In 'Life Isn't Everything,' Ash Carter and Sam Kashner delve into the complexities of existence, challenging the conventional belief that life is the ultimate journey. Through a compelling blend of memoir and insight, they explore themes of purpose, loss, and the quiet revelations that emerge from living authentically. Readers are taken on a thought-provoking journey that encourages them to reflect on what truly matters. As the authors navigate their own personal experiences, they offer poignant lessons on resilience and the pursuit of meaning. This book promises to inspire curiosity about the depths of human experience and the truths we often overlook.
By Sam Kashner, Ash Carter
Published: 2019
"Life isn't everything; it's the moments within life that define our essence and shape our destiny."
An up close and personal portrait of a legendary filmmaker, theater director, and comedian, drawing on candid conversations with his closest friends in show business and the arts—from Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep to Natalie Portman and Lorne Michaels. The work of Mike Nichols pervades American cultural consciousness—from The Graduate and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to Angels in America, The Birdcage, Working Girl, and Primary Colors, not to mention his string of hit plays, including Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple. If that weren’t enough, he was also one half of the timelessly funny duo Nichols & May, as well as a founding member of the original improv troupe. Over a career that spanned half a century, Mike Nichols changed Hollywood, Broadway, and comedy forever. Most fans, however, know very little of the person behind it all. Since he never wrote his memoirs, and seldom appeared on television, they have very little sense of his searching intellect or his devastating wit. They don't know that Nichols, the great American director, was born Mikail Igor Peschkowsky, in Berlin, and came to this country, speaking no English, to escape the Nazis. They don't know that Nichols was at one time a solitary psychology student, or that a childhood illness caused permanent, life-altering side effects. They don't know that he withdrew into a debilitating depression before he "finally got it right," in his words, by marrying Diane Sawyer. Here, for the first time, Ash Carter and Sam Kashner offer an intimate look behind the scenes of Nichols' life, as told by the stars, moguls, playwrights, producers, comics and crewmembers who stayed loyal to Nichols for years. Life Isn't Everything is a mosaic portrait of a brilliant and original director known for his uncommon charm, wit, vitality, and genius for friendship, this volume is also a snapshot of what it meant to be living, loving, and making art in the 20th century.
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“Life isn't everything; it's the moments within life that define our essence and shape our destiny.”
Life isn't everything.
By Sam Kashner, Ash Carter
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Sam Kashner is an acclaimed author and journalist known for his insightful explorations of culture and society. He has written several notable works, including "When I Was Cool: My Life at the Jack Kerouac School" and "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century," which showcase his ability to blend personal narrative with thorough biographical research. Kashner's writing style is characterized by its engaging prose and deep introspection, often reflecting on the lives of iconic figures in literature and film. With a background in both fiction and non-fiction, Kashner invites readers to delve into the complexities of human experience, making his work resonate with a wide audience.
Ash Carter is a distinguished author and thought leader, known for his insightful analysis and engaging narrative style. With a background in public service, he served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense and has contributed significantly to national security discussions through his writing. His notable works include 'Innovation and the Future of Defense' and 'The U.S. Military and the Challenge of Cybersecurity'. Carter's writing blends policy expertise with accessible prose, making complex topics relatable to a wide audience.
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