This is a pretty technical book but I was really interested in making film around the time I read (most of) it.
My folks bought this for me (they knew I was wanting to go to the New York Film School summer program, was reading bios on Kubrick, etc, etc) as a graduation present when I finished the 8th grade and was moving on towards the big HS. There's still a touching note on the inside of the copy I just pulled from the shelf, written in my mom's perfect cursive handwriting and it's making my insides feel weepy and sentimental.