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Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder
The beloved star of Star Trek , recent space traveler, and living legend William Shatner reflects on the interconnectivity of all things, our fragile bond with nature, and the joy that comes from exploration with “the insights he’s gleaned over his long, productive life” ( Booklist ) in this inspiring, revelatory, and exhilarating collection of essays.
Long before Gene Roddenberry put him on a starship to explore the galaxy, long before he actually did venture to space, William Shatner was gripped by his own quest for knowledge and meaning. Though his eventful life has been nothing short of extraordinary, Shatner is still never so thrilled as when he experiences something that inspires him to simply say, “Wow.”
Within these affecting, entertaining, and informative essays, he demonstrates that astonishing possibilities and true wonder are all around us. By revealing stories of his life—some delightful, others tragic—Shatner reflects on what he has learned along the way to his ninth decade and how important it is to apply the joy of exploration to our own lives. “A refreshingly self-aware portrait of a man determined to live every moment to the fullest” ( Publishers Weekly ), Boldly Go is an unputdownable celebration of all that our miraculous universe holds for us.
Long before Gene Roddenberry put him on a starship to explore the galaxy, long before he actually did venture to space, William Shatner was gripped by his own quest for knowledge and meaning. Though his eventful life has been nothing short of extraordinary, Shatner is still never so thrilled as when he experiences something that inspires him to simply say, “Wow.”
Within these affecting, entertaining, and informative essays, he demonstrates that astonishing possibilities and true wonder are all around us. By revealing stories of his life—some delightful, others tragic—Shatner reflects on what he has learned along the way to his ninth decade and how important it is to apply the joy of exploration to our own lives. “A refreshingly self-aware portrait of a man determined to live every moment to the fullest” ( Publishers Weekly ), Boldly Go is an unputdownable celebration of all that our miraculous universe holds for us.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
196 people are currently reading
3051 people want to read
About the author
William Shatner
108 books801 followersWilliam Shatner is the author of nine Star Trek novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Ashes of Eden and The Return. He is also the author of several nonfiction books, including Get a Life! and I'm Working on That. In addition to his role as Captain James T. Kirk, he stars as Denny Crane in the hit television series from David E. Kelley, Boston Legal -- a role for which he has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
August 27, 2022
Full disclosure: I won a free ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Lest you become too jealous, said ARC contains no Epilogue, just the "TK" placeholder. For all I know, that will turn out to be the best part of the whole book …
I find it difficult to imagine that there are more than a handful of people in the Western world over the age of twelve who have no idea who William Shatner is. Unless you avoid pop culture altogether, you're bound to encounter him sooner or later. I don't follow him from project to project, but I've seen a fair number of classic Star Trek episodes and movies, and he keeps popping up in other movies (Miss Congeniality, for instance.) And that's not even counting talk shows and music (I bought the debut album by Hawkestrel–a side project featuring members of the band Hawkwind--a few years back. One of the songs was a new version of Hawkwind's "Sonic Attack" with spoken word vocals by … William Shatner.) He's not in everything, but he occasionally gives the impression of being so.
The book isn't an autobiography so much as essays on various topics, with examples drawn from his own life. He paints a picture of his life as a man driven by curiosity, wonder, and a boundless thirst for knowledge. As I tend to be that way myself, this resonated strongly for me. It feels less like a book and more like sitting down to a meal and freewheeling conversation with an old and dear friend.
Appearances to the contrary, Shatner won't live forever. But I take delight and comfort in the fact that, for now at least, he's out there in the world pursuing his life with passion and enthusiasm. Highly recommended!
I find it difficult to imagine that there are more than a handful of people in the Western world over the age of twelve who have no idea who William Shatner is. Unless you avoid pop culture altogether, you're bound to encounter him sooner or later. I don't follow him from project to project, but I've seen a fair number of classic Star Trek episodes and movies, and he keeps popping up in other movies (Miss Congeniality, for instance.) And that's not even counting talk shows and music (I bought the debut album by Hawkestrel–a side project featuring members of the band Hawkwind--a few years back. One of the songs was a new version of Hawkwind's "Sonic Attack" with spoken word vocals by … William Shatner.) He's not in everything, but he occasionally gives the impression of being so.
The book isn't an autobiography so much as essays on various topics, with examples drawn from his own life. He paints a picture of his life as a man driven by curiosity, wonder, and a boundless thirst for knowledge. As I tend to be that way myself, this resonated strongly for me. It feels less like a book and more like sitting down to a meal and freewheeling conversation with an old and dear friend.
Appearances to the contrary, Shatner won't live forever. But I take delight and comfort in the fact that, for now at least, he's out there in the world pursuing his life with passion and enthusiasm. Highly recommended!
October 7, 2022
I loved the title of this one. I always tease that William Shatner is my favorite narcissist. But it's true. I haven't read anyone who has more memoirs than Shatner. He in his 90's but I think he will write more. I can't imagine anyone not knowing who William Shatner is. That isn't a world I'd want to live in.
I liked this one for a few reasons. I liked his reflections on his recent trip to space, the way he talked about his family, the way he talked about his love of living life to the fullest and his lego analogy. Usually his memoirs are funny as he talks about different things in his life, but this one had a much sweeter feel and I mean that in a good way. This was a fun read and I'd read it again. So 5 stars.
I liked this one for a few reasons. I liked his reflections on his recent trip to space, the way he talked about his family, the way he talked about his love of living life to the fullest and his lego analogy. Usually his memoirs are funny as he talks about different things in his life, but this one had a much sweeter feel and I mean that in a good way. This was a fun read and I'd read it again. So 5 stars.
June 22, 2023
I waited until BOLDLY GO: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF AWE AND WONDER was available from my public library because ... well, it was by William Shatner. Frankly, I've long thought him to be one of the most self-absorbed people I've encountered in the media. I still wanted to read this, however, because I'm fascinated by the insights of thoughtful people in their later years as they reflect on Life and Personal Meaning. If the book was revealed as little more than another "Shatner Fest," I could return it guilt free.
Well, I stand corrected and publicly apologetic. I was constantly intrigued by the questions raised, pondered (and sometimes resolved) in BOLDLY GO: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF AWE AND WONDER. There wasn't a single reading session that disappointed, and I often did my own "reflecting" afterwards. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend the book (even though there were one or two points that I would be willing to argue), and that I will be buying a copy for my personal library ... and buying some copies as Christmas gifts.
Not unlike James Bond fans who cling to their favorite portrayer (often to the performer who introduced them to the character), "Star Trek" fans will always have their favorite Captain. As much as I love Patrick Stewart's portrayal of Captain Picard, my favorite will always be James T. Kirk as envisioned by William Shatner. Yes, his style of delivery is so distinctive as to possibly be unintentionally humorous at times, but there was also a sincerity in his characterization, too. Nor am I aligned with the naysayers who find "Star Trek V" to be the worst of the original movie series because the story idea is captivating ... and Dr. McCoy's revelation is "must see." ("Star Trek III" receives my vote for the worst.) As a teen, I also was able to witness a "live" Shatner stage performance in "Arsenic and Old Lace" as Mortimer Brewster with the John Kenley Players. (Peter Lupus from the "Mission Impossible" television series played Jonathan Brewster.) I enjoy watching him in his movie appearances, too.
But, I was not prepared for the depth of Shatner's Life considerations. Often, he would present a scientific study or personal experience that caused him to want to delve deeper. This includes his brief time orbiting the Earth from space, and how the event shook him. Every time, I was curious to know his perspective, and I would later take the opportunity (in most instances) to ponder what Shatner's discoveries meant to me. When I finished the book, I quite literally wanted more.
I'm not going to list the topics he covers. Part of the joy of BOLDLY GO: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF AWE AND WONDER came from "allowing him to take me where he wanted to go" without a preconceived opinion. There truly is a great deal of Wisdom in this book.
I can't say that his book will send me scurrying to his earlier works ... and certainly not his novels. I am now very curious about his music, though. And I'm certain that I'll be referring back to chapters in this book from time to time.
Well, I stand corrected and publicly apologetic. I was constantly intrigued by the questions raised, pondered (and sometimes resolved) in BOLDLY GO: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF AWE AND WONDER. There wasn't a single reading session that disappointed, and I often did my own "reflecting" afterwards. Suffice it to say that I highly recommend the book (even though there were one or two points that I would be willing to argue), and that I will be buying a copy for my personal library ... and buying some copies as Christmas gifts.
Not unlike James Bond fans who cling to their favorite portrayer (often to the performer who introduced them to the character), "Star Trek" fans will always have their favorite Captain. As much as I love Patrick Stewart's portrayal of Captain Picard, my favorite will always be James T. Kirk as envisioned by William Shatner. Yes, his style of delivery is so distinctive as to possibly be unintentionally humorous at times, but there was also a sincerity in his characterization, too. Nor am I aligned with the naysayers who find "Star Trek V" to be the worst of the original movie series because the story idea is captivating ... and Dr. McCoy's revelation is "must see." ("Star Trek III" receives my vote for the worst.) As a teen, I also was able to witness a "live" Shatner stage performance in "Arsenic and Old Lace" as Mortimer Brewster with the John Kenley Players. (Peter Lupus from the "Mission Impossible" television series played Jonathan Brewster.) I enjoy watching him in his movie appearances, too.
But, I was not prepared for the depth of Shatner's Life considerations. Often, he would present a scientific study or personal experience that caused him to want to delve deeper. This includes his brief time orbiting the Earth from space, and how the event shook him. Every time, I was curious to know his perspective, and I would later take the opportunity (in most instances) to ponder what Shatner's discoveries meant to me. When I finished the book, I quite literally wanted more.
I'm not going to list the topics he covers. Part of the joy of BOLDLY GO: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF AWE AND WONDER came from "allowing him to take me where he wanted to go" without a preconceived opinion. There truly is a great deal of Wisdom in this book.
I can't say that his book will send me scurrying to his earlier works ... and certainly not his novels. I am now very curious about his music, though. And I'm certain that I'll be referring back to chapters in this book from time to time.
December 10, 2022
William "Bill" Shatner, in his proud 10th decade of expression, is an interesting person. I binge listened to his self narrated audiobook through a damp and cool early December week.
He chats with the listener through a series of his life experiences-his breaking into acting at age 6 (we are continually reminded of that), his children and grandchildren, his ride into space. All interesting.
Shatner speaks plainly and packs life lessons into what he has learned. He sprinkles in humor. One of his hallmark points of view is to always treat yourself as your oldest best friend.
He chats with the listener through a series of his life experiences-his breaking into acting at age 6 (we are continually reminded of that), his children and grandchildren, his ride into space. All interesting.
Shatner speaks plainly and packs life lessons into what he has learned. He sprinkles in humor. One of his hallmark points of view is to always treat yourself as your oldest best friend.
May 27, 2025
Bill’s Life and Philosophy
This book deserves a review, but I am finding it difficult to write one. I catalogued this under biography and memoir, which this book was certainly those things. It covered Mr. Shatner’s almost reckless love of life and new experiences. It covered his traumas and his triumphs. More than all that, is a deep, heartfelt philosophy of what it means to him to be alive and human.
The book itself is a bit disjointed, but not so much as to make it difficult to read. It’s easy to hear his voice in my head as I read this, and imagined him sitting and discussing his philosophical ideals with friends and family.
I want more of Shatner’s life as an actor, so I will definitely read another of his books. This was good, but fell short of what I was hoping for, and took off a star for my disappointment. Of course, that left four solid stars for the content within.
This book deserves a review, but I am finding it difficult to write one. I catalogued this under biography and memoir, which this book was certainly those things. It covered Mr. Shatner’s almost reckless love of life and new experiences. It covered his traumas and his triumphs. More than all that, is a deep, heartfelt philosophy of what it means to him to be alive and human.
The book itself is a bit disjointed, but not so much as to make it difficult to read. It’s easy to hear his voice in my head as I read this, and imagined him sitting and discussing his philosophical ideals with friends and family.
I want more of Shatner’s life as an actor, so I will definitely read another of his books. This was good, but fell short of what I was hoping for, and took off a star for my disappointment. Of course, that left four solid stars for the content within.
October 21, 2022
I listened to Shatner read this memoir, and I think that's the best way to "read" it. It's like listening to multiple podcasts with his own unique delivery. The stories from his life are inspirational, funny, and thought-provoking, and well worth the time.
May 3, 2023
My thanks to libro.fm and Simon and Schuster Audio for an ALC of this book to listen to and review.
Trigger warning: discussion of loved ones with alcoholism and drug addiction, death of a spouse due to those issues, possible suicide of said spouse, discussion of death, slight animal cruelty re: forced to give up a beloved pet dog and the dog's trauma with it.
Ok, pluses, William Shatner narrated this himself and that was awesome. I love his voice and he is a professional actor, so the delivery was top-notch. He also discussed some topics that were very interesting to me, telling stories of his younger acting days, his family, wives, even some very sad things, candidly.
He pulls no punches and is very open with being afraid of dying. It can be tough to hear.
The less than positive things: re: the eco-rants. Sigh. Dude, I have been told since I was a child that we are destroying the environment and we need to save it and recycle, reduce, reuse and close the effing loop already. I don't need to hear it in the books I listen to that aren't enviro-screads.
Yes, it's his book and he has the right to have in it whatever he wants, but that doesn't mean I want to read/listen to it. It felt preachy and I'm just done with it, thanks. If it was just one time or a few short bits, not a big deal, but this was a good chunk of the book, at least that's how it seemed to me. And if it SEEMED to take up a good chunk of the book, then it DID.
So. If that had been kept to a dull roar, I would probably have rated this higher. It's not a bad book and the audio version was excellent, but it didn't ring all of my bells.
3, I was hoping for more memoir and less eco-rant, stars.
Trigger warning: discussion of loved ones with alcoholism and drug addiction, death of a spouse due to those issues, possible suicide of said spouse, discussion of death, slight animal cruelty re: forced to give up a beloved pet dog and the dog's trauma with it.
Ok, pluses, William Shatner narrated this himself and that was awesome. I love his voice and he is a professional actor, so the delivery was top-notch. He also discussed some topics that were very interesting to me, telling stories of his younger acting days, his family, wives, even some very sad things, candidly.
He pulls no punches and is very open with being afraid of dying. It can be tough to hear.
The less than positive things: re: the eco-rants. Sigh. Dude, I have been told since I was a child that we are destroying the environment and we need to save it and recycle, reduce, reuse and close the effing loop already. I don't need to hear it in the books I listen to that aren't enviro-screads.
Yes, it's his book and he has the right to have in it whatever he wants, but that doesn't mean I want to read/listen to it. It felt preachy and I'm just done with it, thanks. If it was just one time or a few short bits, not a big deal, but this was a good chunk of the book, at least that's how it seemed to me. And if it SEEMED to take up a good chunk of the book, then it DID.
So. If that had been kept to a dull roar, I would probably have rated this higher. It's not a bad book and the audio version was excellent, but it didn't ring all of my bells.
3, I was hoping for more memoir and less eco-rant, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2023
Unlike a lot of his co-stars, I love William Shatner.
I always have, ever since I was a kid. From Star Trek, TV show and movies both, to his later years as an interviewer and TV show host, I just love the guy. He's Canadian, but I consider him a national treasure. And when he dies eventually, hopefully not for a long time, I expect it to hit me just as hard as the death of Stan Lee, another hero of mine, did a few years ago. But until then, we have BOLDLY GO: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF AWE AND WONDER, in which Shatner pontificates on life, death, and everything that comes in between, in that unique Shatner voice of his.
I blew through this book in record time, no doubt due to the fact that it reads like you're you're sitting next to William Shatner having a friendly conversation.. The writing style is breezy and readable, and I often found myself thinking "Just a few more pages...". There's a lot of deep stuff here, as well as a lot of funny anecdotes and painfully personal stuff that I was unaware of.
Hopefully, Bill Shatner will live long(er) and prosper, and this won't be his last book. If it is, he will go out on a high note.....
I always have, ever since I was a kid. From Star Trek, TV show and movies both, to his later years as an interviewer and TV show host, I just love the guy. He's Canadian, but I consider him a national treasure. And when he dies eventually, hopefully not for a long time, I expect it to hit me just as hard as the death of Stan Lee, another hero of mine, did a few years ago. But until then, we have BOLDLY GO: REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF AWE AND WONDER, in which Shatner pontificates on life, death, and everything that comes in between, in that unique Shatner voice of his.
I blew through this book in record time, no doubt due to the fact that it reads like you're you're sitting next to William Shatner having a friendly conversation.. The writing style is breezy and readable, and I often found myself thinking "Just a few more pages...". There's a lot of deep stuff here, as well as a lot of funny anecdotes and painfully personal stuff that I was unaware of.
Hopefully, Bill Shatner will live long(er) and prosper, and this won't be his last book. If it is, he will go out on a high note.....
July 29, 2023
Road trip! Time for a celebrity memoir audiobook!
Getting into his nineties, but still going strong, William Shatner is a reliable road companion. As with some of my older relatives, sure, I've heard a lot of these stories before, but it's still comfortable to sit and hear them again.
Shatner likes Leonard Nimoy, dogs, and horses. He's not so fond of space travel or other things that remind him he is steadily approaching the end of his life. He is happy to ramble on about all those topics and more though, and I'll be happy to listen to as many more books as he is willing and able to produce.
Getting into his nineties, but still going strong, William Shatner is a reliable road companion. As with some of my older relatives, sure, I've heard a lot of these stories before, but it's still comfortable to sit and hear them again.
Shatner likes Leonard Nimoy, dogs, and horses. He's not so fond of space travel or other things that remind him he is steadily approaching the end of his life. He is happy to ramble on about all those topics and more though, and I'll be happy to listen to as many more books as he is willing and able to produce.
April 10, 2024
A very positive, honest, and reflective review of William Shatner's life and work from William Shatner's perspective. This wasn't a comprehensive look as he has other books that cover different areas, but being his most recent work at the age of 91, it's more a witness to his personal commitments and lessons learned. His voice comes through loud and clear, as fits the man. His whole life has been a mission to Boldly Go! and this book is a testimony to that spirit lived out through extraordinary circumstances. A great read that offers more than history and an inside look into the heart of the Star Trek vision but a thoughtful witness to what the best of humanity offers future generations.
January 11, 2023
Listened to Shatner reading his memoirs where he sounded like an old grandpa telling war stories, though his were more adventures of horse farming or archery hunting or amateur airlanding, etc. There are nuggets of wisdom from his four marriages and three daughters and other family relations and friendships. The old tumbler shattered my childhood delusions of captain Kirk, and still had my ear with his ruminations of a white privileged rich guy ride over decades.
September 25, 2022
When I was a kid we had one TV. And my dad loved Star Trek. Not only did I find Star Trek to be horribly boring, but it kept us from watching other shows that us kids would have enjoyed a lot more. I never knew William Shatner except as part of that show that robbed me of the complete television education that so many of my counterparts received while growing up in the 1900's. So I didn't like the guy. Fair? Not at all. But as my dad so often put it, life isn't fair.
Fast forward a few years (just a few) and I began seeing William Shatner all over the place. He was in TV commercials, he was on the show Psych (where he plays Shawn Spencer's love interest's father, a really fun character), and then we discovered the show Brown Bag Wine Tasting. Turns out William Shatner is kind of a fascinating guy. He's got a well-rounded knowledge of a million different topics (which he can discuss without sounding like a pompous ass) and he has a genuine interest in learning about people and what they do.
While Brown Bag Wine Tasting focuses more on the guests and on the wines, Boldly Go focuses entirely on Shatner. And it's fascinating. He's done so many different things and had so many amazing experiences and despite being into his 90's he's still approaching life like a child, in awe of the world around him and ready to jump right in. I've always been fascinated by longevity and although Shatner doesn't address that much in this book I think that's part of his secret. He doesn't talk about getting old, he doesn't think about getting old, he still approaches life the same way he did at 10, the same way he did at 30, etc. He hasn't allowed himself to become an old man (we all know them, set in their ways, married to their routine, not interested in learning or doing anything new, that's what makes us "old"!)
This book is pretty special. I think it would be a good read for someone who was a Shatner fan and just wanted to read about his life. But this book is also a good read for someone who wants to know how a person should approach life to live more years and have more life in their years. It's given me a lot of food for thought, and I think it will for you too.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Fast forward a few years (just a few) and I began seeing William Shatner all over the place. He was in TV commercials, he was on the show Psych (where he plays Shawn Spencer's love interest's father, a really fun character), and then we discovered the show Brown Bag Wine Tasting. Turns out William Shatner is kind of a fascinating guy. He's got a well-rounded knowledge of a million different topics (which he can discuss without sounding like a pompous ass) and he has a genuine interest in learning about people and what they do.
While Brown Bag Wine Tasting focuses more on the guests and on the wines, Boldly Go focuses entirely on Shatner. And it's fascinating. He's done so many different things and had so many amazing experiences and despite being into his 90's he's still approaching life like a child, in awe of the world around him and ready to jump right in. I've always been fascinated by longevity and although Shatner doesn't address that much in this book I think that's part of his secret. He doesn't talk about getting old, he doesn't think about getting old, he still approaches life the same way he did at 10, the same way he did at 30, etc. He hasn't allowed himself to become an old man (we all know them, set in their ways, married to their routine, not interested in learning or doing anything new, that's what makes us "old"!)
This book is pretty special. I think it would be a good read for someone who was a Shatner fan and just wanted to read about his life. But this book is also a good read for someone who wants to know how a person should approach life to live more years and have more life in their years. It's given me a lot of food for thought, and I think it will for you too.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
November 6, 2022
I had read the passage where Shatner talks about his trip to space prior to this book coming out. He talks about the immense sadness he felt. It was beautifully written and absolutely made me want to read this book.
That was the best part of the book and I'm not sure I really needed to read this otherwise. For what it's worth, it's not bad. William Shatner is an enjoyable narrator. Even as I read I could hear his voice in my head. He comes off as an affable grandpa that has no problem bringing up super dark thoughts nonchantly (I've known people like this for sure). Shatner likes to bring up his early career struggles, which is fine, but when he starts talking about the famous people he knows or the extraordinary things that he does it does feel a bit like a rich out of touch celebrity. His love for the planet, animals, environment, his family, and life in general feels very genuine so I can forgive him when he says a few things I disagree with. For instance I think Jeff Bezos has done immense harm to the planet. Shatner thinks Bezos is merely misunderstood. Can't win em all, I guess, just like your regular grandpa that you love but still holds some backwards opinion from long ago. At least Shatner still seems willingly to grow and learn, even at 91 years old.
I guess my main problem is that the book is an inspirational with a kind of pseudo self-help aura about it disguised as a memoir. I generally hate that shit. Honestly, I just want to read the stories. Reading about swimming with sharks, Shatner doing his own stunts, his various performances, and most excitedly, his trip to space, is what I'm here for. Even the very sad or dark stories about his third wife's alcoholism and death or his regretful bear hunting trip are worth reading. I don't need a celebrity telling me I'm great or that possibilities are endless. I did not realize prior to reading this that Shatner has 6-7 or so other memoirs and so I imagine that there's a decent amount of rehashing of stories and themes from the other books. For it's flaws I did enjoy Boldly Go, and I'd actually be interested in reading his Star Trek Memories book and his book about Leonard Nimoy so perhaps I'll pick those up in the future.
That was the best part of the book and I'm not sure I really needed to read this otherwise. For what it's worth, it's not bad. William Shatner is an enjoyable narrator. Even as I read I could hear his voice in my head. He comes off as an affable grandpa that has no problem bringing up super dark thoughts nonchantly (I've known people like this for sure). Shatner likes to bring up his early career struggles, which is fine, but when he starts talking about the famous people he knows or the extraordinary things that he does it does feel a bit like a rich out of touch celebrity. His love for the planet, animals, environment, his family, and life in general feels very genuine so I can forgive him when he says a few things I disagree with. For instance I think Jeff Bezos has done immense harm to the planet. Shatner thinks Bezos is merely misunderstood. Can't win em all, I guess, just like your regular grandpa that you love but still holds some backwards opinion from long ago. At least Shatner still seems willingly to grow and learn, even at 91 years old.
I guess my main problem is that the book is an inspirational with a kind of pseudo self-help aura about it disguised as a memoir. I generally hate that shit. Honestly, I just want to read the stories. Reading about swimming with sharks, Shatner doing his own stunts, his various performances, and most excitedly, his trip to space, is what I'm here for. Even the very sad or dark stories about his third wife's alcoholism and death or his regretful bear hunting trip are worth reading. I don't need a celebrity telling me I'm great or that possibilities are endless. I did not realize prior to reading this that Shatner has 6-7 or so other memoirs and so I imagine that there's a decent amount of rehashing of stories and themes from the other books. For it's flaws I did enjoy Boldly Go, and I'd actually be interested in reading his Star Trek Memories book and his book about Leonard Nimoy so perhaps I'll pick those up in the future.
December 6, 2022
I've been doing a deep dive into Star Trek lately so it felt like a natural fit to read the new William Shatner memoir "Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder." Reading this book it's easy to see what there is to love and hate about ol' Bill. I love his zest for life. His ability to dive head first into a new project without concern or worry. Be it acting, singing, performing on stage, horses, charity...this guy has done it all and he's done it his way. I have no doubt this is what has kept him young (and alive) while so many of his generation have faded away.
But the book also shows what people hate and it can be boiled down to three little letters: E G O. Whether you can or can't deal with his astronomically (see what I did there) sized ego will determine how you will enjoy this book. Personally, I love the guy. He is such an original guy who has done so much for sci-fi over the years that I am here for ALL OF IT!
But the book also shows what people hate and it can be boiled down to three little letters: E G O. Whether you can or can't deal with his astronomically (see what I did there) sized ego will determine how you will enjoy this book. Personally, I love the guy. He is such an original guy who has done so much for sci-fi over the years that I am here for ALL OF IT!
November 21, 2022
I enjoyed this little book of life reflections from incredible 91 year old actor/singer and Canadian gem, William Shatner. The book ranges from career highlights, loving stories about his friends and family, thoughts on the state of the world and insights into his late in life singing comeback. I love that Shatner is still so active and thoughtful at his age -the world will be a lesser place when he passes. Great on audio read by the author himself.
December 8, 2024
Lots of good, interesting stories and life lessons, but Shatner reads it so quickly, I actually thought my Audible was set on a faster speed. It was a little bizarre.
November 28, 2022
I saw Bill on television hawking his book and I said why not and bought it as it sounded interesting. I was expecting a pseudo fluff piece with lots of self promotion. What I received was lots of deep thoughts, lots of proselytizing and appealing, too much information, and lots of self promotion. To boldly go and be in a perpetual state of awestruck, well sounded appealing.
His passion is rather infectious. He likes to toot his horn but I certainly enjoyed listening. I guess the greatest reveal was about his flight into space and how sad it made him feel. There’s nothing out there but darkness and cold. Earth is everything. I’ve always liked him and I like him even more after finishing what surely is not his last will and testament or legacy.
His passion is rather infectious. He likes to toot his horn but I certainly enjoyed listening. I guess the greatest reveal was about his flight into space and how sad it made him feel. There’s nothing out there but darkness and cold. Earth is everything. I’ve always liked him and I like him even more after finishing what surely is not his last will and testament or legacy.
October 29, 2022
The best chapters of this book are the first which gives you a glimpse of who he was before fame and the chapter on his trip into space. The other chapters reprise those themes emphasizing the centrality of Star Trek to his life, his love of animals, his grandchildren, and the interconnectedness of living things especially trees, and his desire to be part of a tree. He demonstrates his intellectual curiosity, his fearlessness, his self-absorption, and his love of spoken word musicianship. An intriguing look at 90 years of living.
January 29, 2023
4.5. So many thoughts. William Shatner is my spirit animal. I cried over chapter 2. His thoughts and ways of thinking are similar to mine, so strangely, I found myself relating to him who is 91 years old.
September 1, 2023
This is much what you would expect really. Reflections an gems of wisdom that only someone of an advanced age can put together. William Shatner has lived a long and full life and here he reflects on some of things that have emotionally effected him the most.
The audio book is narrated by Shatner and I was surprised that he reads at a really fast pace. Totally unlike the delivery we usually associate with him.
The audio book is narrated by Shatner and I was surprised that he reads at a really fast pace. Totally unlike the delivery we usually associate with him.
February 27, 2024
I've always enjoyed William Shatner, so I wanted to check this out, and I really enjoyed it.
July 9, 2024
I read this because I was interested in his experiences with Blue Origins. It was somewhat interesting, but not at all what I'd expected.
August 9, 2022
I watched William Shatner on television giving an interview a few years back, and I have to say, I was impressed by his attitude about life. When I saw this book, I was immediately drawn to it,desiring to know more about his thoughts on connectivity..
I always thought Shatner was probably a sex symbol while on Star Trek. From the few reviews I've read about him online, I noticed there are those who think he is a bit of a diva. And yet, the man in these pages cared about the people he worked with, and was disappointed to find some didn't like him. Instead of sweeping comments like those under the rug, he openly admits that yes, he may have done things, unknowingly, that upset others and he tried to work things out with them later. What a wonderful thing to do.
Some of the things he has done in his life border almost on daredevil. He walks the reader through what it's like to have done some of these things such as: white water rafting that left him in a precarious situation and flying a stunt plane alone without enough training on how to land it. He is a true story teller, and the wonderful descriptions made me feel as if I was there with him.
I also thoroughly enjoyed how he talked about the connectivity of life and how everything is connected. He tells us his trip into space made him really think about how small our planet is and how fragile life is. If you have never seen something in nature that brought to your mind how amazing life is, you should definitely read this book!
I absolutely loved this.
I always thought Shatner was probably a sex symbol while on Star Trek. From the few reviews I've read about him online, I noticed there are those who think he is a bit of a diva. And yet, the man in these pages cared about the people he worked with, and was disappointed to find some didn't like him. Instead of sweeping comments like those under the rug, he openly admits that yes, he may have done things, unknowingly, that upset others and he tried to work things out with them later. What a wonderful thing to do.
Some of the things he has done in his life border almost on daredevil. He walks the reader through what it's like to have done some of these things such as: white water rafting that left him in a precarious situation and flying a stunt plane alone without enough training on how to land it. He is a true story teller, and the wonderful descriptions made me feel as if I was there with him.
I also thoroughly enjoyed how he talked about the connectivity of life and how everything is connected. He tells us his trip into space made him really think about how small our planet is and how fragile life is. If you have never seen something in nature that brought to your mind how amazing life is, you should definitely read this book!
I absolutely loved this.
July 13, 2023
Where to even begin. Boldly Go was chosen as a book club read, and if it had been any longer, I would have abandoned it. As it was, I was not the most gracious of readers, growing increasingly frustrated at his arrogance. I wanted to go into this with a neutral attitude and set aside any preconceived notions, and I couldn't make it through the first chapter before getting frustrated; Shatner's characterization of Jeffrey Toobin's behavior was off putting and offensive.
He never seems to be in the wrong. He comes off as short-sighted, self-righteous, and proudly noble. His initial album failure and poorly received SNL appearance were only due to people not understanding the genius of what he was trying to do, but years later Ben Folds understood what he was trying to do all along, proving he's a genius: look at everyone who now wanted to collaborate with him on projects!
To his credit, he seems like devoted grandfather and aspires to learn every day and give projects his all. But there wasn't enough here to save the book for me.
I was reading other memoirs alongside this one and reflecting on what makes a memoir work, and it requires vulnerability and a willingness to share the good and the bad. A humbleness to share things as they were, particularly when they don't paint you in a good light. To learn from ways you have failed and hurt others, to share things as they are and let readers walk away with their own characterizations of you. This book did none of that.
He never seems to be in the wrong. He comes off as short-sighted, self-righteous, and proudly noble. His initial album failure and poorly received SNL appearance were only due to people not understanding the genius of what he was trying to do, but years later Ben Folds understood what he was trying to do all along, proving he's a genius: look at everyone who now wanted to collaborate with him on projects!
To his credit, he seems like devoted grandfather and aspires to learn every day and give projects his all. But there wasn't enough here to save the book for me.
I was reading other memoirs alongside this one and reflecting on what makes a memoir work, and it requires vulnerability and a willingness to share the good and the bad. A humbleness to share things as they were, particularly when they don't paint you in a good light. To learn from ways you have failed and hurt others, to share things as they are and let readers walk away with their own characterizations of you. This book did none of that.
December 23, 2022
I've never watched Star Trek and I only know William Shatner from Boston Legal. However, I have noticed him on social media, and was shocked to learn he visited space at the ripe, old age of 90. This book is his not a memoir but more of an ode to nature and Mother Earth.
He has not only visited space but has also been swimming with sharks. And this book follows some of his craziest adventures. He was not always so thoughtful when it came to animals and recalls hunting a bear, then keeping the skin as one of the worst things he's ever done. It's after he saw Earth from space, did he realize how precious our planet and everything on it is.
Shatner also shares how his chance venture into the music world led him to release a smash-hit album decades later. He has lived a full life and has a lot of wisdom to share even though I do not agree with his opinion on Jeff Bezos. Although at some points, he was talking too fast, the audiobook experience overall was very enjoyable.
He has not only visited space but has also been swimming with sharks. And this book follows some of his craziest adventures. He was not always so thoughtful when it came to animals and recalls hunting a bear, then keeping the skin as one of the worst things he's ever done. It's after he saw Earth from space, did he realize how precious our planet and everything on it is.
Shatner also shares how his chance venture into the music world led him to release a smash-hit album decades later. He has lived a full life and has a lot of wisdom to share even though I do not agree with his opinion on Jeff Bezos. Although at some points, he was talking too fast, the audiobook experience overall was very enjoyable.
November 10, 2022
Shatner reflects on various aspects of his life - the Amazon space flight, his music ability, his love of horses, etc. I read the book. I suspect his reading of the audio book would be excellent. If you're not a fan of his, you probably won't enjoy this. He clearly has an ego, but as a long time Star Trek fan, I put up with this and found it interesting.
May 11, 2023
I listened to the audio book read by Shatner, which likely made it more enjoyable than just reading the book. Some sections are worthy of 3 stars and a few are solid 5 star reflections and reminiscences, for an overall 4 stars. The most interesting sections were definitely the discussions about going into space and his return to music.
November 5, 2022
A light, easy read with an encouraging message: say Yes! to life, keep learning, have an open mind and make a habit of experiencing new things. Since Shatner is a robust 91 yrs of age, perhaps he has it right. Very enjoyable and inspiring.
October 23, 2022
I listened to this on audio. It was narrated by William Shatner. First I must say, I am NOT a Star Trek fan! When I was growing up, my brothers watched every episode and are still fans, it never interested me. But William Shatner is so much more that just Captain Kirk!
I am was just in awe listening to Shatner narrating this 'memoir' with such energy, passion, and story telling ability at the age of 91!!! He talks so much about the 'wonders' of this world..,how would should embrace them. Although he was very successful in Star Trek, there were times when he was down in the gutter with little money, having to support his wife and children. He was so adventurous - doing dangerous 'stunts' in movies, learned archery, studied and recited Shakespeare, took singing lessons, made albums, and so many more things. He still rides horses competitively! Amazing!
The stories he tells of this life's journeys are so heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, insightful, and told with grace, ..including some of his most intimate details of his marriages .
Of course he devotes a whole section on his recent journey into space - how he came to the decision of actually doing it, how he felt when he was up there, and when he returned. Not what you would think.
I highly recommend listening to this instead of reading it - you need to hear his voice tell the story.
Very inspirational IMO - what a full life he led. The last chapter when he talks about being near the end of his life was so good.
I am was just in awe listening to Shatner narrating this 'memoir' with such energy, passion, and story telling ability at the age of 91!!! He talks so much about the 'wonders' of this world..,how would should embrace them. Although he was very successful in Star Trek, there were times when he was down in the gutter with little money, having to support his wife and children. He was so adventurous - doing dangerous 'stunts' in movies, learned archery, studied and recited Shakespeare, took singing lessons, made albums, and so many more things. He still rides horses competitively! Amazing!
The stories he tells of this life's journeys are so heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, insightful, and told with grace, ..including some of his most intimate details of his marriages .
Of course he devotes a whole section on his recent journey into space - how he came to the decision of actually doing it, how he felt when he was up there, and when he returned. Not what you would think.
I highly recommend listening to this instead of reading it - you need to hear his voice tell the story.
Very inspirational IMO - what a full life he led. The last chapter when he talks about being near the end of his life was so good.
November 17, 2022
This is the worst book I’ve listened to all year. It is just the ramblings of a 91 year old narcissist. I did enjoy hearing it in his own voice but the book was just anecdote followed by seemingly unrelated anecdote with a little name dropping for good measure.
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