Way back in September, I did an ALL-REQUEST post in which I promised to answer all the requests, after having skipped a few in previous iterations of the all-request tradition. Well, naturally, I skipped one. Although, in my defense, I always intended to get around to it, but never did. Until now.
Sebastian asked, “Are there any current celebrities (not counting politicians/soldiers, we’re talking pop culture here) whose books you would read assuming they had one? For this exercise, you are cleared to use obvious examples like anything by Coach K, as well as Jenna Jameson’s How To Make Love Like A Porn Star.”
I had to stare at my bookshelf for a while to make sure, but I don’t really have any celebrity books. I bought Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, Vol. 1 and Bruce Campbell’s If Chins Could Kill (how often are those two books mentioned in the same sentence?), but never finished either. I never read one of Coach Krzyzewski’s books, but I did buy one of Dick Vitale’s for a book signing once. And I never read Ms. Jameson’s book, although I’m not saying I couldn’t use a lesson.
I guess one reason I don’t read many celeb books is that the highlights have already been thoroughly aired in places like “Entertainment Weekly.” After all, the person wouldn’t be a celebrity otherwise. So many celebooks have value only for the seamy behind-the-scenes tidbits or self-serving spin. It’s hard to find a celebrity-written book that’s objective (to the extent possible), perceptive, and tells me something I don’t know. I guess that’s why I don’t read any. Suggestions?