The Art of Men (I Prefer Mine al Dente)
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3.6 • 218 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Emmy Award-winning actress Kirstie Alley’s candid and audacious memoir about her life and the men she has shared it with—for better and for worse.
John Travolta.
Parker Stevenson.
Ted Danson.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Kelsey Grammer.
Patrick Swayze.
Woody Allen.
Woody Harrelson.
And many others. . . . In three decades in Hollywood, Kirstie Alley has lived with, worked with, loved, or lost all of these men, and in this revealing memoir, she peels back the layers (and sometimes the sheets) on her relationships with all of them.
From the early days of her childhood in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by her loving father, her inquisitive and doting grandfather, and a younger brother she fiercely protected when she wasn’t selling tickets to see him naked, Kirstie Alley’s life has been shaped and molded by men. “Men, men, glorious men!” gave her her first big break in Hollywood and her awardwinning role on Cheers, and through two marriages, a debilitating cocaine addiction, the death of her mother, roles in some of the biggest comedies of the last twenty years, and a surprising stint on Dancing with the Stars, men proved to be the inspiration for multitudes of the decisions and dramas in Kirstie Alley’s life.
In this collection of linked essays that’s both hilarious and poignant in turns, Kirstie chronicles all the good, the bad, and the ugly men who have influenced and guided her. She demonstrates how men can be the air that women breathe or the source of all of their frustrations. But for better or worse, Kirstie shows that a life well lived is a life lived in the company of men, especially if they
remember to put the lid down. The Art of Men (I Prefer Mine al Dente) is a hilarious excursion into love, joy, motherhood, loss, sex, and self-discovery from one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Written in a highly accessible, unpretentious, and often funny manner, noted film and TV actress Alley reminisces about the many men in her life, describing the ways in which she was influenced both professionally and personally by them. Where her father seemed a caring, moral authority with "the purest, most simplistic truths ever uttered," her own trajectory lead her through a failed first marriage at age 20, a later entanglement with a borderline abusive lover who was into sadomasochism, the temptation of eloping with John Travolta while both were already married, and a never quite fulfilled flirtation with her Dancing with the Stars partner, the much younger student, Sergey. Most compelling, however, are the lessons learned from men who were never her lovers, for example the importance of being ego-less in ensemble performance from Cheers co-star Ted Danson, and the ability to bring personal beliefs to the service of a comedic role from Woody Allen. In offering a glimpse into the workings of her mind, Alley successfully balances deeply personal revelations with entertaining and often absurd asides.
Customer Reviews
The art of men I prefer mine al dente
This was so entertaining, I literally read it in two days. Couldn't put it down. An inside look at the Hollywood scene told by a very funny honest and beautiful actress. I felt I had a secret view into the life of a fascinating star. Great read .
Well Done
As always, very candid on her life. I respect that.
Men El Dente
Very candid and entertaining. Just like you are in her living room listening to it