The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide

Jenna Fischer’s phenomenal book ‘The Actor’s Life’ is factual, funny and a fantastic guide to the world of acting. This is one of those books that is informative, personable yet so enjoyable that you can’t stop reading. I am not an actor but I personally loved this book and it is one that works on so many levels.

The book starts out with Ms Fischer interest in acting and her school productions and then through her education which includes the many different facets of her experiences. She then makes the move to Los Angeles and this is where the book really comes into its own. From her experiences in dodgy to professional auditions to her eventually being cast in the hit show ‘The Office’.

It is important to note that her inspiration and aspirations led to her leaving her house and getting out there to accomplish her goals. This is the main lesson to learn from this book and one that I think many people will take away from this whether you are involved in acting or any other profession. If you want to accomplish your goals, you have to get out in the world and try everything to help to become a well-rounded individual with many irons in the fire to eventually hit the jackpot.

This is a truly remarkable book and one that all actor’s really should read. I have a lot of actor friends who basically sit around and wait for chance and luck to come knocking on their door which it very seldom does. She has made an extremely useful book that opens the hearts and minds of all to read. As stated above, this concept can work with many other professions as well and although it is an informative read, it works on so many levels that I for one will be recommending this book to so many people.

This is one of those books that will definitely worth the purchase and read and I for one, have taking so much from it. Inspirational, aspiring and entertaining, Jenna Fishcher has become my own professional hero. I really hope that she continues to write because her style is very high grade and personable. This is a must read.

This book is everything. Normally when people say "everything you need to know about acting" they always leave something out and yet somehow Jenna has answered just about every single question you could ever have about this industry. She goes over the entire process step by step with a fine tooth comb and does it without being boring. She shares her own experiences and even went out of her way to get other perspectives and experiences into this book. I recommend the audio version if you have a long commute like me or happen to be a multi-tasker! Thank you for all the useful information Jenna!

While this book is an amazing guide for any actress or actor pursuing their passion, it also serves as an awesome learning journey for many new to the workforce. So many of Jenna’s teaching about the actor’s life, can easily be applied to any other workplace and followed for successful outcomes.
Jenna’s lessons on preparation, promptness, and professionalism are often missed out on by many new and seasoned individuals in the workplace. Even if the reader decides to only apply a few of the multitude of Jenna’s learnings, they’ll be well on their way to successful outcomes in life.
I also loved the fact that Jenna shared her failure with Matt LeBanc’s newest show. Even after years of success, we can still not be a right fit for something and that’s okay. Evaluate, learn from it, celebrate it, and pursue forward!

I suggest purchasing the audio version, as it is narrated by the author. Hearing her narrate the book is like having a personal coach cheering you on (plus, there is some brilliant ad-libbing done by Rainn Wilson as he reads the introduction that was written by Steve Carell). Though this book was obviously written for actors, I found that her advice was also inspiring and helpful to me as a creative professional in a different line of work. The book feels honest, is well written and I believe the author is really interested in helping the reader achieve their dreams, while being realistic of the struggles and pitfalls one will encounter along the way. She gives you glimpse behind the scenes of what it is like to be an actor for television and movies (including her experience auditioning and preparing for her role on The Office) and gives advice for what classes to take, how to prepare yourself mentally for auditions and even how to put together a resume and head shots that will get you the gigs that you want. In addition to sharing her story, she also interviews 4 other working actors towards the end of the book. Hearing them speak about their particular journeys was inspiring as well, and helped illustrate that there is no one particular (or right) way to pursue your dream of becoming a working actor. If you are an actor heading to Hollywood, I feel like this is a must read for keeping your sanity and staying true to yourself and I would also suggest purchasing the print version, so that you have her suggestions close by for reference when you need them.

This book is the perfect balance of fun stories, anecdotal info, and practical resources for aspiring actors. It's thoroughly entertaining and I couldn't put it down. For anyone who loves The Office, acting, or getting to know well-loved actors on a more personal level, this is the book for you. For actors, it's also fantastic because it's precise and specific -- she drops names, websites, prices, and all kinds of awesome tips. She also shares hilarious, witty, and helpful stories from her own life that were simultaneously informative and entertaining. I devoured it in two days and definitely recommend it for a fun read!

Definitely an excellent read for anyone aspiring to be an actor. Jenna crafts an superb narrative on her journey, bumps and all, in L.A.. I did enjoy the book despite never having any inclination towards acting. I believe this might be loved even more by someone with acting dreams.

I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review

This book is extraordinarily motivational for anyone creative, actor or not, and highly educational for anyone who enjoys television or movies or theatre. I am not an actor and have no desire or talent to be an actor; I read this in one day.

Jenna wrote this book for aspiring actors, but it will appeal to anyone interested in how the entertainment industry works. Moreover, its lessons apply more broadly than just to actors. While the book does seek to teach and guide, the tone is warm and conversational, and it is a quick and easy read. Too quick, in fact; I wished there were more.

Jenna Fischer does what I wish all successful actors would do: tell those who haven't achieved their level of success exactly how they did it. It's invaluable to those who are starting out, and a great review for those are have been at the grind for a while. Ms. Fischer makes it interesting along with way with her personal examples of the do's and don'ts, and it's a quick and delightful read!

This is the real life world of an aspiring actor. The book is more than a guide, it’s a life line for those who are chasing the dream. Jenna finds a way to inspire and advise while being both honest and funny. Get this book!

I have never been good at rejection - but this book shows first hand how you can deal with it. We all go through rejection, even if we aren't is as difficult a profession as acting. Learned an incredible amount.

Pretentious story about an actress I was interested in reading about because I'd heard she was born in my hometown, but not a word was mentioned about her Indiana birthplace -- she mentions having grown up in St. Louis.

I wasn't familiar with the publisher. Is this a third-rate "vanity publisher" who will print anyone's book for a price?

Perhaps if this actor were more seasoned I would have been interested in finishing the book.

Every actor that hasn't worked in the business should be required to read this. Humble, informative, self deprecating, honest and on point. So glad I read it. Should be in the curriculum of every theatre program- and that includes julliard.

My whole family of entertainers love this book! While a lot of the information is geared towards those greener in the industry - even seasoned professionals can get a good laugh at the stories in between and the nostalgia she walks us through. I loved having the audible version

Although some of the information is a little dated this is one of the most useful and relatable acting books that I’ve ever read! I wish I read it a lot sooner! She truly understands working from survival jobs to doing what it takes to get out there and the best egg. The frustration from booking something then it not landing made this easily one of my favorites