistakes.
March 11, 2013
I love Kirstie Alley and as such, really wanted to love this book - but it's very stream-of-consciousness and just as she'd get to a subject I was interested in (like her experiences filming Star Trek) that section would be over. I wish she had not chosen to define her book in terms of her experiences with various men - it limited the scope and make it more soap-y and less real. It was interesting to read her thoughts about Scientology (though I wanted more of that and less of the other stuff) and she definitely tells some cringe-worthy stories, but overall she could have used greater guidance in editing, in my opinion.
January 21, 2013
I am a sucker for celebrity gossip (as evident by the US Weekly and People magazines strewn about my house). This book fed into my curiosity a little bit, but some stories definitely merely skimmed over the details....
Also, I cannot believe her editor let her get away with saying "could care less" SO many times. That really bothered me! Was the editor not an English major?! Will I read her other book? I couldn't care less! ;)
Also, I cannot believe her editor let her get away with saying "could care less" SO many times. That really bothered me! Was the editor not an English major?! Will I read her other book? I couldn't care less! ;)
March 21, 2013
I like Kirstie Alley. I really do.
But this book...meh.
I like her writing style, very conversational but the subject matter was sort of interesting but then not and her justification for some of the things she's done struck me as very self-serving.
And I found it very difficult to get past her using the phrase "could care less". Shouldn't there be someone that catches that kind of thing BEFORE publication?
October 30, 2015
I knew this woman would have stories. I also know this woman is batshit insane. That's fine - both of those qualities make for a quick, entertaining read and the used book sale price of $2 was well worth it.
February 24, 2015
Dancing with Patrick Swayze is bad enough but I'm pretty sure I put dibs on Jonathan Knight in 1990.
December 21, 2013
Great piece of celebrity trashy biography. Loved It.
March 3, 2018
I have previously read Kirstie’s other book and I should have learned my lesson from that. I thought the idea of this book would be good, with each chapter dedicated to the different men in her life.
The first chapter is excellent, with a hilarious story about the disabled “man” who wanted to meet her on the set of one of the Look Who’s Talking movies. And the stories about her first husband, her second husbands and all her affairs in between - due to the nature of this book, it’s not told chronologically, so you will end up confused as to which man she is currently married to/dating.
I skipped the chapter about Scientology as that doesn’t interest me, but the further I got into the book, the less I found myself reading, and the more I found myself skimming/skipping. I think her stories about adoption and pregnancies were probably the last I read straight through. As I’ve never watched Cheers, that chapter didn’t interest me much, and ultimately, the chapters dedicated to Patrick Swayze and John Travolta just didn’t ring true. Even though the little me always thought John and Kirstie had great chemistry together during Look Who’s Talking. But it’s the whole point that Kelly Preston had to point out that Kirstie was flirting with her husband and they then became “best” friends?
I skimmed the end of this book and it won’t be taking up valuable shelf space in my room. I would only recommend this if you’re her biggest fan (Remy) or you’ve read her other book. Otherwise - give it a miss.
The first chapter is excellent, with a hilarious story about the disabled “man” who wanted to meet her on the set of one of the Look Who’s Talking movies. And the stories about her first husband, her second husbands and all her affairs in between - due to the nature of this book, it’s not told chronologically, so you will end up confused as to which man she is currently married to/dating.
I skipped the chapter about Scientology as that doesn’t interest me, but the further I got into the book, the less I found myself reading, and the more I found myself skimming/skipping. I think her stories about adoption and pregnancies were probably the last I read straight through. As I’ve never watched Cheers, that chapter didn’t interest me much, and ultimately, the chapters dedicated to Patrick Swayze and John Travolta just didn’t ring true. Even though the little me always thought John and Kirstie had great chemistry together during Look Who’s Talking. But it’s the whole point that Kelly Preston had to point out that Kirstie was flirting with her husband and they then became “best” friends?
I skimmed the end of this book and it won’t be taking up valuable shelf space in my room. I would only recommend this if you’re her biggest fan (Remy) or you’ve read her other book. Otherwise - give it a miss.
dnf
January 23, 2023The asinine subtitle should have been my warning...
Read about 75% but skim read a part of that.
After closing this book (gladly), I'm baffled to think that someone would feel the urge to write a biography when you have nothing more to offer than this cheap crap. I didn't think anyone could or would write a biography with so damn little to say, meanwhile managing to hurt one's reputation and seem completely shallow, sex-crazed and even narcissistic as Miss Alley managed to do here.
Not that I don't think celebrities are flawed human beings as well, but I guess I expected that, aside from juicy stories, she would be able to share some degree of wisdom sprinkled among these pages. You know, that she'd have something reflective and/or profound to share after having lived for more than half a century.
Instead we got various degrees of messes Miss Alley got herself into or left in her wake in her life and a LOT of tooting her own horn, faithfully repeated in every chapter anew..
Well that stopped being entertaining for me two chapters in..
So mostly, I found this biography just plain sad.
Read about 75% but skim read a part of that.
After closing this book (gladly), I'm baffled to think that someone would feel the urge to write a biography when you have nothing more to offer than this cheap crap. I didn't think anyone could or would write a biography with so damn little to say, meanwhile managing to hurt one's reputation and seem completely shallow, sex-crazed and even narcissistic as Miss Alley managed to do here.
Not that I don't think celebrities are flawed human beings as well, but I guess I expected that, aside from juicy stories, she would be able to share some degree of wisdom sprinkled among these pages. You know, that she'd have something reflective and/or profound to share after having lived for more than half a century.
Instead we got various degrees of messes Miss Alley got herself into or left in her wake in her life and a LOT of tooting her own horn, faithfully repeated in every chapter anew..
Well that stopped being entertaining for me two chapters in..
So mostly, I found this biography just plain sad.
March 4, 2023
When Kirstie Alley passed late last year, I felt compelled to read her book because I knew so little of her background, wanted to honor her memory, and was looking for a hearty laugh, if not some tall tales between her and John Travolta.
Alas, the writing is uninteresting, repetitive, and elementary at best. I did not anticipate breakthrough philosophy on life, but I expected a quirky or hilarious view. It was just under 300 pages, but I was bored most of the time and saddened that Ms. Alley needed to be surrounded by men to feel alive. She needed to feel sexy to feel substantial. Best part of the book was when Kelly Preston found a graceful way to ask Kirstie to stop flirting with her husband.
I am not a psychologist, but that was my read on her Ms. Alley's biography. This is a book extolling her past romances, marriages, and crushes she "didn't shag." Oy, by the 39th page, I wanted to return the book to the library, but I pushed through the end with other novels interspersed, until the novel was due.
Alas, the writing is uninteresting, repetitive, and elementary at best. I did not anticipate breakthrough philosophy on life, but I expected a quirky or hilarious view. It was just under 300 pages, but I was bored most of the time and saddened that Ms. Alley needed to be surrounded by men to feel alive. She needed to feel sexy to feel substantial. Best part of the book was when Kelly Preston found a graceful way to ask Kirstie to stop flirting with her husband.
I am not a psychologist, but that was my read on her Ms. Alley's biography. This is a book extolling her past romances, marriages, and crushes she "didn't shag." Oy, by the 39th page, I wanted to return the book to the library, but I pushed through the end with other novels interspersed, until the novel was due.
September 15, 2020
Considering that Kirstie Alley is known for her comedic roles, I thought this book would be, well... funny. But it wasn't. The writing is terrible, her metaphors are awful, and it's one long stream of consciousness rant.
I know she isn't a professional writer, but she doesn't make herself come off as likeable or relatable in the least. Instead, she sounds sadly delusional. It's amazing that every man she has ever come across has wanted to run away with her! Some of the stories she tells about her childhood are (sorry I cannot think of a fancier word) downright disgusting.
If you are a fan, I'd recommend not reading this book. You might not be a fan of hers afterwards.
I know she isn't a professional writer, but she doesn't make herself come off as likeable or relatable in the least. Instead, she sounds sadly delusional. It's amazing that every man she has ever come across has wanted to run away with her! Some of the stories she tells about her childhood are (sorry I cannot think of a fancier word) downright disgusting.
If you are a fan, I'd recommend not reading this book. You might not be a fan of hers afterwards.
December 24, 2022
I was inspired to read this autobiography due to the recent death of Ms Alley. It was a wonderful read. Some actors delve deep into their acting in their autobiographies, but not Ms Alley. This book discusses the many trials and tribulations of her life—the men, the betrayals, and her personal problems. Also, her successes, she was a talented and successful actress who had many wonderful roles. The main point, is that she lived life to the full and dealt with the problems that came her way. Respect. RIP.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2024
Once you get started on this book it is hard to put down. This talented, exquisite woman, Kirstie Alley, has a lot to say about her life. She is funny not only in her movies and shows, I caught myself laughing while reading. A woman who lived life to the fullest….RIP
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