A Book A Week

"Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

For fifty years, Saturday Night Live has graced the airwaves, delivering a steady stream of hilarious sketches, iconic guest stars, and unforgettable musical performances to audiences across the country. It has become synonymous with American comedy, launching the careers of countless stars over its half-century run. Yet for all that’s known about the show, far less is known about its creator and long-running producer, Lorne Michaels. The quiet Canadian has long kept a low profile, rarely speaking to the press. With the exception of a brief hiatus, during which NBC foolishly parted ways with him, Michaels has remained at the helm for nearly the entirety of the show’s run, recently completing its milestone 50th season. Now, for the first time, author Susan Morrison has been granted full access to Michaels, offering readers an unprecedented look at the man behind the legendary show and his extraordinary career.

It seems like destiny now, but for young Canadian Lorne Lipowitz, the path to comedy stardom was anything but guaranteed. Raised in a modest household, he discovered early on that he had a sharp wit and a natural ear for humor. Morrison traces Michaels’s journey from those formative years through his time in Canadian broadcasting, where he honed his skills as a writer and producer. She charts the ups and downs of his career, revealing how the groundwork for Saturday Night Live slowly came together long before the show ever aired.

How do you capture a lifetime, especially one intertwined with half a century of comedy history, in a single book? Morrison tackles the challenge by cleverly structuring the biography around the making of a single episode of SNL: the 2018 installment hosted by Jonah Hill. Each section corresponds to a day in the show's intense weekly schedule, from the pitch meeting on Monday to the live broadcast on Saturday night. The format serves as both a behind-the-scenes look at how the sausage gets made and an innovative framework to explore the many facets of Michaels’s life and legacy.

The result is a thorough and incredibly well-done biography. Lorne is insightful, entertaining, and rich with detail. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Saturday Night Live or simply fascinated by the people who shape pop culture from behind the scenes, Morrison’s portrait of Lorne Michaels is a must-read.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 42)

The late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld was nothing if not a recognizable persona. His monochromatic look, tailored suit, tinted glasses, and powdered ponytail helped him to become a kind of living logo for his brand. With a quick sketch, he was able to capture the look of the moment, perfectly encapsulating everything about his vision with immaculate precision. But who was Karl Lagerfeld? Who is the man behind the acclaimed fashion houses? The answer to that question may not be as easy to come by. Beyond the public facade of high-brow elegance and timely trends lies a man who valued his personal life and rarely revealed anything about himself that didn't further his brand. Even his date of birth was clouded by his own noncommittal origin story. In Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Fashion, author Alfons Kaiser attempts to unveil the man behind some of fashion's most iconic moments. 

The earliest sections of the book reveal Kaiser's deep research as he debunks many of the tall tales that Lagerfeld told about his early years. From the year of his birth (yes, he was older than he claimed to be), to the way he interacted with his family and schoolmates, it is clear that Lagerfeld embellished the story of his life to fit the narrative that he conjured for himself and his image as a designer. The reality is this. Karl was born to a family that made a name for itself in the evaporated milk business in Germany during the brink of the second world war. He wasn't particularly close with either of his parents, and he was always a bit different than the other boys his own age. It is hard to imagine Karl Lagerfeld as anything but the icon that he became. Even so, he was the last of his friend group, including Yves Saint-Laurent, to find success. Once he did find it, though, he would enjoy a rich career in the industry that spanned over half a century. 

Professional accolades, friendships, and feuds scatter the pages of Kaiser's detailed biography. The sheer scope of Lagerfeld's career is placed on full display in the work, which is quite astounding considering the industry he worked in. Fashion has always been something of the moment. Styles come in and out with a regularity that can often leave designers behind. Lagerfeld's staying power and ceaseless quest for relevancy is a remarkable feat. I was struck by how different Lagerfeld's public persona was from the man he was in his private life. He fiercely guarded his privacy, only confiding in his close friends, confidants, and his romantic partner of many years. Karl seemed to have been a loyal friend who went out of his way to take care of those around him. I have a mixed response, then to this work as a whole. It isn't that the reporting on Lagerfeld's life is bad. In fact, the writing is well researched and highly empathetic. Still, I can't help but feel that parts of the work pry more into Lagerfeld's life than he would ever have wanted to be revealed. Nevertheless, the brilliance of Lagerfeld's work and the genius of the man he was is carefully portrayed in this book. 

For more information visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2022, 19)

With the US Presidential Inauguration now behind us, I thought it would be the perfect time to read a book about a former president. In 41: A Portrait of My Father, former President George W. Bush writes an overview on the life of his father, the late President George H. W. Bush. I was immediately drawn to the historical significance of this work. The Bush family is only the second family in history to produce two US Presidents. Having the perspective of both son and a former president gives George W. an unprecedented insight into the life of his father. Less a political study and more a commentary on the man himself, 41 provides an intimate portrait of the Bush family patriarch.

As a biography, there's little surprise in either structure or content in this writing. The story of George Bush unfolds linearly, starting from his humble childhood and progressing across time. Like most men of the era, a strong family unit and fervent faith created the foundation on which the future statesmen would build his life. The early portion of this book reads almost like something out of a folk tale. I'm sure that the basis of this retelling is founded on truth, but I couldn't help but feel as if it was all a bit too perfect. I imagine that the author heard these stories from his parents throughout his own upbringing, so they take on the kind of second-hand feel of any story that was passed down from person to person. Still, the lessons that his mother instilled in him as a child would be the same principles that would guide the elder Bush throughout his life. "Do your best. Don't be arrogant. Never complain."

The book takes on a different tone as the author clearly begins writing from his own lived experiences with his father. You can't help but sense the pure admiration that George W. Bush possesses for both of his parents. Grounded by his unwavering faith in religion, country, and family George H. W. Bush approached each part of his life with quiet dignity. This duty to uphold the values he most cherished saw the man through fighting in a war, raising a family, facing the tragedy of losing a child, and shouldering the massive responsibility of running the country. Even after the crushing defeat in his bid for a second presidential term, George Bush conducted himself with the kind of decorum that seems nearly impossible in the current political climate.

This is not the average presidential biography. George W. Bush focuses as much on the quiet family moments that he clearly cherishes as he does the high-stakes political events that history will remember the men for. This can sometimes give the work an unevenness that readers of more traditional political writing may find jarring. Politics aside, I found the intimate nature of this writing to be refreshing. Bush Sr. never wrote his own presidential memoir, so this is the closest thing we will ever have to an inside look into his life. As most sons would write about their fathers, George W. often oversimplifies the governmental blunders and noble intentions of the late president. He paints a portrait of a man driven by the intention of doing right by the country he devoted his professional life to serving and the family he loves. As a political biography, the book is far from perfect. As a love letter from a son to his father, however, 41: A Portrait of My Father strikes all the right notes.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2021, 4)

"Hello, neighbor!"

Let's face it. We are currently living in a frightening time in human history. As the reality of the global implications of COVID-19 set in, the news grows more and more disheartening. Five weeks into staying home, it has gotten more difficult to keep a positive outlook. The number of people infected with the virus continues to climb. The number of people who have succumbed to the virus rises too. Even those who aren't faced with fighting the disease themselves have been affected by the subsequent ramifications of it. Thankfully, there are countless stories of light shining through the darkness and despair. From the stories of retired healthcare professionals returning to the field to aid in the fight to the truck drivers selflessly working grueling hours to get food and supplies to those who need it, we are reminded each day of the remarkable way humanity can band together in a common goal.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

As I sat in my house reflecting on these strange times, I was reminded of a book that has been patiently waiting on my shelf since the publisher gifted me a copy last fall. Kindness and Wonder: Why Mr. Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever by Gavin Edwards seems like a perfect book for this moment in history. I was one of the countless fortunate children who grew up watching public television. I still remember watching episodes of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, curiously hanging on the words of the friendly host. I remember the way he slowly spoke on the show, not afraid to sit in silence as he did menial things like feed the fish or tie his shoes. It wasn't until many years later that I realized the profound impact of his show and teachings. Now, I once again found comfort in his story.

Edward's book is divided into two sections. The first reads as a fairly traditional biography of Fred Rogers. It follows his unlikely rise from a young theology student and ordained minister to television star. I was struck by a couple things. First, I never realized how much thought and meticulous preparation went into the scripts of each episode of the show. Rogers carefully crafted his scripts to ensure his message would come across in a way that was both palatable and educational to his young audience. Second, Rogers was unafraid to use his platform to tackle difficult subjects. He welcomed an African American cast member to share in cooling waters of his pool during the height of the civil rights movement. He employed his quiet Daniel the Tiger puppet to have a frank discussion of assassination after Kennedy was killed. He even produced a special geared toward helping parents talk to their children in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. For such a seemingly unassuming man, Fred Rogers was perfectly willing to make vocal statements on current affairs.

The second part of Kindness and Wonder delves into the characteristics of Fred Rogers that Edwards posits can be impactful if practiced in our own lives. While the message of this section is meant to serve as an inspirational conclusion to the work, I'll admit it read as a little bit too "self-help" for my personal tastes. There are a few inspirational anecdotes, but other parts are a tad dry. Still, there is great value in reflecting on the life and mission of Fred Rogers. Kindness, humility, patience, empathy, all of these are attributes of rogers that we can strive to emulate in our own lives. At a brief 250 pages or so, Kindness and Wonder is the kind of book you can fall into during an afternoon and feel the emotional impact of immediately. It is like the warm hug of a family member or, perhaps more accurately, the reassuring voice of a long-forgotten friend. This is not the first challenge humanity has faced, and it will not be the last. Be it donating masks, volunteering at food banks, or even just reaching out to a neighbor, we can all find a way to make an impact. After all, "You've made this day a special day, by just your being you."

For more information visit Amazon and Goodreads.
(2020, 14)

I'll never forget the day I heard the news that Robin Williams had died. A child of the 1990's, I was first introduced to his work in Disney's Aladdin. The VHS of that movie played on a loop for several years at my house. As I grew older, I discovered William's other classics like Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning Vietnam, and Dead Poet's Society. There was something about the magnetism and unabashed humanity in William's performances that you couldn't look away from. Hearing the tragic news that he had ended his own life seemed incomprehensible. This man who was such a blazing force within American popular culture was suddenly gone. When the publisher offered me a copy of New York Times reporter Dave Itzkoff's biography of Robin Williams, I jumped on the chance to read more about his fascinating life.

Like most biographies, Itzkoff begins Robin William's story at the beginning. A young Robin lived in a household of financial and cultural privilege, but also one of isolation. His family moved around a lot, and as an only child, Robin spent hours alone. He collected miniature soldiers. Young Robin would spend his days reenacting famous battles and providing the various voices to his characters. During these formative years, he discovered the relationship between comedy and emotional connection. The foundation of his relationship with his parents was making them laugh.

Into adulthood, Robin had difficulty following the path of his father's expectations. A corporate job just wasn't going to work for Robin. He found solace in the theater department of his college and soon began to dabble in improvisation. In improv, Robin could let loose and allow his vast imagination to take control. When he burst onto the Los Angeles standup comedy scene, everyone took notice. Other comics related his style to turning on a faucet. When Robin got on stage, the faucet turned on, and a stream of invention flowed out. His time at the comedy clubs turned into a guest appearance on Happy Days. When ABC was looking for a new sitcom, executives created the spin off Mork and Mindy, and a star was born.

Throughout Robin, Dave Itzkoff provides an intimate and illuminating portrait of Robin Williams. He interviewed countless people who were involved with Williams both personally and professionally, giving this book a full scale look at the man through their eyes. We read about Robin's elation at fatherhood, marriage, and winning the Academy Award. Equally featured are the darker times of addiction, divorce, and costly career missteps. The last section of the book deal with the months leading up to Robin's death. The reporting on this tragic end is the most complete and thorough telling that I've read. Itzkoff peels back the layers of Robin's public persona and reveals the raw and intricate details that made this fascinating man function. Whether you are a fan of Robin William's work, interested in addiction or mental health, or are just looking for a good read, Robin by Dave Itzkoff is certainly a biography worth spending some time with.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads.

(2018, 21)

"Sometimes fantasies are paths to realities."

Walter Isaacson is no stranger to telling the stories of genius. Through his writing about such great minds as Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs, Isaacson has gained an understanding of the qualities that these men have mastered. In particular, he notes that the merging of arts and science seem to hold the key in these peoples' success. In his latest book, Isaacson details the life and accomplishments of a man of unparalleled genius, Leonardo da Vinci.

Because da Vinci kept meticulous notes in his notebooks, Isaacson had a wealth of first-hand information about him. As such, the book is a dense portrait of the life of of Leonardo. At around 600 pages and full of illustrations and photographs, the book is quite the undertaking for both the author and the reader. For those willing to spend the time reading it, however, the book is an extremely insightful and rewarding experience. I came away from it with a much greater understanding and respect for the variety of crafts and disciplines that Leonardo mastered.

Isaacson gives Leonardo's masterpieces plenty of page time, but focuses more on the works that we often don't know about. Perfectionism combined with an unyielding curiosity caused many of Leonardo's projects to either remain unfinished or be completely abandoned in favor of something different. Beyond his art of paintings, sculptures and theatrical productions, Leonardo spent considerable time studying engineering, anatomy, and other sciences. This wide variety of disciplines caused his art to inform his science and his science to inform his art, a combination that only further cements his genius. In the end, Isaacson argues that the unfinished ventures of Leonardo provide a clearer picture to the magnitude of his genius.

While I certainly was curious about all of Leonardo's creative endeavors, it was his personal life that kept me invested into this book. Isaacson writes of Leonardo's outsider status and mentality. As an illegitimate child and unabashed homosexual, he never really escaped this perception of himself. Even when his acclaim as an artist placed him in the company of royalty and affluence, Leonardo couldn't shake this mentality. Frankly, he was more interested in investing time in his studies than gaining the approval of others.

As I've already mentioned, Leonardo da Vinci is a thick book that will require a good investment of time to properly read it. Fortunately Walter Isaacson presents the story more as a narrative than a textbook. This was a wonderful change of pace from my normal reading habits. If you are looking for non-fiction that doesn't feel like the typical history book, Leonardo da Vinci is a perfect start. I came away fascinated by the achievements and riveted by Leonardo's humanity.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2018, 3)

“Memories remind us that every moment of our lives, even the most tragic, have contributed to our strength. We’ve gotten through. We’re still here.” 

Despite living in Texas for my entire life, I can't claim to be a country music aficionado. I've heard my fair share of the genre, but I've never really taken much interest in its history. Still, there's no denying the appeal of some of the music. When I was in high school, I was fortunate to sit front row for a Willie Nelson concert. I never expected to connect with his music the way I did! There was honesty in every note he played and every word he sang. In his book It's A Long Story: My Life, Willie provides some insights and anecdotes of his storied career. 

Willie is the first to admit that he is difficult to place in a box. In fact, his vocal quirks and varying stylistic influences made him nearly impossible to sell during the first part of his career. He writes about the ways that his early record companies tried to produce him the same way they did other top selling country stars. The sweet strings and background vocals simply did not gel with Willie's singing. It wasn't until a producer allowed him to record the way he played his live shows that Willie found true commercial success. 

Willie's writing comes off as if he were right there with you telling a story. The book takes on a kind of folksy quality that reads more like a conversation than a history lesson. The timeline is framed by Willie's unfortunate run in with the IRS during the 90's. As he narrates through his childhood in Abbot, Texas all the way through to present day, this tax incident continues to interrupt the story and remind us that all that we are reading is leading to this event. I found this to be rather out of place. It seemed more like the publisher or editor was trying to give some kind of structure to the story that didn't need to be there. 

As I read through the book, I realized that Willie Nelson is a man of contradictions. He loved his family but cheated on his wives. He has a deep devotion to the methodist church, but played in sinful beer joints and swears by the healing qualities of marijuana. The list goes on and on. Whatever your opinion of the man, there is no denying that these inconsistencies make Willie a fascinating character. He is an imperfect man in an imperfect world who is driven to make his mark on the world through his music. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads. 

(2016, 13)

Towards the end of his life, famed composer, pianist, and conductor, Leonard Bernstein, rarely gave interviews. When a young Jonathan Cott requested an interview with the maestro for a story to appear in Rolling Stones magazine, he was certain Bernstein would decline his request. Fortunately, Bernstein was impressed with the writings of Cott and in November of 1989, a year before his death, invited him to dinner at his home.

In what is noted as Bernsteins last major interview, Cott has presented the key moments in his twelve hour conversation with the composer. Immediately, the reader is drawn in by the eccentric personality of Bernstein. He speaks with a passion and confidence that demands to be listened to. Over the course of the interview, the two discuss everything from Bernstein's acclaimed career as a world-renowned musician to the intimate details of his florid love affairs.

The book opens with a short biography of Bernstein. In this section, we are told about his first encounter with a piano, his appointment as conductor of the New York Philharmonic, and his rise as a world renowned musician. The interview itself is only about 165 pages, but is packed with overflowing emotional and informational content. After completing this interview, it is apparent that Bernstein lived his life by completely giving himself to everything he did. The personalities of both Bernstein and Cott make this a quick and insightful read that is accessible to anyone who chooses to read it.

For more information, visit the publisher's website, Amazon, and Good Reads.

(2013: week 1, book 1)