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The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray: A Monumental Study of the World's Greatest Actor
The man. The movies. The life. The legend. He’s played a deranged groundskeeper, a bellowing lounge singer, a paranormal exterminator, and a grouchy weatherman. He is William James “Bill” Murray, America’s greatest national treasure. From his childhood lugging golf bags at a country club to his first taste of success on Saturday Night Live, from his starring roles in Hollywood blockbusters to his reinvention as a hipster icon for the twenty-first century, The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray chronicles every aspect of his extraordinary life and career. He’s the sort of actor who can do Hamlet and Charlie’s Angels in the same year. He shuns managers and agents, and he once agreed to voice the lead in Garfield because he mistakenly believed it was a Coen Brothers film. He’s famous for crashing house parties all over New York City—and if he keeps photobombing random strangers, he might just break the Internet. Part biography, part critical appreciation, part love letter, and all fun, this enormous full-color volume, packed with color film stills and behind-the-scenes photography, chronicles every Murray performance in loving detail, recounting all the milestones, legendary “Murray stories,” and controversies in the life of this enigmatic performer.From the Trade Paperback edition.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
168 people are currently reading
1803 people want to read
About the author
Robert Schnakenberg
56 books31 followersRobert Schnakenberg has been called "the Howard Zinn of nerd pop culture." He is the author of more than a dozen books, including Old Man Drinks, Christopher Walken A-to-Z, Secret Lives of Great Authors, and the New York Times bestseller The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray. His work has appeared in Penthouse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
September 20, 2015
I was quite overjoyed with given the chance to read this book, then I started to read it and even though I did find it OK to read was I also a bit disappointed because it felt that much of the books information could I have easily have found on the internet.
This book may be about Bill Murray, but Bill Murray himself is lacking from the pages since he hasn't in anyway been part of the writing of this book, other than stuff he has said in interviews. That is hardly surprising since he is a very private person. Just try to give him a call and see if he gets back to you. You can be a world famous director and still have trouble getting in touch with him (Thank God Sofia Coppola never gave up). But as a source for information about Bill Murray does this book feel like more kind of gossip about him than real fact. Yes you get facts, him growing up, and his life and movies, but you never really get to know him since all the info is from old interviews and from what people around him say about him. And, it's listed from A-Z, which makes it feel even less biographical.
But I did enjoy reading it (sometime) because this is still Bill Murray and my favorite parts is the pages when ordinarily people tell tales of Bill Murray cashing parties and stuff. He can just show up and have a good time at a party and then leave. He may be private, but he is sure friendly when he wants to be.
Anyway, for a die hard Bill Murray fan can this be a fun book to read.
For everyone else there is always Wikipedia.
I received this copy from Quirk Books through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!
This book may be about Bill Murray, but Bill Murray himself is lacking from the pages since he hasn't in anyway been part of the writing of this book, other than stuff he has said in interviews. That is hardly surprising since he is a very private person. Just try to give him a call and see if he gets back to you. You can be a world famous director and still have trouble getting in touch with him (Thank God Sofia Coppola never gave up). But as a source for information about Bill Murray does this book feel like more kind of gossip about him than real fact. Yes you get facts, him growing up, and his life and movies, but you never really get to know him since all the info is from old interviews and from what people around him say about him. And, it's listed from A-Z, which makes it feel even less biographical.
But I did enjoy reading it (sometime) because this is still Bill Murray and my favorite parts is the pages when ordinarily people tell tales of Bill Murray cashing parties and stuff. He can just show up and have a good time at a party and then leave. He may be private, but he is sure friendly when he wants to be.
Anyway, for a die hard Bill Murray fan can this be a fun book to read.
For everyone else there is always Wikipedia.
I received this copy from Quirk Books through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!
Want to read
June 16, 2015
June 13, 2017
Would've given this 5 stars if the author hadn't said Scrooged is Murray's worst film.
January 11, 2016
(I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review)
3.5 stars
The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is an encyclopedic compendium of everything Bill Murray, handily arranged in alphabetical order from About Last Night to Zombieland.
This is definitely a book for the hardcore fan. Those who are not die-hard aficionados will still find things to enjoy, but the book is designed for those most fascinated with Murray minutiae. I’m assuming most casual fans are not terribly concerned with Murray’s preferred maker of undershirts (it’s Zimmerli of Switzerland, by the way). On the other hand, the layout makes the book ideal for perusal rather than reading cover to cover, so it is easy to skim over the less interesting bits of arcana and jump to points of real interest if you find yourself dying to know the name of the dog Murray had in the 1980s.
The Big Bad Book covers not only the films Murray has worked on, but pretty much every project he’s ever been even tangentially related to. Airplane gets its own entry—because Murray famously turned it down. Schnakenberg has also included his personal ratings for each of the films Murray did sign on for, with a separate rating for Murray’s actual performance or contribution to the film (both on a 4-star scale). His summaries and various descriptions are clear, with lots of tidbits of trivia sprinkled throughout.
This is not a book optimized for digital, or at least not for display on a phone or e-reader. It will likely make a lovely coffee table book in print, but it is difficult for me to evaluate aesthetically, since the wide layout of the original didn’t translate well into digital.
Unsurprisingly, the famously private Bill Murray did not authorize this book or participate in its creation. Schnakenberg did speak to sources close to Murray when possible, but really this is a fan’s tribute to a favorite actor and not a biography. If you like Bill Murray, it will likely be up your alley. Otherwise, it’s a fun book to peruse but may not be for everyone.
3.5 stars
The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is an encyclopedic compendium of everything Bill Murray, handily arranged in alphabetical order from About Last Night to Zombieland.
This is definitely a book for the hardcore fan. Those who are not die-hard aficionados will still find things to enjoy, but the book is designed for those most fascinated with Murray minutiae. I’m assuming most casual fans are not terribly concerned with Murray’s preferred maker of undershirts (it’s Zimmerli of Switzerland, by the way). On the other hand, the layout makes the book ideal for perusal rather than reading cover to cover, so it is easy to skim over the less interesting bits of arcana and jump to points of real interest if you find yourself dying to know the name of the dog Murray had in the 1980s.
The Big Bad Book covers not only the films Murray has worked on, but pretty much every project he’s ever been even tangentially related to. Airplane gets its own entry—because Murray famously turned it down. Schnakenberg has also included his personal ratings for each of the films Murray did sign on for, with a separate rating for Murray’s actual performance or contribution to the film (both on a 4-star scale). His summaries and various descriptions are clear, with lots of tidbits of trivia sprinkled throughout.
This is not a book optimized for digital, or at least not for display on a phone or e-reader. It will likely make a lovely coffee table book in print, but it is difficult for me to evaluate aesthetically, since the wide layout of the original didn’t translate well into digital.
Unsurprisingly, the famously private Bill Murray did not authorize this book or participate in its creation. Schnakenberg did speak to sources close to Murray when possible, but really this is a fan’s tribute to a favorite actor and not a biography. If you like Bill Murray, it will likely be up your alley. Otherwise, it’s a fun book to peruse but may not be for everyone.
March 9, 2017
Finally, my fellow long-suffering Murray Maniacs (Murriacs?) have a book that is a dream come true. Formatted as an encyclopedia, TBBBBM is a treasure trove of Bill Facts, movie reviews, revealing behind-the-scenes scuttlebutt, and candid remarks from Murray’s co-stars. Because Bill is such a notorious recluse, this may be the closest we get to a career-spanning biography any time soon.
November 21, 2015
While Schnakenberg's A-to-Z approach forestalls any deep immersion into the life story or character of Bill Murray, it is a smart way to show the diversity in this impressive comedic actor's career, and a great testament to the range of impact this man has had on popular culture in a variety of forms, perhaps transcending them all. The book has the feeling of holding a gem in your hand with many facets, with each entry in the "encyclopedia" giving you a new insight into Murray's professional career and personal life. Bill Murray has played so many different types of characters, yet these myriad masks always seem to drape very transparently over the same man time and time again -- hosting the persistent qualities so many of us admire... Bill always comes back to us like an old friend on the screen; yet he remains a private actor (not alienated, so much as smart enough to know how to keep his distance from the industry as well as paparazzi) -- so we only ever really get to know him through winks and glimmers in an eye that never stays still for very long. His playfulness and good-natured smile always reassure that he means well, even when he's at his most impish and strange. His staying power in the industry is remarkable. This book is a pleasant one to page through and it had me digging out my old DVDs to re-experience Bill Murray's early work on screen again. It's the kind of book a lifelong fan will most appreciate, but I think most of us are already fans, but even if you aren't let me say that its fannish approach doesn't gush too much... it won't slime you. This book works like an extensive Bill Murray entry in the annals of cultural literacy. That's the fact, Jack.
December 15, 2015
Bill Murray is a cultural touchstone. He's had a large influence on comedy, critical success with drama, and enjoys starring in strange anecdotes. I like many of his performances, although I wouldn't consider myself a fan. I haven't followed his career in any real capacity.
I'm certainly not Robert Schnakenberg, who has exhaustively researched Bill Murray and knows what sports and music he likes on top of the history of his performances. THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY only draws from secondary sources, but Schnakenberg clearly researched those exhaustively.
It's honestly a bit too exhaustive for me. THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY is laid out as an encyclopedia, covering the movies Bill Murray has been in, people he's associated with, movies he was considered for, and more in alphabetical order. I started losing steam somewhere around the D's. This is more a book to idly flip through than read front to back. (And it is wonderful to flip through! Quirk Books specializes in gift books, and this one is nicely designed indeed.)
I was shocked by the entry on Butler, Jennifer "Jenny." Jenny Butler was Murray's second wife, who put out a restraining order on Murray during their divorce and alleged that he abused her. I'd never heard any of this before. I do think it is commendable that Schnakenberg didn't stick to hyperbolic praise throughout the whole book. There's some less-than-flattering anecdotes in THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY in addition to the love for his performances.
I think THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY will delight fans of the actor. It is quite thorough and quite lovely. I might still not be a fan, but I feel like I know more about the man now.
I'm certainly not Robert Schnakenberg, who has exhaustively researched Bill Murray and knows what sports and music he likes on top of the history of his performances. THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY only draws from secondary sources, but Schnakenberg clearly researched those exhaustively.
It's honestly a bit too exhaustive for me. THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY is laid out as an encyclopedia, covering the movies Bill Murray has been in, people he's associated with, movies he was considered for, and more in alphabetical order. I started losing steam somewhere around the D's. This is more a book to idly flip through than read front to back. (And it is wonderful to flip through! Quirk Books specializes in gift books, and this one is nicely designed indeed.)
I was shocked by the entry on Butler, Jennifer "Jenny." Jenny Butler was Murray's second wife, who put out a restraining order on Murray during their divorce and alleged that he abused her. I'd never heard any of this before. I do think it is commendable that Schnakenberg didn't stick to hyperbolic praise throughout the whole book. There's some less-than-flattering anecdotes in THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY in addition to the love for his performances.
I think THE BIG BAD BOOK OF BILL MURRAY will delight fans of the actor. It is quite thorough and quite lovely. I might still not be a fan, but I feel like I know more about the man now.
April 11, 2016
I ended up just skimming after I got to G.
It has interesting info, but the encyclopedic format make it really tedious to read.
The best thing to do, would be only read the entries about the things you are interested in.
It has interesting info, but the encyclopedic format make it really tedious to read.
The best thing to do, would be only read the entries about the things you are interested in.
September 18, 2015
REVIEW ALSO ON: http://bibliomantics.com/2015/09/17/b...
The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is an unauthorized biography about "The Murricane," arguably the greatest actor (slash person) in the world, the people who love him and those who love to hate him. It also serves as a collection of film critiques, from his wacky comedy days to his later quirky dramas.
The book is presented in an A to Z format, covering people, places and movies and is interspersed with photos and random stories of Bill Murray's antics.
Despite the formatting and the tendency to jump around through his career, The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray paints a vivid picture of the unpredictable actor, who is bad at communicating, prone to disappearing and sometimes shows up where you least expect him. Despite this, deep down he seems like a good guy who just wants to live his life on his own terms -- even if that means wandering off a movie set.
Thanks to the encyclopedia format, you will learn everything there is to know about Bill Murray, the best part being his well-documented eccentric behavior, like that time he crashed a bachelor party, and Elvis' funeral, and a New York City kickball game, and a college party where he washed all the students' dirty dishes.
A lot of emphasis is also placed on Murray's 800 number, which he set up in 2000 after firing his agents. The only way to contact him is to call this automated 800 number which he rarely gives out or checks -- hence why the tome is filled with information about missed movie opportunities like Toy Story and Little Miss Sunshine.
The compilation of missed roles was definitely interesting, but the best Murray story I read actually revolves around the cult classic Road House. Apparently, every time the film is on television, Murray will call his friend Mitch Glazer -- who married Kelly Lynch, Patrick Swayze's love interest in the film -- to tell him that his wife's old and embarrassing sex scene is on TV. Once he even called from Russia to inform his friend that Patrick Swayze was currently having his way with Glazer's wife against a fireplace.
The only downside to this format is that the book can border on repetitive in some places and is a little too comprehensive at times. For example, under the letter C you will learn about his work in Caddyshack, that Murray is not a fan of Cheers, but does think Cinnabon and Con Air are both awesome.
THE GOOD
Bill Murray
BILL MURRAY
Bill "Fucking" Murray
THE BAD
Can border on too inclusive -- do you care that Bill Murray is unimpressed by Lucille Ball?
Doesn't really contain anything new -- everything can pretty much be found on the internet
Not up on your Murray knowledge but are a Bill Murray fan? Go read this book, I promise you'll get the urge to re-watch Ghostbusters. And Lost in Translation. And Rushmore. And Kingpin. And almost everything in the Murray canon. Just not Garfield. Never Garfield.
The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is an unauthorized biography about "The Murricane," arguably the greatest actor (slash person) in the world, the people who love him and those who love to hate him. It also serves as a collection of film critiques, from his wacky comedy days to his later quirky dramas.
The book is presented in an A to Z format, covering people, places and movies and is interspersed with photos and random stories of Bill Murray's antics.
Despite the formatting and the tendency to jump around through his career, The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray paints a vivid picture of the unpredictable actor, who is bad at communicating, prone to disappearing and sometimes shows up where you least expect him. Despite this, deep down he seems like a good guy who just wants to live his life on his own terms -- even if that means wandering off a movie set.
Thanks to the encyclopedia format, you will learn everything there is to know about Bill Murray, the best part being his well-documented eccentric behavior, like that time he crashed a bachelor party, and Elvis' funeral, and a New York City kickball game, and a college party where he washed all the students' dirty dishes.
A lot of emphasis is also placed on Murray's 800 number, which he set up in 2000 after firing his agents. The only way to contact him is to call this automated 800 number which he rarely gives out or checks -- hence why the tome is filled with information about missed movie opportunities like Toy Story and Little Miss Sunshine.
The compilation of missed roles was definitely interesting, but the best Murray story I read actually revolves around the cult classic Road House. Apparently, every time the film is on television, Murray will call his friend Mitch Glazer -- who married Kelly Lynch, Patrick Swayze's love interest in the film -- to tell him that his wife's old and embarrassing sex scene is on TV. Once he even called from Russia to inform his friend that Patrick Swayze was currently having his way with Glazer's wife against a fireplace.
The only downside to this format is that the book can border on repetitive in some places and is a little too comprehensive at times. For example, under the letter C you will learn about his work in Caddyshack, that Murray is not a fan of Cheers, but does think Cinnabon and Con Air are both awesome.
THE GOOD
Bill Murray
BILL MURRAY
Bill "Fucking" Murray
THE BAD
Can border on too inclusive -- do you care that Bill Murray is unimpressed by Lucille Ball?
Doesn't really contain anything new -- everything can pretty much be found on the internet
Not up on your Murray knowledge but are a Bill Murray fan? Go read this book, I promise you'll get the urge to re-watch Ghostbusters. And Lost in Translation. And Rushmore. And Kingpin. And almost everything in the Murray canon. Just not Garfield. Never Garfield.
July 9, 2015
Book: The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray: A Critical Appreciation of the World's Finest Actor
Author: Robert Shnakenberg
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: Sept. 15, 2015
First thank you to netgalley.com and Quirk Books for the opprotunity to read and review an advanced ebook in exchange for my honest opinion. I have been certified by netgalley as a featured reviewer and a Top reviewer.
Reviews Published
My Review
I am a few months ahead of this one but I wanted to discuss it while my feelings and ideas about it were still fresh.
First, I love Bill Murray. I have since I saw Caddyshack in the 4th grade and then immediately watched Ghostbusters and was hooked.
I still say one of his most memorable roles was the bit piece he did in Zombieland and I think he has made amazing choices in the last few years.
The author of this book takes my admiration of Bill to an entirely new level while occasionally critiquing his choices he still radiates a passion for his characters and Bill himself.
The cover. Brilliant and I think a perfect summation of how we have all grown to see Bill; a relaxed lovable goofy guy.
My favorite thing about this book was the formatting. I loved the chapter breakdown and the individual headers throughout and loved that they were alphabetized. So cool.
I enjoyed the quotes throughout and the look from what I could tell from the ebook version. I almost wish, however, that when printed it would maybe include more images and have a "coffee table book" feel to it.
I think it would be fun to even just flip to sections and see parts and roles that each individual reader might recognize.
I am a big Wes Anderson fan which is really when I think Bill shines the most is within his film and with his direction so it was great to read about those fills as well and the relationships he has formed in Hollywood over the years.
I feel like this was really a testament to the author's admiration of Bill Murray while also being thought provoking, informative, and at times silly.
Star Rating: 4/5 stars
Author: Robert Shnakenberg
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: Sept. 15, 2015
First thank you to netgalley.com and Quirk Books for the opprotunity to read and review an advanced ebook in exchange for my honest opinion. I have been certified by netgalley as a featured reviewer and a Top reviewer.
Reviews Published
My Review
I am a few months ahead of this one but I wanted to discuss it while my feelings and ideas about it were still fresh.
First, I love Bill Murray. I have since I saw Caddyshack in the 4th grade and then immediately watched Ghostbusters and was hooked.
I still say one of his most memorable roles was the bit piece he did in Zombieland and I think he has made amazing choices in the last few years.
The author of this book takes my admiration of Bill to an entirely new level while occasionally critiquing his choices he still radiates a passion for his characters and Bill himself.
The cover. Brilliant and I think a perfect summation of how we have all grown to see Bill; a relaxed lovable goofy guy.
My favorite thing about this book was the formatting. I loved the chapter breakdown and the individual headers throughout and loved that they were alphabetized. So cool.
I enjoyed the quotes throughout and the look from what I could tell from the ebook version. I almost wish, however, that when printed it would maybe include more images and have a "coffee table book" feel to it.
I think it would be fun to even just flip to sections and see parts and roles that each individual reader might recognize.
I am a big Wes Anderson fan which is really when I think Bill shines the most is within his film and with his direction so it was great to read about those fills as well and the relationships he has formed in Hollywood over the years.
I feel like this was really a testament to the author's admiration of Bill Murray while also being thought provoking, informative, and at times silly.
Star Rating: 4/5 stars
January 26, 2016
I grew up with Bill Murray and I thought I knew a lot about him...until I read this book. He has done so much that I had forgotten about, and he's done some stuff I didn't even know. I could have done without the many references to movies he turned down (like the title character in Forrest Gump) or the time he was going to be asked to play the Bob Hoskins role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (but he couldn't be tracked down so he never really got asked). But I enjoyed little stories that the average fan would not know. Such as the day someone with an ice cream truck decided to have a Bill Murray ice cream appreciation day block party, and Bill actually showed up for it.
This is a book full of short little paragraphs that you can read whenever you have a few minutes. But I ended up reading it all in one sitting. Great fun!
This is a book full of short little paragraphs that you can read whenever you have a few minutes. But I ended up reading it all in one sitting. Great fun!
July 24, 2015
I LOVE Bill Murray, so I was pleased to see this.
Alphabetical dictionary of all things Murray. Movies, personal details, widely publicized, as well as some not so widely publicized stories, mentors, enemies, ex wives (they could be one and the same, from parts of the book. LOL). This covers it all.
The good, the bad, and the ugly. I love that Bill Murray stands by his idiosyncracies and never makes apologies for who he is and how he is. I love that he has a 800 number that you have to call to try to reach him. Really, not a lot to not love here. He is awesome.
This is an easily readable, fun book. It helped me get through a really crappy week, by making me laugh, shake my head, and wonder.
Are you any closer to figuring out who Bill Murray is? No.
And that's the beauty of it.
Alphabetical dictionary of all things Murray. Movies, personal details, widely publicized, as well as some not so widely publicized stories, mentors, enemies, ex wives (they could be one and the same, from parts of the book. LOL). This covers it all.
The good, the bad, and the ugly. I love that Bill Murray stands by his idiosyncracies and never makes apologies for who he is and how he is. I love that he has a 800 number that you have to call to try to reach him. Really, not a lot to not love here. He is awesome.
This is an easily readable, fun book. It helped me get through a really crappy week, by making me laugh, shake my head, and wonder.
Are you any closer to figuring out who Bill Murray is? No.
And that's the beauty of it.
January 26, 2016
I rate it a for for the amount of work it took. I do not agree with the ratings of some of the movies and wish it wasn't arranged alphabetically. With this dictionary like arrangement I ended up reading about Murrays' second wife and children before his first. It was disorienting. I did learn a lot about this author I did not know before but again wish he had something to do with this publication. Ask of this was gathered and put together without any collaboration. Which after reading more about Bill Murray it does not surprise me. Good overall but with some input from Muuray I think it could have been better.
November 25, 2015
I received this book for free through BookLikes' Giveaways.
First off, I'm familiar Bill Murray's work but I'm not a super fan of his. That being said this is a great book for someone who is a Bill Murray super fan. This book is an encyclopedia of everything Bill Murray related. Everything you ever wanted to know about him is in this book.
First off, I'm familiar Bill Murray's work but I'm not a super fan of his. That being said this is a great book for someone who is a Bill Murray super fan. This book is an encyclopedia of everything Bill Murray related. Everything you ever wanted to know about him is in this book.
October 1, 2017
Mostly a filmography with some other details thrown in. I find that reading about comedians often isn't that interesting or funny. It also highlights Murry's's bad behaviour and laziness.
January 16, 2016
Hilarious!
I knew who Bill Murray was. I'm not a huge fan though, but did enjoy a few of his movies, like Stripes. After reading this book though, I'm a bigger fan than ever. This book goes through the A to Z life of Bill Murray. From his personal life, which he loves to keep very personal, to his movies and tv stints. This book really has it all and gives you deeper insight into who Bill Murray, the man, is. Not just the actor.
Bill Murray is such a unique person. I read recently on the net, after a Grateful Dead concert... yeah, you read that right... people could see Bill Murray cleaning up around the stadium afterwards. I've not heard of another celebrity ever helping out like that before. To think, this was not a first for him either. He does this kind of stuff all the time.
I may not have been a huge fan before, but I sure am now.
Anyone who doesn't know much about him, is a huge fan, or if you just enjoy books about celebrities, grab this one. It was a great and insightful look at him and his life.
I knew who Bill Murray was. I'm not a huge fan though, but did enjoy a few of his movies, like Stripes. After reading this book though, I'm a bigger fan than ever. This book goes through the A to Z life of Bill Murray. From his personal life, which he loves to keep very personal, to his movies and tv stints. This book really has it all and gives you deeper insight into who Bill Murray, the man, is. Not just the actor.
Bill Murray is such a unique person. I read recently on the net, after a Grateful Dead concert... yeah, you read that right... people could see Bill Murray cleaning up around the stadium afterwards. I've not heard of another celebrity ever helping out like that before. To think, this was not a first for him either. He does this kind of stuff all the time.
I may not have been a huge fan before, but I sure am now.
Anyone who doesn't know much about him, is a huge fan, or if you just enjoy books about celebrities, grab this one. It was a great and insightful look at him and his life.
February 14, 2016
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. A very informative read! I would love to know what Bill Murray thinks of this book. I really enjoyed reading it and getting to know almost everything about this wonderful actor. It is basically a Bill Murray encyclopedia so you're reading facts and trivia instead of your average biography. I appreciated how the author took an unbiased view of the actor. He didn't strive to make Bill Murray sound especially amazing or terrible. He was honest and straightforward. I find myself sharing fun tidbits with friends and family that I read in this book and will continue to do so until they make me stop! ;)
November 20, 2015
Basically a thorough wiki of an uber-fan in print, with high production values (hello, french flaps!), encyclopedic and alphabetically organized with quotes and anecdotes (though Bill Murray himself was not personally involved).
In a nutshell, if you are a huge fan of Bill Murray, this belongs on your shelf or coffee table. If you are not a huge fan of Bill Murray, just give it a quick perusal for a bit of fun before wrapping it up as a gift for the huge Bill Murray fan in your life.
This book was won in a booklikes giveaway, courtesy of the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Expanded review on the Bookworlder blog: http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-7a
In a nutshell, if you are a huge fan of Bill Murray, this belongs on your shelf or coffee table. If you are not a huge fan of Bill Murray, just give it a quick perusal for a bit of fun before wrapping it up as a gift for the huge Bill Murray fan in your life.
This book was won in a booklikes giveaway, courtesy of the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Expanded review on the Bookworlder blog: http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-7a
April 17, 2016
This opinionated encyclopedia is more of a coffee-table book than one you can read cover to cover. In it, the author collects second-hand information about the world's finest actor, Bill Murray. These include movies he was in, roles he turned down, actors, situations, and SNL sketch characters. My favorite sections were the "Adventures in Murrayland" pages, detailing some his real-life exploits. In general, the book reads like something from Wes Anderson (his frequent director) but with less fun (and less Owen Wilson). Recommended you flip through it at a bookstore only, then go read Wikipedia and watch some gosh-darn Bill Murray films. I recommend The Jungle Book.
April 5, 2016
Yep, one of my favorite actors! Did you forget about "Quien es mas Macho?"
Fun book, easy read, and nice job at portraying the man (not just the myth) of Bill Murray.
I didn't agree with all of the author's ratings of movies, but appreciated his background in the variety of stories told through the book ranging from interesting topics (agents) to mundane (the weather channel).
My Murray favorites in order: Lost in Translation, Groundhog Day, Scrooged, Caddyshack, What About Bob?
He also works with my favorite directors: Sophia Coppola and Wes Anderson!
Fun book, easy read, and nice job at portraying the man (not just the myth) of Bill Murray.
I didn't agree with all of the author's ratings of movies, but appreciated his background in the variety of stories told through the book ranging from interesting topics (agents) to mundane (the weather channel).
My Murray favorites in order: Lost in Translation, Groundhog Day, Scrooged, Caddyshack, What About Bob?
He also works with my favorite directors: Sophia Coppola and Wes Anderson!
August 18, 2015
3.5 Stars
For Bill Murray fans or anyone interested in film history. Good photos, lots of quirky tidbits and quotes, and things small or big related to the actor. This quasi-biography is formatted in an encyclopedia entry style. There's also a section that includes different remarks about Bill Murray from others in the movie-making industry.
Book received from the publisher.
For Bill Murray fans or anyone interested in film history. Good photos, lots of quirky tidbits and quotes, and things small or big related to the actor. This quasi-biography is formatted in an encyclopedia entry style. There's also a section that includes different remarks about Bill Murray from others in the movie-making industry.
Book received from the publisher.
Want to read
April 1, 2015OMG I want I want I want I want I want I want I want I want. Can I have it NAO please????
August 18, 2015
This is a very informative book about Bill Murray's life. It includes descriptions of some of his movies, about his family, etc. I think my favorite parts of it was "Tales from Murrayland",
August 15, 2016
I liked this book... And I will always love Bill Murray as an actor. But I guess it's possible to learn a little too much about your heroes. It's a letdown to find out he's a bit of a jerk.
September 18, 2023
"I used to feel guilty about behaving badly, and I met Bill, and it feels so much better." - Harvey Weinstein
I noticed a lot of the reviews here mentioned not finishing the book or reading it in its entirety. I did, slowly working my way through the alphabetized entries over three months. It didn't take long before I realized this was an incredibly strange read on several levels.
To begin, I was raised with Bill Murray and have appreciated his work from a young age onward. His persona has always been acerbic but cool as a cucumber, with an extra dose of melancholy as he has gotten older. As a kid I always equated him to be a funny but relatively calm presence, always sharply on point or ahead of everyone else.
Perhaps the author, Robert Schnakenberg, started the project feeling the same way? I'm not sure. In the end his reviews of Murray's films are fairly low with a few exceptions. Elsewhere he writes quite honestly about Murray's life and career, and I wonder if his interviews and research were kind of like Howard Sounes' experience with Lou Reed: ultimately realizing this guy you like so much isn't who you thought.
To be honest, I was already aware of Murray's tumultuous second divorce, which included allegations of adultery, abandonment, striking his wife and threatening to kill her, then ultimately being barred from seeing his kids by a local judge. I also knew about him physically threatening a female producer on the set of What About Bob? and throwing her into a lake in front of everyone. However, these aren't just blips on a timeline, but a pattern that has persisted throughout his life.
As I read this book I shared anecdotes with my friends and just how shocking and off-putting they were, simply because they were beyond belief. Did you know that Murray holds grudges against people that go all the way back to grade school? That he has screamed at crews he worked with and verbally abused his co-stars (he even demanded that someone get fired because he didn't like his cologne)? Did you know he tried to strangle a fellow comedian against a wall because he talked during one of his live shows? How about that one time he spontaneously threw a beer bottle into a crowd during a golf game and it struck and cut up an audience member's face? Yikes. There are also accounts of Murray feuding with countless people he has worked with, trashing his trailer, and talking about how his style of fatherhood is blatantly ignoring his children.
It's also hard to be impressed by anecdotes where he clearly demands being paid as much as possible for as little work as possible. When he was offered $50,000 for voice work he said, "I don’t even leave the fuckin’ driveway for that kind of money." He also has a habit of blaming others for projects that don't go well while bragging that the ones he passed on have made other actors' entire careers. After a while reading that stuff gets tiresome.
On top of this there are repetitious stories about Murray being elusive, unreliable and somewhat hostile towards his collaborators and fans. If he says he will work on a film with someone, it doesn't mean he will show up (for example, he went MIA before the shoot for James L. Brooks' How Do You Know, causing the production to scramble and replace him with Jack Nicholson at the last minute). If he does show up, he often goes missing during work and people have to track him down in order to get him back to set, which causes the production to lose time and get off track. The overall feeling you get is that he can be as unprofessional as he wants to simply because he knows he can get away with it. He's Bill Murray, after all, and everyone just has to deal with it and move on.
Don't get me wrong- does this mean that Murray isn't funny anymore? That's not what I'm saying. His work speaks for itself. Still, I found a lot of these accounts impossible to ignore and changed the way I thought about him. With just about every page of this book I began to think, "Okay, so this guy seems like an asshole." Then further along I was like, "Jesus, Bill Murray is such an asshole..." and finally, "Oh my God, this guy is a total fucking asshole." I had no idea his behavior was so unpredictable and hostile, but you just have to read his own interviews, accounts from people who have worked with him or his own Wikipedia page to find sources that back these things up.
At the end of the book there are a collection of quotes from people who have known and worked with Murray. A lot of them are complimentary and funny but describe him in these same terms. He's an impossible "asshole" but they love him anyway. After all, there is a charm in Murray that can't be denied. When I got to the last page and read the quote (above) from the recently incarcerated Harvey Weinstein I couldn't help but laugh at what an unintentionally sour note the book was ending on. As a culture we choose our legends, and it's kind of disappointing that Murray is like many other "legends" of his generation- basically a guy we allow to get away with everything because of things he did decades ago.
I noticed a lot of the reviews here mentioned not finishing the book or reading it in its entirety. I did, slowly working my way through the alphabetized entries over three months. It didn't take long before I realized this was an incredibly strange read on several levels.
To begin, I was raised with Bill Murray and have appreciated his work from a young age onward. His persona has always been acerbic but cool as a cucumber, with an extra dose of melancholy as he has gotten older. As a kid I always equated him to be a funny but relatively calm presence, always sharply on point or ahead of everyone else.
Perhaps the author, Robert Schnakenberg, started the project feeling the same way? I'm not sure. In the end his reviews of Murray's films are fairly low with a few exceptions. Elsewhere he writes quite honestly about Murray's life and career, and I wonder if his interviews and research were kind of like Howard Sounes' experience with Lou Reed: ultimately realizing this guy you like so much isn't who you thought.
To be honest, I was already aware of Murray's tumultuous second divorce, which included allegations of adultery, abandonment, striking his wife and threatening to kill her, then ultimately being barred from seeing his kids by a local judge. I also knew about him physically threatening a female producer on the set of What About Bob? and throwing her into a lake in front of everyone. However, these aren't just blips on a timeline, but a pattern that has persisted throughout his life.
As I read this book I shared anecdotes with my friends and just how shocking and off-putting they were, simply because they were beyond belief. Did you know that Murray holds grudges against people that go all the way back to grade school? That he has screamed at crews he worked with and verbally abused his co-stars (he even demanded that someone get fired because he didn't like his cologne)? Did you know he tried to strangle a fellow comedian against a wall because he talked during one of his live shows? How about that one time he spontaneously threw a beer bottle into a crowd during a golf game and it struck and cut up an audience member's face? Yikes. There are also accounts of Murray feuding with countless people he has worked with, trashing his trailer, and talking about how his style of fatherhood is blatantly ignoring his children.
It's also hard to be impressed by anecdotes where he clearly demands being paid as much as possible for as little work as possible. When he was offered $50,000 for voice work he said, "I don’t even leave the fuckin’ driveway for that kind of money." He also has a habit of blaming others for projects that don't go well while bragging that the ones he passed on have made other actors' entire careers. After a while reading that stuff gets tiresome.
On top of this there are repetitious stories about Murray being elusive, unreliable and somewhat hostile towards his collaborators and fans. If he says he will work on a film with someone, it doesn't mean he will show up (for example, he went MIA before the shoot for James L. Brooks' How Do You Know, causing the production to scramble and replace him with Jack Nicholson at the last minute). If he does show up, he often goes missing during work and people have to track him down in order to get him back to set, which causes the production to lose time and get off track. The overall feeling you get is that he can be as unprofessional as he wants to simply because he knows he can get away with it. He's Bill Murray, after all, and everyone just has to deal with it and move on.
Don't get me wrong- does this mean that Murray isn't funny anymore? That's not what I'm saying. His work speaks for itself. Still, I found a lot of these accounts impossible to ignore and changed the way I thought about him. With just about every page of this book I began to think, "Okay, so this guy seems like an asshole." Then further along I was like, "Jesus, Bill Murray is such an asshole..." and finally, "Oh my God, this guy is a total fucking asshole." I had no idea his behavior was so unpredictable and hostile, but you just have to read his own interviews, accounts from people who have worked with him or his own Wikipedia page to find sources that back these things up.
At the end of the book there are a collection of quotes from people who have known and worked with Murray. A lot of them are complimentary and funny but describe him in these same terms. He's an impossible "asshole" but they love him anyway. After all, there is a charm in Murray that can't be denied. When I got to the last page and read the quote (above) from the recently incarcerated Harvey Weinstein I couldn't help but laugh at what an unintentionally sour note the book was ending on. As a culture we choose our legends, and it's kind of disappointing that Murray is like many other "legends" of his generation- basically a guy we allow to get away with everything because of things he did decades ago.
January 13, 2022
I like Bill Murray & think he is 1 of the most underrated actors in America. Therefore, I enjoyed this book. If you don’t agree, you probably won’t care to read it.
March 21, 2022
Very serviceable book. Does nothing to help illuminate the man, but points you in the direction of a few things that might.
July 4, 2015
From Library Journal 07/01/2015
★ Schnakenberg (Encyclopedia Shatnerica) gives Bill Murray the A-to-Zombieland treatment in this alphabetically arranged presentation of the 64-year-old actor's life. While a chronological biography would have been conventional, this method better fits Murray's mercurial personality. Each of his films (through 2014) are given an individual entry, but while readers can flip to Lost in Translation, something like "Sabbatical," referencing Murray's six-month retreat to Paris in 1984, lends greater insight to the Hollywood star who relies on a secret 800 number and dead drops to obtain prospective scripts. Speaking of the toll-free number, the author wasn't able to contact Murray about this book; however, meticulous research fills the volume with quotes from Murray as well as his friends, family, costars, and directors. Schnakenberg masterfully captures Murray the brilliant, difficult-to-work-with performer as well as Murray the trickster who plays kickball with college students, hands a blank check to an ichthyologist, and reads poetry to construction workers.
VERDICT This resoundingly successful work offers a unique approach to an unapproachable figure. Highly recommended for libraries serving pop culture buffs and a must-read for Murray aficionados.
★ Schnakenberg (Encyclopedia Shatnerica) gives Bill Murray the A-to-Zombieland treatment in this alphabetically arranged presentation of the 64-year-old actor's life. While a chronological biography would have been conventional, this method better fits Murray's mercurial personality. Each of his films (through 2014) are given an individual entry, but while readers can flip to Lost in Translation, something like "Sabbatical," referencing Murray's six-month retreat to Paris in 1984, lends greater insight to the Hollywood star who relies on a secret 800 number and dead drops to obtain prospective scripts. Speaking of the toll-free number, the author wasn't able to contact Murray about this book; however, meticulous research fills the volume with quotes from Murray as well as his friends, family, costars, and directors. Schnakenberg masterfully captures Murray the brilliant, difficult-to-work-with performer as well as Murray the trickster who plays kickball with college students, hands a blank check to an ichthyologist, and reads poetry to construction workers.
VERDICT This resoundingly successful work offers a unique approach to an unapproachable figure. Highly recommended for libraries serving pop culture buffs and a must-read for Murray aficionados.
January 17, 2016
I ❤BFM from Todd on SNL, Tripp in Meatballs, and him being himself as he photo bombs everyone on social media-this man is not afraid to fly his freak flag!
Schnakenberg is an excellent researcher. He includes BM factoids that even die hard BM fans will find worthy of their attention. The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is an essential building block when amassing a Bill Murray canon.
This as my go to Christmas gift for all of my favorite freaks & geeks (lord I have many) and it should be yours too!
Schnakenberg is an excellent researcher. He includes BM factoids that even die hard BM fans will find worthy of their attention. The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is an essential building block when amassing a Bill Murray canon.
This as my go to Christmas gift for all of my favorite freaks & geeks (lord I have many) and it should be yours too!
December 17, 2015
If you are looking for something to thumb through on occasion and are a big fan of Bill Murray then I would recommend. However, my problem is that it was not disclosed before purchase for what it is. A collection of anecdotes and facts that are not arranged in any ordered format. If you like the quotes and synopsis and factoids and short essays then you may enjoy picking this up every once and a while, but because it is a random (albeit reasonably complete) collection it does not lend itself to building any sense of the person over time.
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