The Guttenberg Bible: A Memoir

by Steve Guttenberg

"Forget being an actor. You don't have the look, you don't have the talent, and your name is ridiculous. You are the last guy I would ever pick to be a movie star."

This was the first piece of advice Steve Guttenberg ever received from an agent. Like many other times in his life, he didn't listen.

In this honest, charming memoir, Guttenberg tells the unique story of his first decade in Hollywood, as he went from being a complete unknown to starring in some of the most successful blockbusters of all time. He spent his early days sneaking onto the Paramount lot and meeting more actors and casting agents than most aspiring actors ever would. Even before the hit Police Academy---which his manager said would be a flop---he had already worked with such luminaries as Lord Laurence Olivier, Richard Widmark, and Gregory Peck. Later he shared the screen with actors such as Mickey Rourke and Sharon Stone long before they became household names.

Guttenberg has lived through the addictive pull of show business and worldwide celebrity (you're no one until you have a stalker, he learns). With a clear-eyed appreciation for the one-of-a-kind experiences that the celebrity lifestyle has to offer, he knew that his family would keep him grounded throughout it all. And his self-awareness and sense of humor about the ups and downs of fame make The Guttenberg Bible one of the most candid Hollywood stories to date.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Pop Culture, Film, Biography

352 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2012

Reviews

[Andrew Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me say this upfront - Steve Guttenberg’s The Guttenberg Bible was a 100% impulse read. I saw it on the library shelf and got an instant flashback to being 10 years old and renting one Police Academy sequel or another on VHS seemingly every weekend. Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, I saw all of them over and over and over.

So I had to pull that book down and open it to roughly the middle. And there it was, all these years later - a candid confession, from Steve Guttenberg’s heart, that he did Police Academy 4 FOR. THE. MONEY. I KNEW it! And I’m so glad he finally came clean.

More interesting to me was this nugget - Goot had to hear through the grapevine, secondhand, that production had begun on Police Academy 5 without him being informed or invited. All this time, I had naturally assumed Guttenberg was too cool, too huge for Police Academy 5 . What a hindsight-is-20/20 plot twist to find out, as an adult, that PA5 was too cool and huge for Steve Guttenberg.

It took me almost no time to realize that, yes, I wanted to read every word Steve had to say about the Police Academy movies. And Three Men and a Baby . And Short Circuit . And Cocoon *. And what I really wanted to know was, what the hell happened to Steve Guttenberg? I was at the right age for all those movies to be iconic to my childhood, and the last thing I remember Steve in was a pair of lackluster sequels, for Three Men and Cocoon .

Well, if you expect any dark nights of the soul, if you expect Steve Guttenberg to spend 100 pages on “What the hell happened to Steve Guttenberg?” you’re in the wrong place. The Guttenberg Bible focuses on the first 10 years of Goot’s arrival in/conquering of Hollywood. It’s the print equivalent of John Mellencamp’s The Best That I Could Do greatest hits collection - it’s got all the greatest, most familiar work, and it cuts off right at the peak, before things get shitty and mediocre.

So I have this habit with celebrity/media memoirs - I’ll start reading somewhere in the middle, follow through to the end, then continue at the beginning, until I double back to where I started. With Guttenberg’s memoir, my starting point was somewhere around 1980, when Goot landed a feature role in Can’t Stop the Music , a notoriously awful promotional vehicle for the Village People. At the time, Steve thought the Village People were heterosexuals. You can hardly blame him. Even Liberace thought the Village People were heterosexuals.

The book, from this point forward, is pretty formulaic:

-On [name of movie], I was honored to work with [name of actor]. He was brilliant. And so kind. A complete master. A gentleman.

-I slept with [some beautiful woman/his stalker]. It was too easy. I couldn’t not.

-On [name of movie]. I worked with someone who was rude to me. I will not mention his name.

-Gee, [name of director] was eccentric. But what a genius!

-I wanted the part in [name of movie]. I interviewed with/auditioned for the director. He said I might get the part. I got the part.

I oversimplify, of course, but Goot does infuse his memoir with plenty of aw-gee-shucks, everybody’s-so-great and I-got-so-lucky. It still plays, though - particularly enjoyable are the framing devices employed throughout that have Guttenberg reporting his career developments to his parents via daily phone calls home. Mom’s on one extension, dad’s on the other, and they go from incredulous and pessimistic to starstuck Variety -insider cheerleaders.

This is one memoir you want to read from the beginning, though. The first act of The Guttenberg Bible has a different feel than the rest of the book. Goot moved to LA on impulse, at 18, with a big dream and next to zero working knowledge of film production or the business of being a working actor. But he was resourceful as hell - he snuck onto the Paramount lot daily and worked out of an abandoned soundstage/office. And he finally caught a break when he was cast in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial and bonded at the shoot with the Colonel himself**, inches from death.

This was a fun read for me.

* = I wanted some good dirt on Wilford Brimley and Jessica Tandy, to be honest.

** = I also wanted some good dirt on Colonel Sanders, to be honest.

[Traann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an AMAZING and real read. Steve made it all so normal and yet fabulous. I was laughing out loud at so many parts. I love how he didn't hide who he is and where he came from and how important family is. The end with his Dad, PERFECT! I can't remember reading another book written by the person it was about and enjoying it. They protected their image too much. Steve was real. I highly recommend this book.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I saw the title I knew I would enjoy this. If you think Steve Guttenberg is funny on film, just wait until you read his memoir! I haven't laughed out loud so many times when reading a book in a long time.

Although he doesn't spend too much time on his childhood (I think he leaves that kind of book to the 20 year old celebrities writing their version of 'My Autobiography'(sic)), Steve's family play a big part in the book. His parents provide a lot of the laughs, and a few poignant moments too, and provide a lesson as to how close families can be, even when separated by many miles.

Needless to say there are many actor/movie stories, a few on-going jokes, such as how many ways people got his surname wrong in the early days, and all told in a humorous style. I was especially pleased to hear a story about how nice Faye Dunaway was to him on one occasion, as she often gets short shrift in Hollywood memoirs, and I think she's fab. How he came by his office on the Warner's lot is great too, as is the respect he has for his co-stars in the wonderful 'Cocoon'.The book covers the time up to the filming of 'Three Men and a Baby', and I can only hope that this is in fact only the 'old testament', and that a 'new testament' is in preparation. I would love to know about what it was like to film one of my favourite SG films 'PS Your Cat Is Dead'.
Well done for keeping a diary Steven.

[Emily Wiersma]

Highly entertaining!! I love how Steve Guttenberg made his way into Hollywood by sneaking onto the lots and creating his own office. He has a way of telling his memoir in such a way that I was laughing and snickering as I went along. He didn't hesitate to admit that Hollywood gave him a big ego but it still seemed that it didn't effect him to much. He worked hard to make his way into show biz and never gave up. I think part of that was due to the wonderful support of his family who always encouraged him but made sure he kept his feet on the ground. If you want an entertaining look into Hollywood from someone who wasn't born into it, this is the way to go.

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if I was entirely fair to this book. I kept comparing it to the Hollywood memoirs that I have LOVED. This writing was just painful. Because he had kept a journal, there were a LOT of details, but the story was lost in the plethora of facts. So unless you are a die-hard Guttenberg fan, I would skip this book.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen alot of his movies growing up in the '80's and all! I'm interested to see how he perseves his story it is always interesting to hear the story from the horses mouth so to speak! And it is a fun title! I'm really looking forward to reading!

[Sean Wicks · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It reminded me how big of a star Steve Guttenberg was in the 1980s, and that sting of hits that really took off thanks to POLICE ACADEMY through THREE MEN AND A BABY (with COCOON and SHORT CIRCUIT in between) and their subsequent sequels - he had a phenomenal run. But then, what happened? He went from being a name to playing himself on PARTY DOWN and smaller roles in things like VERONICA MARS or forgettable films like IT TAKES TWO with Kirstie Alley and, I want to say, the Olsen Twins. This book skips all of that. It ends right at THREE MEN AND A BABY which was a ginormous hit (and the #1 box office winner for 1987) so while it covers a great deal of his rise, it would have been nice to read about the after, when he wasn't a name. The book was written in 2012, so it's not like he couldn't have covered that period. This guy was on top of the world in the 80s, but since then I bet mentioning his name around millennials would get that blank stare before they go to their phone to either Google his name or text someone just to get out of continuing the conversation.

He covers most of the bigger films like POLICE ACADEMY, COCOON, THREE MEN AND A BABY and SHORT CIRCUIT and touches on a few onset stories. Some names are left out to protect the innocent, others are not. A lot of the time he talks about how when he first got into the business he worked to learn the lingo, but then later tries to say in the mid-80s he didn't know what a sequel was when approached to do POLICE ACADEMY 2. Going to call shenanigans on that one. He'd been working for a while and reading the trades. I was like 12 when POLICE ACADEMY 2 came out and even I knew the term sequel.

I did buy the idea that he managed to sneak onto the Paramount lot and pose as an employee for a long period of time (although getting away with lying about being Eisner's son is...dubious). In the 90s when I went for internship interviews on studio lots, several times I walked right on without being asked. Note to those thinking to try this, no longer possible thanks to the post 9/11 world we are in.

Fine book and the writing has some style to it, and you have to appreciate Guttenberg's chutzpah as well as his close family ties. He does have a few downslides listed like when he sleeps with a crazy stalker who is standing in his drive-way and she comes back and smashes his patio door with a chair. Or the Texas woman who auctions him for charity and is clearly a nutjob and he has to make a movie-like dash to escape in a cab. However a few more set stories would have been nice, especially from MIRACLE ON ICE or SHORT CIRCUIT or THE DAY AFTER. And also that gaping black hole of what came after THREE MEN AND A BABY which would have made for a better read (albeit a longer one).

[Mediaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read in spots, filled with some good Hollywood stories, but long-winded and way too much about totally insignificant things. Guttenberg must have more than 40 pages on his parents, thinking they are comic relief, but they are not funny and detract from the overall theme of the book. He repeatedly names a bunch of unimportant non-famous neighborhood friends that he seems to be trying to impress, all to the detriment of this memoir.

It's basically his first ten years in the movie business--why in 2012 he ends the book in 1987 he doesn't say--and some of the background information is extremely detailed for a memoir. Much of that is good, but there are large sections that are misfires. Guttenberg is self-deprecating throughout, too much so. You begin to believe that the guy is a jerk, a moron, and not very talented. He seems to stumble into his first film, then stumble into the rest of them with no real abilities beyond his charm.

Considering that he made more movies than any other major actor in the 1980s, you have to ask why so many of them are left out of this book, and why he fails to give enough details about some of the big ones. The movie he spends the most time on is one I've never heard of and was a bomb at the box office. Namely, the editorial choices are bad and someone needed to help him put together a much tighter book. But, based on what he says about himself, he's an inexperienced know-it-all who doesn't like people telling him what to do.

Some of the things in the book lack credibility or seem exaggerated. At some point near the middle I started realizing that he was just trying to be funny all the time but I wasn't laughing. He seems like the guy at the party who loves to tell halfway true stories, and it's entertaining for the moment, but once you get home you realize you couldn't believe a word he said.

A couple of his biggest stories are about nameless stars or industry executives, which is too bad, and he barely mentions dating women. He does allude to sleeping with a few strangers along the way but it seems to be added as an afterthought to prove he's a full-blooded man.

I couldn't understand why he ended this book so early in his career with no mention of his first wife or some of the familiar things he did in the 90s or 2000s. It's way too long, could have cut out at least a third to one-half in order to make room for more recent acting work. If he was positioning this as the first in a series of memoirs it was a mistake. He may have done well with the Police Academy movies but this first book isn't good enough to warrant sequels.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were to read recent commentary written about his career, the conventional wisdom appears to be that Steve Guttenberg's acting achievements were an inconsequential fluke. Many of the retrospective pieces published about Mr. Guttenberg are dismissive, while coverage of his current work tends to savor the gradual blotting out of a diminishing star.

In The Guttenberg Bible, Mr. Guttenberg appears to have made peace with the resentment his professional accomplishments have engendered. His memoir foregoes bitterness and instead elects to heavily emphasize three core themes. Number one, success is as much a matter of luck as it is a product of talent and effort. Mr. Guttenberg repeatedly circles back to the observation that multiple actors could play almost any part. Number two, Mr. Guttenberg’s family – his mother, father, and sisters – constituted the anchor through which he was able to weather Hollywood’s seas and changing fortunes. Each event discussed in the book is ultimately contextualized through a conversation or interaction with folks in Massapequa. Number three, while luck plays an essential role in determining whether you rise or fall, work ethic, commitment, and a willingness to learn are the prerequisites that put you in a position to take advantage of good fortune.

In one particularly cruel piece about Mr. Guttenberg’s performances published online, a generic critic asserts that there was never anything memorable about Mr. Guttenberg's acting in any film. That’s not a fruitful line of attack. As an improbable leading man, Steve Guttenberg was one of the defining movie stars of my youth. His presence – as the hero that was incapable of physically intimidating, let alone overpowering, any rivals – argued for the primacy of wit and good nature. Mr. Guttenberg’s performances were not cynical. They did not depend on delusional machismo. Mr. Guttenberg's presence in box office draws provided a powerful argument in favor of charisma, cultivated with a sly smile and a goofy sense of humor.

The Guttenberg Bible does not discuss my personal favorite of his movie roles, as Jack Crawford in Neil Jordan’s High Spirits, but the memoir offers interesting yarns about his work in the Police Academy movies, in Three Men and a Baby, in Diner, in Cocoon, in Short Circuit, and in Curtis Hanson’s The Bedroom Window. In each of these retellings, Mr. Guttenberg casts himself as someone that recognizes his good fortune and basks in the obvious talents of those all around him.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two days after graduating high school Steven Guttenberg left Massapequa for Hollywood. Reading this tale of his adventures in tinsel town we get a look at California in the mid 1970's through the eyes of a New Yorker. He was naive about the business of acting but wanted it enough to find his way. He did everything he could to make it as an actor. He snuck onto movie lots even making himself an office in an abandoned room where he spent countless hours making calls (he hooked up a phone line himself) and working his way into any nook and cranny he could find. He knew he wanted to be a star and have the lavish lifestyle he saw all around him from the ones who had made it...actors, executives, the agents, lawyers....he wanted what they had...the big house, the fancy car, the beautiful women. And he was going to make that happen. He learned so much along the way. Hollywood got into him but he never forgot the values instilled in him from his family back home. They grounded him when he needed it. His family was at first scared of this career choice Steven had made but grew to enjoy it and support him as he rose to fame. A heartwarming story at times, an eye rolling one at others as Steve succumbs to the lures. I enjoyed the look at how the business was back in the 70's and 80's and how that influenced a young man from the East coast.

[Pontiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the stories about Guttenberg's rise to fame, there isn't much on his personal life, what makes him tick.

I like his madcap style in pursuing roles, his friendships with so many famous people, and the fact he doesn't trash anyone directly.

At the same time, it sounded like he missed out on his family and his own personal life, and even looking st other sources, he doesn't seem to have much int the way of closeness, other than to his parents.

Kind of sad, really, he's such a funny, interesting personality. I also like that he seems to have avoided addictions and other nastily Hollywood habits, except for the strange decisions about women obsessed with him.

Not bad, but not enough depth for an autobiography for me.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve writes about his life from when he starts acting until 1987 and Three Men and a Baby movie.
About his life, his acting life, his friends and his family. Includes conversations he has with his parents which are fun.

Good memoir.

[Lisa Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

I really enjoyed his story, it’s a really good read and great insight to someone who went after his passion. I really appreciate the book and think you will like it.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I like Steve Guttenberg and in his movies he seemed like an every-man type of character that would always be around. To the point I guess he is, it's just that his movies and choice roles are more obscure and outside something I might want to watch. I read this book with the hope that it would be as interesting as other celebrity memoirs I have read (such as Michael J. Fox, Jerry Weintraub, or Alan Alda's) however this was not the case.
A few things that made reading the book less enjoyable were 1) Steve never said the word God, instead he would say G-d. Now maybe he's a really religious guy and I would get that, but if that's the case why would you just not include the word in the book at all? He would say God as G-d, but he would still say Jesus Christ which at least in my mind makes me question the religious side of things. Anyway moving on.
2) the entire book focuses on his first 10 years in Hollywood and nothing in the way of mentioning his failed marriage or the next ten years of his life where he seemingly disappears from public view. These things while perhaps he may not be proud of are the things that make someone appear more human and when reading of them become more interesting characters to follow. Without legitimate conflict or a driving force behind his actions, the book seemed empty.
3) a few months back I read Rob Lowe's memoir and it seemed as if all he did was name-drop and try to elevate himself to these characters which while he is talented, is not as amazing as he thinks (or at least he read that way). That said, Guttenberg name-dropped all the time throughout the book to emphasize that he was around big shots. But what annoyed me was that he did so in such spectacular detail (like with the sound guy or the key grip) that it was just ran into the ground. It's obvious he has a great memory for names and instances from almost 30 years ago, but it got dull fast and became a less enjoyable book.
4) I'm tempted to talk about Police Academy and it's way too many sequels but it seems pointless to mention that as sadly beyond the minutia of irrelevant details regarding filming other projects, Guttenberg's biggest film triumph is a series he should have left after the first sequel and not the third (though as is pointed out it did give us David Spade)
5) finally, the thing that just seemed to dull the book (though it showed that he stayed close to his roots) was his phone conversations with his parents. A conversation at the beginning and/or at the end would have sufficed but throughout the book these parental conversations showing how out of the loop they were and their "banter" between each other just wasted space. This is not to say that their presence wasn't completely unnecessary or that Guttenberg shouldn't be proud of where he came from (he should be proud of himself and his parents) its just that these inclusions into his narrative made for a less enjoyable read.
I'll close this by saying that I like Steve Guttenberg and I wish he were more relevant today; though his disappearance from major motion pictures might make for a more interesting book. There is little doubt in my mind that he could be in roles that Albert Brooks is in and really reemerge as a notable actor but I don't think we'll see that and that's kinda sad cause he does (or at least did) have potential.

[El_kiablo · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw this book on the library shelf the first thing that came to mind about Steve Guttenberg was a line from the Stonecutter's song from the Simpsons: "Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star? We do!" I decided to give this book a try to see if there really was a reason why he had been such a star in the 80's.

The first hundred pages of this book is great. It starts off exactly where you'd want it to - as he's getting started in movies - cutting off all the growing up stuff which a good author can make compelling, but which often drags in celebrity memoirs. The stories of how he got started are funny, embarrassing and enlightening. He does a good job of explaining how film sets work, and the mistakes he made getting into the business, all while moving quickly.

The rest of the book is a lot less interesting, however, because it slowly evolves into that cliche of actor books: I worked with so and so on this, they were great, they also had done this and this. The name-droppiness doesn't bother me, although I don't really need to be told who won what award for what because I have IMDB and I don't really care if he shares agents with Clint Eastwood. No, what bothers me is the sort of blandness of it - almost everyone is a class act and a professional and a joy to work with. And I'm sure that they were; I'm not asking him to name names. But it could have been a little more varied if he'd been a bit less political.

If the last two hundred pages had been as good as the first hundred then I would recommend this book as a must-read, up there with Steve Martin's Born Standing Up as a portrait of a young, hungry artist. But unfortunately the back parts of this book - while easy to read and not without their laughs - are a little forgettable. If you're a big fan of the Goot, then this book is worth reading, but if you're casually interested in him like I am then this book is not essential.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received The Guttenberg Bible from the Goodreads First Reads program. I went into this book expecting entertainment and nothing more. Boy, did it entertain. Steve Guttenberg takes the reader along for his arrival to Hollywood, his foibles, his victories and his rise to fame. He drops more names than the Allied Forces dropped bombs during WWII. Sometimes there is a story to go along with the name and a lot of those stories are pretty good. However, if you're looking for a 'tell all' book, then keep looking. Guttenberg's anecdotes are industry related, for the most part. But his writing has a very wide-eyed excitement about it. He has fun telling his story and he is very endearing. He is definitely a fan boy and he speaks about his fellow movie stars almost with reverence. He talks about the job of making films, the work of being an actor. He talks about stardom and what it means to be a hot commodity. While he takes his work seriously, it's clear that he doesn't always take himself too seriously. He keeps himself grounded through his wonderful family. His parents are portrayed as an inadvertent comedy team. Their phone calls are priceless. He pokes gentle fun at himself and there were several little tales that made me laugh out loud. I'm not quite sure I completely buy his story about his "office" but if it's true, then he's got nerves of the coolest iron. And through it all, he is the proverbial NICE GUY. Moral of the story? Hold fast to your dream.

Lightweight but fun reading.

[J.T. Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a first-reads giveaway, and I'm really glad I did.

This was a really enjoyable read that gave a lot of insight into the way Hollywood works, or at least how it worked in the late 70's and 80's. Mr. Guttenberg comes off as a genuinely nice guy who worked hard and basically got to live the dream. His interactions with his parents are also really sweet. I would watch a sitcom just about his parents!

I read another review where someone talked a little negatively about too much name-dropping in the book, but isn't that really why you read this type of book? It was great learning more about Guttenberg, who was great in Police Academy, Cocoon, etc., but it's always fun to see other actors and film folk through the eyes of their costars. The few times he tells stories that might be "juicy" with the gossip set, he remains gracious and leaves out names.

The only real critique I would give this book is that it cuts off a bit short. The book ends shortly after Mr. Guttenberg is in "Three Men and a Baby." I know he hasn't been really prominent in movies since the early 90's, but I wanted to see more of how things turned out after his phenomenal success. I turned to Wikipedia to find out a bit more, which helped.

So overall, The Guttenberg Bible is well worth your time, and is charming, funny, and full of fun Hollywood anecdotes.

[G-Funk Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that I received this book free from the firstreads giveaways.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Like the introduction that caught my eye, It is funny, sweet, "honest, and charming" memoir about 80's blockbuster star. I enjoyed reading about Steve Guttenberg's antics as well and what it was like shooting commercials and trying to get a job as an actor...

I liked the bits and pieces of his family, right down to their phone conversations... and being a New Yorker who's lived in Long Island I've actually recommended it to my LI (specifically Massapequa) friends.

I gave this 3 stars because its not a gripping page turner. nor is it shakespeare. It is what it claims to be. A Horatio Alger story written by an actor. An enjoyable read if you have free time and the interest.

[Matthew Pavlichko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. If you read enough of these memoirs, you know the routine; trying to beat the odds, making it in the business, having success, falling into drugs or booze, and then trying to get back on the straight and narrow and having a career again. This book had all of that minus the typical drugs and booze routine and no 'my parents abused me' kind of stuff. This book never went into a negative vibe, which I appreciated. It was nice to read a memoir that didn't have a woe is me vibe to it. The only reason I didn't give the book a better rating was it only went up to the opening of Three Men and Baby. I would have liked to have read more about his career after that movie. All in all, it's not classic literature, but it was a nice, care-free, enjoyable read.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

The Guttenberg Bible: A Memoir follows the first 10 years Steve Guttenberg’s life as an actor. To begin with, I loved to read about his experiences in LA as a fresh actor. Some of it seems a little stretched, like not knowing what pronto means. I really liked his “fake it till you make it” attitude with setting up his office on an unused set in the studio, without the consent of the studio. However, it did develop much slower in the middle of the book and I had a difficult time following all of the name dropping. Still a good book, but not as good as it started out.

[Carla Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in the Goodreads book giveaway.

This book covers Mr. Guttenberg's life and career from graduation from high school to filming of Three Men and a Baby. My favorite parts of the book were with his mom and dad -- especially when he is taking his parents to Paramount's premiere of the movie Players (a laugh out-loud section). Also, when he is filming Three Men and a Baby and his parents are in his trailer and meet Ted Danson, Tom Selleck, and Leonard Nimoy. I don't know who I liked more -- his mom or his dad (or him...). The next-to-final chapter made me kind of weepy.

I hope at some point in the future he writes the rest of his story.

[Mike Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve Guttenberg was a major star in the 80's and early 90's despite being an average actor with average looks, no connections and no serious training. However, once his ambition of achieving success as a "working actor" was set, nothing could dissuade him. "The Guttenberg Bible" is an interesting read for those who enjoy inside-Hollywood stories and those people who gain motivation from the struggles and triumphs of others. Steve Guttenberg's story proves that if he could reach his goals, the anyone can!

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly good read! I kept trying to skim through this big ole book, but it was just too interesting not to read in full. Especially Guttenberg's early years in the business, and all the crazy things he did to get hired--great stories. His reflections on the business and people of Hollywood were unexpected and fascinating. And his family stories were laugh-out-loud funny (when they weren't endearing). He doesn't pretend to be a "good boy", but Guttenberg seems like a genuine and thoughtful person as you'd find in showbiz.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading this book. What a tenacious individual but that's what you have to be to achieve anything anymore, especially in Hollywood. Like he says, he planted a flag and no one can take that away. I laughed, I was awed, I was impressed. All aspiring actors need to read this account of "being there", although I doubt that some of the methods to get jobs would work anymore, it will give them hope.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out pretty strong. But in the middle the author got bogged down with details on some films and was light on others. And then it's like he ran out of steam, ending with films in the early 90s. I would have loved to have read about his appearances on Party Down, Entourage, etc, and the lore of his name in pop culture.

[Seminole County Public Library]

(submitted in the Summer Reading Grand Prize Drawing at the West Branch - chosen as a staff favorite)

I enjoyed reading this book from the moment I read the first page. A quick and very entertaining read. It kept my attention and interest and several nights I found myself not wanting to put it down even though I needed to go to sleep.

-submitted by Claudia

[Andrew Mclaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, full of lots of self depricating humor. It also has some nice reflections on Steve and his relationship with his family while showing how truly tenacious he was as he sought to pursue his dream of acting.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out really good when Steve is first starting off as an actor. near the middle and end i though that the book got kind of dry and boring and very repetitive. even know i didn't really get in to this book i did think that his life was very interesting to read about.

[Paige Pell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw Mr. Guttenberg speak at a 25th anniversary showing of Diner a couple of months ago and it was fascinating to see him then and now. His story speaks to the power of determination (as well as luck) and for those interested in the machinations of Hollywood, it's worth a read.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will admit I skimmed a large part of this book, but I was left wanting to know more. I read it because Linnea is obsessed with "the Guttz" and I wanted to know more about my friend's obsession, but this wasn't that satisfying. I did like all the pictures from the 70s and 80s though.