It's All In The Playing

by Shirley MacLaine

The fifth volume in one of the most extraordinary  personal odysseys of the twentieth century.  Don't Fall Off the Mountain,  You Can Get There From Here, Out on a Limb, Dancing in the Light and now the most intimate and compelling  book of all, It's All in the Playing. Oscar-winning actress, social activist, singular  entertainer, best-selling author Shirley MacLaine  has the courage to be both candid and  controversial. In this book, she casts herself in her most  challenging role yet--as seeker of personal and  metaphysical truth. It began in Peru ten years ago and  ended in Peru ten years later. But the steps along  the way were the real story. In filming the  miniseries Out on a Limb,  Shirley MacLaine was forced to recreate herself ten  years earlier. to journey back from Malibu to London,  from Sweden to the mysterious landscape of Peru...  to the places, the perceptions and profound  emotions she experienced then. And to journey beyond,  exploring new personal and cosmic dimensions, the  choices of her lifetimes, who she was and who she  would become. As the heart of Shirley MacLaine's  testament is a compelling we choose our  own destinies, create our own illusions. We have the  power to design the world in which we live, and  the strength to remake ourselves in the image of our  dreams.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Metaphysics, Self Help, Autobiography

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Shirley MacLaine is an actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed, and eccentric women, she has received numerous accolades over her seven-decade career, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, six Golden Globes, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Apart from acting, MacLaine has written numerous books regarding the subjects of metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation, as well as a New York Times bestselling memoir, Out On a Limb.

Reviews

[Marlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book of all time.

[Tristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I keep punishing myself. Just because all of Shirley Maclaine's books fell into my lap, doesn't mean I have to read them all... right? This particular book is all about Shirley filming the FIVE HOUR TV mini-series of Out on a Limb. And, of course, Shirley is playing herself, so she gets to talk about herself twice as much as usual. What does Shirley now think of Shirley ten years ago? Well she is going to tell you! It's really quite meta and kind of interesting in a broad sense, but I just can't get past the pages and pages of Shirley saying "Oh wow! I really was right! I am smart and brilliant!" Oy vey. The one gift, is that if you search "Out on a Limb" on YouTube, you can find footage of her channeler friend Kevin, channeling the great Irish pickpocket character, which is really worth viewing. In this book she says that Kevin is really channeling and that all the Spirit Guides knew they were being filmed and "memorized their lines." It's crazy stuff, folks, but really interesting.

[Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant memoir by Maclaine. I have read it several times. It essentially covers and reflects upon the experience of playing herself in a movie about what happened in her life ten years before, as chronicled in the Out on a Limb memoir which prompted changes in so many peoples' lives. Entertaining, revealing and characterised by a need to explore and push boundaries of what consciousness and the Universe actually are, it is highly recommended. Read Out on a Limb and Dancing in the Light first though, or you will get far less from it.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is mainly about making a movie/TV-mini-series about her spiritual awakening and experiences in Peru, experiences she had written about in an earlier book, and then made film about, and is now again experiencing the same thing writing about it. It is so clear and impactfully written.

It was filmed early 1986, and I remember seeing the movie on Swedish Television, probably around 1987-88, and I instantly wanted to read the books. Which I did. Important books. And now rereading it for the third or fourth time, It is still just as good, and just as important.

[Annie Frame · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing read! Loved it. Not only is Maclaine willing and able to share her spiritual journey with the reader, she is also very vocal about the ability of mediums and how all our lives are all in the playing. The descriptions of various individuals and their attitude towards her open mind made me smile. Spirit have chosen her to talk their talk and boy have they made the right choice!

[Jessica]

The first book I read by Shirley MacLaine, Out on a Limb, had a very profound affect on me, so it'll be interesting to read what she has to say about the making of the movie of the same name

[Velvetink]

* Inherited from Mum's shelves.

[Natalie Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to read the making of the Out On A Limb miniseries, it was an interesting tale. Sometimes she rambles on too much about the metaphysical stuff (even for her, you know what you're getting with her but this one has more rambling on about it). She makes a lot of broad statements that don't really have any evidence but again, that's just Shirley. But she always spins a fun and interesting yarn. I'm enjoying my reread of all of her books.

[Peter Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I KNOW it’s true.

I KNOW it’s true. The Science confirms it (if you read it right) and the Heart does too. When Heart and Mind agree you know you are on a winner.
Peter Dodd Cooper, DSc, PhD, author of The New Road and the Paradigm, Kindle Amazon.

[Aria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, Shirley. Bless your heart.

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. MacLaine is such a good story teller. Definitively as a Hollywood' star she was ahead her time with all that metaphysical knowledge and spirituality.

[Gillie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published September 1987

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

REread 2014
I read this book years ago and just reread it last week. I loved the metatheatrical aspects of the story as Shirley has to "play" herself ten years younger as she filmed what happened to her in "Out on a Limb." That brings her premise that we are all "playing"out the "scripts" of our lives into sharp focus. I wonder how her metaphysical understanding of the world has changed in the decades since she wrote that series?!

REread 2019
While much of this book is focused on the technical mechanics of producing a TV mini series, there is also much more about MacLaine’s search for spiritual truths. It is interesting how she is learning to incorporate that spiritual side into her everyday life. e.g. How she used her spiritual powers to clear away inclement weather just long enough for them to do their filming at Machu Picchu. There are also many more tales of encounters with ETs and their guidance for us.

Throughout the book she is so fixated on the major spiritual shift that is about to happen, but this book was written over thirty years ago and, it seems to me, that very little has actually happened. Our world mess is as bad, if not worse, as it was then.

[Madonna Analla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book but it's mostly about the behind the scenes production of her miniseries about her previous book. The most interesting areas for me were her moments of self reflection throughout the book and the extraterrestrial and metaphysical discussions she has with cast, crew members, and friends.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

so far this is my favorite book by Shirley. Still learning and exploring her mystical side, ABC TV has optioned her bestselling book Out On A Limb into a 2 night mini series. Writing the script and then reenacting her previous life all over the globe, Shirley again shines best when she is traveling and exploring not only the outer world but her inner self as well.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Shirley about 20 years ago and her words resonated with me. I am curious to see what happens this time around.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

top 5 1984

[Jackie Primiano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this simply because it makes you rethink everything