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While becoming an actor is sometimes simply about luck or being in the right place at the right time, becoming a great actor takes a little practice.
That is where some acting books and references may come in handy. Below we have listed a few highly-rated books from some of the most beloved acting teachers and coaches in the industry that give you a variety of views, lesson plans, and insight into this not-so-easy business.
We have also included a book from an actor on a highly acclaimed TV show actress who gives her refreshing take on getting into and staying in the industry, and some secrets from a famous casting director from inside the audition room.
The Top Acting Book Compared
Sanford Meisner On Acting — Best Overall
Written by one of the best-known and beloved teachers of acting, this book is uniquely presented as it follows one of Meisner’s popular acting classes for fifteen straight months. Meisner used his 50+ years of experience to develop his own special lessons which are what this book leads you through with extensive transcripts taken from notes on his students. This book is essential and ideal reading for the beginning and professional actor and is a great introduction to the art of acting.
Pros
- This book contains an introduction by the director, Sydney Pollack
Cons
- The teacher may come off as slightly arrogant
The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide — Runner Up
As one of the stars on one of the most popular network comedy shows in the past decade, Jenna Fisher has written this survival guide of sorts that spells out the nuts and bolts of getting established in the acting profession. She chronicles honestly, the frustration, struggle, rejection, and doubts every aspiring and current actors go through with candor and wit and provides helpful hints on how not to get lost in the industry.
Pros
- This book is part memoir, part how-to guide
Cons
- If you are not a fan, another option might be better
The Power of the Actor: The Chubbuck Technique — Honorable Mention
Written by a premier acting teacher and coach, this book reveals her cutting-edge techniques and 12-step process that can make anyone a master of the craft. With former students such as Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, and Halle Berry, the author is well-known for the “Chubbuck Technique” which is sometimes considered one of the leading edge acting techniques of the 21st century.
Pros
- This book also features behind-the-scenes accounts of how actors have mastered their craft
Cons
- This book contains a lot of steps
Respect for Acting, 2nd Edition — Best for All Levels
This is a very detailed acting book by legendary actress and teacher, Uta Hagen. This book is filled with her advice and is broken up into three different parts, “The Actor,” “The Object Exercises,” and “The Play and the Role.” These three parts all help with acting techniques while offering specific and detailed work for the actor while covering a broad range of problems and lessons on how to play and identify the character.
Pros
- This book will help any aspiring or professional actor and even those with a casual interest
Cons
- This book may be slightly dated
The Art of Acting — Good Value
Known for being one of or even the most important acting teachers in American history, Stella Adler stars in this book about acting where her decades of experience and teaching have been compiled and edited by Howard Kissel. This book contains 22 lessons taken from tapes, transcriptions, and notebooks to reconstruct a thorough acting course that covers everything from basic to complex issues.
Pros
- This book is laid out well and easy to follow
Cons
- This book is not just for actors
Confessions of a Casting Director — Also Consider
An interesting take on your typical acting book, this option focuses on how to land any role with secrets from the actual audition room from a longtime casting director. This book is full of information that all actors want with specific insight into the changing audition process and sharing insider tips on preparing for every type of audition including musical theater, TV, film, voiceovers, and even web series.
Pros
- This book comes complete with checklists, easy-to-follow game plans, and advice from all entertainment industry professionals
Cons
- This book is best suited for the newbie actor
Buying Guide: Acting Books
Do you need some new ideas for honing your acting skills or on-stage performance? Every struggling actor should read inspirational stories and tips from top actors to boost motivation, polish acting skills, and keep going on the journey of becoming one of the finest actors. Acting books not only broaden your horizons, but they may also help you become the greatest version of yourself, giving your acting profession more of that all-important X-factor. Here's how to buy the top acting books in 2024.
How Should You Buy An Acting Book?
Buying an acting book can be daunting as different actors have different styles because their coaches and mentors have taught them differently. If you want to get your hands on an acting book, you must decide on the genre and type of acting you want to focus on and search for the most popular and credible writer from that niche. Your chosen books need to:
- Be easy to read and understand
- Be a prize winner
- Have a testimonial written by a person you know and admire on the front
- Have a bunch of positive reviews from struggling actors
- Be a new release
- Be hardback, as these books are more durable and look wonderful in a bookcase
- Be paperback as they are smooth, user-friendly, and modest in appearance
- Have an audio version if you are not an enthusiast reader since you can enjoy them while walking, during your free time at your college, or even on the road. sleeping
Why Should You Invest in Acting Books?
People purchase books in order to be amused and make their spare time more productive. Reading a book that you enjoy is equivalent to several minutes of profound entertainment. People immerse themselves in a fantasy world. However, to be on your reading list, the book should be from a reputable publication and you shouldn’t get bored while reading it even for hours. As an acting enthusiast, the first and foremost thing is to be an ardent learner, and reading a book from a veteran actor can prove to be extremely beneficial.
The most important perk of reading books is that they improve your capacity to remember dialogues and lines, which is crucial for being an actor. Practice strengthens your memory, making it simpler to recall sentences over time. Actors seldom remember the full script prior to the production and filming and you need to read a lot about how the whole process works to be a good actor.
Moreover, if you are in a struggling phase, investing in an acting book from a renowned author can motivate you as you will learn the nitty-gritty of the acting world. Besides this, a well-written book will serve the purpose of motivating you by discussing the life struggles of other actors and how they turn their failures into success.
What Are the Benefits of Reading Acting Books?
Reading helps you develop compassion
You get a peek of how that individual feels, behaves, and what inspires him to go in one direction or another when you are reading. It helps you choose the right track and give you directions even if it is a narrative about someone who is absolutely contrary to your nature.
This is a tremendous help for actors who are having trouble connecting with a role they do not understand. A book for acting can also help you look at the bigger picture for a more distinctive and realistic answer to an unknown character by providing a non-stereotypical perspective.
Reading broadens your horizons
You get an intuitive grasp of diverse civilizations, parental influences, and connections by meeting various characters and experiencing different locations through the pages of a book. It also demonstrates how many varied responses there are to a comparable scenario, even if the differences are little. This deeper understanding can assist you in portraying a more credible persona.
Reading can help you remember things better
This is a huge advantage for performers in a field where remembering lines quickly is essential. Not only will you get to study something enjoyable, but it also benefits your mental health and improves your retention time.
Reading improves your ability to concentrate
Concentrating on the scenario and role-play is essential for an actor working on a hectic movie set. We all know how it turns out: makeup artists or hairdressers rush in between takes to adjust a little detail and the camera shifts from a pedestal to a slider or changing lenses, making the whole situation a bit hectic. Reading every day might help you shut out some of the background noise and concentrate on why you are there.
Reading expands your vocabulary while also reducing stress
When speaking to the filmmaker about his idea for the character you are portraying, having a more extensive vocabulary will help you express yourself more accurately.
How Much Does An Acting Book Cost?
Investing in a good-quality and well-written book can pay off much more in the long run. Though there are a plethora of acting books on the market, you buy a good one starting from just $5 and the price can go up to $50 or even more. The price range depends on the writer’s experience, the extent of information delivered, the genre, and more. However, we recommend investing in a good quality book written by top coaches or trainers to get the best value for money.
