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The Complete Book of M*A*S*H
A behind-the-scenes look at the popular TV series offers synopses of each episode, studies of the characters, details of production, interviews with cast and crew, and more than two hundred photographs
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 15, 2015
“The Complete Book of M*A*S*H” by Suzy Kalter, published by Harry N. Abrams. Inc.
Category – Media/Television Publication Date – March 15, 1988
In my humble opinion, M*A*S*H was and is the best television series ever created; therefore my opinion of this book is slanted, but not incorrect.
M*A*S*H lasted for eleven seasons, and could have lasted longer if the actors wanted to continue the series, and 251 episodes. The final episode that lasted 2 ½ hours was seen by over 125 million viewers.
The book is unique in that it gives an overview of all 251 episodes and includes interviews of the creators, producers, writers, and actors. The book contains over 100 photographs from the show, most in color and full page.
The most unusual part of the series was that it was able to change characters without losing its audience. They were able to switch McLean Stevenson with Henry Morgan, Wayne Rogers with Mike Farrell, and Larry Linville with David Ogden Stiers, and then there were the regulars, Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher. I would be remiss if I left out my favorite part time actor, Colonel Flagg of the CIA.
The show is still playing on reruns but can also be seen on Netflicks.
The book is obviously out of print but there are many copies available on Amazon or EBay. The book makes a wonderful coffee table addition or a great addition to your library.
Category – Media/Television Publication Date – March 15, 1988
In my humble opinion, M*A*S*H was and is the best television series ever created; therefore my opinion of this book is slanted, but not incorrect.
M*A*S*H lasted for eleven seasons, and could have lasted longer if the actors wanted to continue the series, and 251 episodes. The final episode that lasted 2 ½ hours was seen by over 125 million viewers.
The book is unique in that it gives an overview of all 251 episodes and includes interviews of the creators, producers, writers, and actors. The book contains over 100 photographs from the show, most in color and full page.
The most unusual part of the series was that it was able to change characters without losing its audience. They were able to switch McLean Stevenson with Henry Morgan, Wayne Rogers with Mike Farrell, and Larry Linville with David Ogden Stiers, and then there were the regulars, Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher. I would be remiss if I left out my favorite part time actor, Colonel Flagg of the CIA.
The show is still playing on reruns but can also be seen on Netflicks.
The book is obviously out of print but there are many copies available on Amazon or EBay. The book makes a wonderful coffee table addition or a great addition to your library.
June 18, 2021
If you love the show you will love this book. Along with short plot descriptions of each episode it has interviews with all of the major actors and creators. Funny how each actor interviewed had such a different experience from Wayne Rogers to Mike Ferrell. Always interested to read what goes on behind the scenes and in the minds of the performers.
December 11, 2021
I'm so conflicted about this book. It has two elements:
1) the interviews with the shows creators/writers and actors. These are incredible. They're everything I was hoping for when I found this book. They also make up 22 pages (one creator and one actor per chapter, one chapter per season)
2) the other 85% of the book, which is just paragraph long summaries of each episode. I get it, the book was published before the internet, and before you could stream every episode on Hulu. I'm sure in 1985 it was fun to remember what happened in the seasons, but reading it immediately after a full rewatch, these summaries were a waste of space.
Not only a waste of space, but I craved more from behind the scenes. And my research says there's more of it out there, just not in this book.
1) the interviews with the shows creators/writers and actors. These are incredible. They're everything I was hoping for when I found this book. They also make up 22 pages (one creator and one actor per chapter, one chapter per season)
2) the other 85% of the book, which is just paragraph long summaries of each episode. I get it, the book was published before the internet, and before you could stream every episode on Hulu. I'm sure in 1985 it was fun to remember what happened in the seasons, but reading it immediately after a full rewatch, these summaries were a waste of space.
Not only a waste of space, but I craved more from behind the scenes. And my research says there's more of it out there, just not in this book.
December 23, 2018
3 Stars.
Since this book is all about M*A*S*H* I would like too give this 5 stars, but I just can't.
Even thought the author warned there might be errors in the episode summaries, I found the summaries either very wrong or way too short.
The interview from the cast were good, & they behind the scenes pictures were neat, but I would have liked more.
Since this book is all about M*A*S*H* I would like too give this 5 stars, but I just can't.
Even thought the author warned there might be errors in the episode summaries, I found the summaries either very wrong or way too short.
The interview from the cast were good, & they behind the scenes pictures were neat, but I would have liked more.
May 21, 2022
Loved all the background information and intervies in the first part of the book. The second half is just summarization of the episodes, which is fine, but I want to start rewatching the show, so didn't read those. The photos are wonderful too. Just wish there was more behind the scenes goodies.
July 28, 2025
Nice interviews with major cast members and producers/writers, and lots of great photos.
I was hoping for behind the scenes on each episode, unfortunately there were only plot summaries of those. So I took off a star for that. Guess it’ll have to be imdb.
I was hoping for behind the scenes on each episode, unfortunately there were only plot summaries of those. So I took off a star for that. Guess it’ll have to be imdb.
February 19, 2021
Just couldn’t get into this one. Loved the show but only somewhat enjoyed the book. Nothing new a fan didn’t already know. I was sad that I didn’t like it.
December 29, 2021
Excellent
October 28, 2022
We are rewatching all 251 MASH TV shows. I wanted a book that would tell me a bit more about the show. I especially liked the info provided by each of the actors at the start of a new chapter.
March 10, 2023
I enjoyed the book though was hoping for more insight from the cast and crew, much of this book is an episode by episode synopsis
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2023
Has some woeful misquotes of episodes, but great photos and interviews.
January 20, 2026
Great gift for when a seasons revival of MASH returns...
January 28, 2026
I picked up this book with a real feeling of nostalgic anticipation. This is the kind of book that promises to give you the full picture - a deep dive into the classic series, the characters, the cultural impact, and hopefully, the untold stories from behind the scenes. And to be fair, it sort of delivers… but not quite in the way I was hoping.
Let’s start with the good. The book is impressively comprehensive in terms of listing the episodes. Every single one is here, from the pilot to the emotional series finale, and each one includes a synopsis and sometimes a few extra notes. If you’re trying to remember which episode had Hawkeye losing it after a traumatic event, or the one where Radar finally heads home, this book can help jog your memory. It’s kind of like having a printed IMDb page for the entire series on your coffee table - only with a few more photos sprinkled in.
It also includes some behind-the-scenes interviews, which I appreciated. There’s a section with thoughts from a few of the key cast members, and some insights into what the series meant to them personally and professionally. Those glimpses are interesting and, honestly, left me wanting more. There’s a certain warmth and reverence that comes through in those interviews that reminds you why the show mattered so much to so many people, both in front of and behind the camera.
But here’s where things start to fall short. The bulk of the book - really the overwhelming majority - is just plot summaries. I went in hoping for something more textured. I wanted the book to pull back the curtain a bit. You know, give me a feel for what it was like to be on set during those long days of filming in the sweltering California sun, pretending to be in Korea. What was the production schedule like? How did the actors unwind after emotional scenes? What tensions bubbled up when characters left or the tone of the show shifted from slapstick to serious? These are the things I was itching to learn.
Instead, what I got was a book that felt more like a collector’s checklist. Each episode is dutifully described, but rarely is there any added commentary or context that sheds light on the writing process, the directorial choices, or how the cast responded to the material. Occasionally, there’s a fun tidbit about a guest star or a production note, but those moments are few and far between.
The photos are nice, I’ll give it that. There are some classic stills from episodes, a few candid shots, and a couple of promotional images that fans will enjoy. But again, even with the photos, there’s not a whole lot of story behind them. They feel more like filler than insight.
To be fair, maybe the book was never intended to be a deep dive behind the scenes. Maybe it was meant to be more of a companion guide - something to flip through while you’re rewatching the series. And if that’s what you’re looking for, then this might hit the mark. But if you’re looking for the kind of book that captures the spirit of the cast and crew’s decade-long journey - something that talks about the rhythm of daily production, the emotional toll of filming wartime stories in the wake of Vietnam, or even just the little moments between takes - this book doesn’t go there.
It’s not that this book is bad. It’s just… limited. It has its place as a fan reference, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of depth or discovery. And that’s a bit of a letdown, especially for a show as rich and layered as M*A*S*H. With a series that evolved so profoundly over the years - from broad comedy to heartfelt commentary - you’d think there would be a mountain of fascinating stories waiting to be told. This book barely scratches the surface.
In the end, I’d say this is a decent book to have on your shelf if you’re a completist or just want a quick way to revisit favorite episodes. But if you’re hoping for something more introspective, revealing, or emotionally connected to the experience of making M*A*S*H, this isn’t quite it. I guess I’ll keep looking for that behind-the-scenes gem that really tells the story behind the stories.
Let’s start with the good. The book is impressively comprehensive in terms of listing the episodes. Every single one is here, from the pilot to the emotional series finale, and each one includes a synopsis and sometimes a few extra notes. If you’re trying to remember which episode had Hawkeye losing it after a traumatic event, or the one where Radar finally heads home, this book can help jog your memory. It’s kind of like having a printed IMDb page for the entire series on your coffee table - only with a few more photos sprinkled in.
It also includes some behind-the-scenes interviews, which I appreciated. There’s a section with thoughts from a few of the key cast members, and some insights into what the series meant to them personally and professionally. Those glimpses are interesting and, honestly, left me wanting more. There’s a certain warmth and reverence that comes through in those interviews that reminds you why the show mattered so much to so many people, both in front of and behind the camera.
But here’s where things start to fall short. The bulk of the book - really the overwhelming majority - is just plot summaries. I went in hoping for something more textured. I wanted the book to pull back the curtain a bit. You know, give me a feel for what it was like to be on set during those long days of filming in the sweltering California sun, pretending to be in Korea. What was the production schedule like? How did the actors unwind after emotional scenes? What tensions bubbled up when characters left or the tone of the show shifted from slapstick to serious? These are the things I was itching to learn.
Instead, what I got was a book that felt more like a collector’s checklist. Each episode is dutifully described, but rarely is there any added commentary or context that sheds light on the writing process, the directorial choices, or how the cast responded to the material. Occasionally, there’s a fun tidbit about a guest star or a production note, but those moments are few and far between.
The photos are nice, I’ll give it that. There are some classic stills from episodes, a few candid shots, and a couple of promotional images that fans will enjoy. But again, even with the photos, there’s not a whole lot of story behind them. They feel more like filler than insight.
To be fair, maybe the book was never intended to be a deep dive behind the scenes. Maybe it was meant to be more of a companion guide - something to flip through while you’re rewatching the series. And if that’s what you’re looking for, then this might hit the mark. But if you’re looking for the kind of book that captures the spirit of the cast and crew’s decade-long journey - something that talks about the rhythm of daily production, the emotional toll of filming wartime stories in the wake of Vietnam, or even just the little moments between takes - this book doesn’t go there.
It’s not that this book is bad. It’s just… limited. It has its place as a fan reference, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of depth or discovery. And that’s a bit of a letdown, especially for a show as rich and layered as M*A*S*H. With a series that evolved so profoundly over the years - from broad comedy to heartfelt commentary - you’d think there would be a mountain of fascinating stories waiting to be told. This book barely scratches the surface.
In the end, I’d say this is a decent book to have on your shelf if you’re a completist or just want a quick way to revisit favorite episodes. But if you’re hoping for something more introspective, revealing, or emotionally connected to the experience of making M*A*S*H, this isn’t quite it. I guess I’ll keep looking for that behind-the-scenes gem that really tells the story behind the stories.
February 5, 2011
I remember discovering this in the library and DEVOURING IT...then devouring ALL the reruns I could get my hands on...
What really irks me, however, is that it goes a long way to being a fabulous history and episode guide...but there are gaps where it could have been even GREATER. It fights against the publisher's desire to be a coffee table history book...and NEARLY succeeds. That said, it remains the best guide available to one of television's greatest shows.
What really irks me, however, is that it goes a long way to being a fabulous history and episode guide...but there are gaps where it could have been even GREATER. It fights against the publisher's desire to be a coffee table history book...and NEARLY succeeds. That said, it remains the best guide available to one of television's greatest shows.
July 16, 2024
I like Mash a lot. This book has a lot of great interviews with the cast and the writers. But the majority of the book is a short paragraph or two for the plot of every single episode in the series. It’s probably because I have seen the entire series like four times now, but I got bored and actually wound up flipping ahead.
I wish the book had more to do with behind the scenes rather than the episodes.
I wish the book had more to do with behind the scenes rather than the episodes.
September 14, 2011
I was looking forward to this book because I love M*A*S*H and wanted to know more about the behind the scenes stuff. There really wasn't much new in here than you wouldn't learn on the reunion specials that sometimes air. An interesting read but could have had more juicy tidbits to make it better.
May 11, 2022
I used to read this book almost constantly when I was a kid so when I saw a copy recently at a used book sale, I snapped it up! What a trip down memory lane! As a huge fan of MASH, this book is absolutely fantastic. I loved the interviews with cast and crew and the background info on the show. The photos were also nice to look at.
November 16, 2009
I've loved MASH for many years, watching it over and over again. The characters are all great and the stories range from funny to sad. This book is a great collection of information about the whole 11 years and I like to pick it up once in a while, just to browse through it.
May 25, 2007
If you're a giant M*A*S*H nerd, you will love this.
March 3, 2008
This was so cool. I need to own this one.
March 2, 2013
Public library copy.
M*A*S*H is one of my favorite television shows.
M*A*S*H is one of my favorite television shows.
July 31, 2020
If you like M*A*S*H, you'll love this book, and you will want to have it. The author does get a few facts wrong, but you will only notice it if you are M*A*S*H devotee.
June 18, 2015
Hubbie is a major fan--got book for him, read it, liked it. Great photos & backstories.
January 3, 2015
A must for MASH nerds like me!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews