Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man
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Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner first crossed paths as actors on the set of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Little did they know that their next roles, in a new science-fiction television series called Star Trek, would shape their lives in ways no one could have anticipated. In seventy-nine television episodes and six feature films, they grew to know each other more than most friends could ever imagine. Over the course of half a century, Shatner and Nimoy saw each other through personal and professional highs and lows. In this powerfully emotional book, Shatner tells the story of a man who was his friend for five decades, recounting anecdotes and untold stories of their lives on and off set, as well as gathering stories from others who knew Nimoy well, to present a full picture of a rich life. As much a biography of Nimoy as a story of their friendship, Leonard is a uniquely heartfelt book written by one legendary actor in celebration of another.
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I don't normally buy or read biographies or autobiographies, so purchasing this was an odd impulse. While I've always enjoyed Star Trek a lot, William Shatner always came across to me as a arrogant, selfish and narcissistic in the real world, so I suppose that was part of the impulse, to see if he would write a decent tribute, or a shine a spotlight on himself.
Ultimately, the book raises more questions than it answers, and in some ways only serves to reinforce my opinions of William. I remember last year recalling that I thought he was an absolute utter dick when he didn't attend Leonard's funeral, and to have his vague justification in this book made me want to punch him. Not the first time in reading the book, there were a few moments where I felt the “selfishness” of William was intruding.
Technically, the book seemed well written. Some odd pacing, and some odd jumping back and forth in time, but not bad. The ending seemed rather strange, and glossed over what appears to be a monumental rift caused by... William Shatner.
Regardless of my personal opinions of William however, for the most I did enjoy the book and I'm left wanting to know more, so I'll probably buy the books Leonard penned next.
