What do you think?
Rate this book
On Acting ... and Life: A New Look at an Old Craft
Dozens of books on acting exist, but none of them are quite like this. On Acting and Life provides both insightful acting advice and the memoir of an acclaimed actor of both stage and screen. Modelled after Stephen King's bestseller, On Writing, the book is divided into two parts.
Part one takes readers on a seventy-year journey that begins with William B. Davis, at age twelve, riding his bicycle through the streets of Toronto to his first acting classes, and eventually leads to him starring in the long-running television series, The X-Files. From a summer theatre in Ontario to the National Theatre of Great Britain to the National Theatre School of Canada to the William Davis Centre for Actors' Study in Vancouver, few have achieved such a colourful journey. Along the way, Davis met all sorts of familiar faces, including Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Albert Finney, Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, David Duchovny, and Gillian Anderson, among others.
Although there is a lot about acting in part one, the heart of the book for an aspiring or working actor is in part two. What has Davis learned in seventy years of working both in the theatre and in film and television? A lot, as you will see. Davis' grasp of the art of acting is vast and practical. And in some ways, original.
In his final chapter, Davis explores the underlying philosophy of acting and actor training and argues for bringing the work in to the twenty-first century.
Part one takes readers on a seventy-year journey that begins with William B. Davis, at age twelve, riding his bicycle through the streets of Toronto to his first acting classes, and eventually leads to him starring in the long-running television series, The X-Files. From a summer theatre in Ontario to the National Theatre of Great Britain to the National Theatre School of Canada to the William Davis Centre for Actors' Study in Vancouver, few have achieved such a colourful journey. Along the way, Davis met all sorts of familiar faces, including Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Albert Finney, Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, David Duchovny, and Gillian Anderson, among others.
Although there is a lot about acting in part one, the heart of the book for an aspiring or working actor is in part two. What has Davis learned in seventy years of working both in the theatre and in film and television? A lot, as you will see. Davis' grasp of the art of acting is vast and practical. And in some ways, original.
In his final chapter, Davis explores the underlying philosophy of acting and actor training and argues for bringing the work in to the twenty-first century.
300 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2022
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 6, 2024
On Acting…and life by William B Davis- audio review
Narration: B+
Content: B
Best Aspect: Some very interesting memoir parts and good information for wanna be actors.
Worst Aspect: Mr. Davis voice is very soothing, and this made me very sleepy. May be better read than on audio.
Recommend: Yes.
Narration: B+
Content: B
Best Aspect: Some very interesting memoir parts and good information for wanna be actors.
Worst Aspect: Mr. Davis voice is very soothing, and this made me very sleepy. May be better read than on audio.
Recommend: Yes.
June 26, 2024
I have to admit that I requested this audio ARC to fulfill a reading challenge prompt for a genre I've never read. Since there isn't much out there I haven't EVER read, a guide to acting seemed like one of the few safe bets there. I didn't even look at who wrote it - Davis is a pretty common name, right? But as soon as it started, I knew that voice!
My surprise at discovering Cigarette Smoking Man was the author and narrator was my own fault - but my surprise at how interesting and relevant the book is for a non-actor is also genuine. Having not read Mr. Davis' previous memoir, the first section contained a great deal of new information for me, along with a profound appreciation of the pettiness required to have hung onto resentment of someone claiming credit for your set painting 70+ years later. You really don't see that level of commitment these days in grudges, and that's a loss for us all.
Really, though - the complete lack of acknowledgement of the privilege that came with being born white man in a well-off and well-connected family and having the mid-century safety net available to people like that in Canada/the UK severely limits the usefulness to anyone looking for actionable advice in the biographical section. But it's still interesting to hear about the ways that the theater and entertainment industry have changed from being reliable long term careers (albeit for a select few) to today's gig economy.
The author acknowledges in the prologue that some readers may only be interested in the biographical part and others may only be interested in the acting part, so there is a small amount of repetition of some anecdotes across the two halves of the book - but it comes across more as underlining his points than forgetting he already said that. Mr. Davis also does not hold back on his criticism of those with different acting methods than his own, but he builds such a strong case that it seems to be justified (I sprayed my beverage when he wondered whether Daniel Day Lewis also method acted in bed while spending two years pretending to be Abraham Lincoln 24/7 in preparation for a movie). His emphasis on acting as a way of interacting with other people makes the discussion surprisingly relevant for non-actors.
Ironically, the narration is not as consistent as you might expect from someone with a pretty extensive background in radio and audio drama. There is a definite quality of reading the book out loud (as opposed to the more flowing narration one would expect from a full-time audiobook narrator) - but I can't imagine anyone other than the author telling his own story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
My surprise at discovering Cigarette Smoking Man was the author and narrator was my own fault - but my surprise at how interesting and relevant the book is for a non-actor is also genuine. Having not read Mr. Davis' previous memoir, the first section contained a great deal of new information for me, along with a profound appreciation of the pettiness required to have hung onto resentment of someone claiming credit for your set painting 70+ years later. You really don't see that level of commitment these days in grudges, and that's a loss for us all.
Really, though - the complete lack of acknowledgement of the privilege that came with being born white man in a well-off and well-connected family and having the mid-century safety net available to people like that in Canada/the UK severely limits the usefulness to anyone looking for actionable advice in the biographical section. But it's still interesting to hear about the ways that the theater and entertainment industry have changed from being reliable long term careers (albeit for a select few) to today's gig economy.
The author acknowledges in the prologue that some readers may only be interested in the biographical part and others may only be interested in the acting part, so there is a small amount of repetition of some anecdotes across the two halves of the book - but it comes across more as underlining his points than forgetting he already said that. Mr. Davis also does not hold back on his criticism of those with different acting methods than his own, but he builds such a strong case that it seems to be justified (I sprayed my beverage when he wondered whether Daniel Day Lewis also method acted in bed while spending two years pretending to be Abraham Lincoln 24/7 in preparation for a movie). His emphasis on acting as a way of interacting with other people makes the discussion surprisingly relevant for non-actors.
Ironically, the narration is not as consistent as you might expect from someone with a pretty extensive background in radio and audio drama. There is a definite quality of reading the book out loud (as opposed to the more flowing narration one would expect from a full-time audiobook narrator) - but I can't imagine anyone other than the author telling his own story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
March 12, 2024
Review of “On Acting…and life” written and narrated by William B. Davis.
Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC Audio version of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let me start out with I loved the X-Files so much, and was already a big fan of William B. Davis, so if you’re also a fan like me you’ll absolutely love William B. Davis’s “On Acting...and life.” It’s not just another boring acting advice book; it’s a fascinating mix of helpful tips and captivating stories from a seasoned actor’s life. Also, if you listen to the audio version, the author himself narrates, and I would highly recommend listening to the book.
But what really makes this book stand out is Davis’s down-to-earth wisdom, earned over decades in the industry. He dives into the nitty-gritty of acting philosophy, offering practical insights that any actor, newbie or pro, can appreciate. Plus, his push for updating actor training methods gives a fresh spin to the age-old craft.
And let’s not forget about Davis’s own journey from child actor to mentor and teacher. It’s inspiring to see how he’s evolved over the years and how he’s now passing on his wisdom to the next generation. So, whether you’re dreaming of making it big in Hollywood or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, “On Acting...and life” is a must-read that’ll leave you both entertained and enlightened.
Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC Audio version of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let me start out with I loved the X-Files so much, and was already a big fan of William B. Davis, so if you’re also a fan like me you’ll absolutely love William B. Davis’s “On Acting...and life.” It’s not just another boring acting advice book; it’s a fascinating mix of helpful tips and captivating stories from a seasoned actor’s life. Also, if you listen to the audio version, the author himself narrates, and I would highly recommend listening to the book.
But what really makes this book stand out is Davis’s down-to-earth wisdom, earned over decades in the industry. He dives into the nitty-gritty of acting philosophy, offering practical insights that any actor, newbie or pro, can appreciate. Plus, his push for updating actor training methods gives a fresh spin to the age-old craft.
And let’s not forget about Davis’s own journey from child actor to mentor and teacher. It’s inspiring to see how he’s evolved over the years and how he’s now passing on his wisdom to the next generation. So, whether you’re dreaming of making it big in Hollywood or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, “On Acting...and life” is a must-read that’ll leave you both entertained and enlightened.
March 30, 2024
I'm a little biased here - scrolling through Netgalley looking for my next audio book and stumbled on this one. Saw the author's name and realized his nephew is married to a friend of mine and decided to give it a listen. The author says right off that he modeled this book after Stephen King's memoir (which I've read) and it has a similar structure. I feel the same way about both books: the memoir portion is great, but the advice sections? Not so much. I understand his advice works for HIM, but like writing, everyone has an opinion. I hope those serious about acting will find the second half as compelling as the first part.
April 3, 2024
A well-rounded and well-narrated treatise on acting, its philosophical aspects, practices, and one actor’s experience with the craft.
Through anecdotes and tips (both personal and acquired over an extensive career) Mr Davis takes the reader on a journey allowing them a glimpse behind the mask.
Though not an actor myself, I still found this book interesting for the simple fact that I can better appreciate cinema, TV, and theater actors by learning a little bit about the effort that goes into breathing life into the characters written in the script.
Through anecdotes and tips (both personal and acquired over an extensive career) Mr Davis takes the reader on a journey allowing them a glimpse behind the mask.
Though not an actor myself, I still found this book interesting for the simple fact that I can better appreciate cinema, TV, and theater actors by learning a little bit about the effort that goes into breathing life into the characters written in the script.
March 19, 2024
This is the perfect book for those in the acting profession or those who are X-Files fans. William B. Davis shares stories of his acting career dating back to when he was a child just starting out & also shares tips for those acting today. I definitely recommend the audiobook which is read by the author himself.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
September 25, 2024
I loved listening to William B. Davis read his book. His voice is always iconic. I loved learning about his history and opinions on acting. However, I found the section on teaching acting rather boring but I am not an actor so the section was not meant for me.
I loved hearing about his iconic first appearance on The X-Files.
I received an audio ARC for review; all opinions are my own.
I loved hearing about his iconic first appearance on The X-Files.
I received an audio ARC for review; all opinions are my own.
April 26, 2024
On Acting...and Life is a fascinating look at the world of acting from the perspective of someone who has a long history in the theatre, film, and television. Part memoir and part acting manual, it guides the reader through Davis' life, gives cogent examples of what to do (or not to do) as a working actor, and provides guidance on techniques to improve your acting skills. If I had one critique it would be that sometimes the book references events that are explained in Davis' first book, so you get the feeling that the context would be useful, but even that is a small thing. In all I enjoyed the book and I plan to use Davis' suggestions to improve my own approach to acting!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews