Mad as Hell: The Life and Work of Paddy Chayefsky

by Shaun Considine

That Paddy Chayefsky was the greatest writer ever to emerge from television's fabled "Golden Age" is unquestionable. But that his work for television, theatre, and film firmly places him alongside his most heralded contemporaries - Arthur Miller, William Inge, and Tennessee Williams - is the compelling thesis of Mad as Hell: The Life and Work of Paddy Chayefsky by Shaun Considine.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

452 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 1984

Reviews

[Michael Norwitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paddy Chayefsky was a unique voice in American public culture, strident and witty and loathe to compromise. This book goes through his career and tumultuous escapades in some detail. I could have done without the psychoanalysis at the end, but it certainly made me want to watch (or rewatch) more of his films.

[Thor Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching

I cried when Paddy died in the book. If you can get past all the Freudian duel personality bunk, it’s an excellent biography. And extremely sad at times.