Don’t get me wrong. How To Be a Working Actor by Mari Lyn Henry and Lynne Rogers is not necessarily entertaining reading. Its tone is rather texty and that could deter absolute beginners (though they shouldn’t give up on it, for they’ll grow into it and find the answers they need as they grow!) This is, in fact, a reference. I can’t think of a question it doesn’t answer.

To be sure my opinion is fair, I asked my husband who took up acting at the age of 60 and gets work frequently, if sporadically. He agreed. This is a book actors should keep on their desks and remember to use when they need direction. He thought it would be sad, though, if an actor didn’t at least tackle the general reading of it a little at a time. He says, "It will give even a newbie an idea of how to plan his (or her) budget!"

I remembered back to the days (not so long ago) when he didn’t know what a "call back" was. Mmmm. Now, I’m counting on him to give advice. On the other hand, his opinion is the very one that people considering a career or beginning a career need and trust. If Nicholas Cage gave the same advice someone would be fighting off the urge to say something like, "Oh, sure! He should know. He’s been doing it forever and he has all those connections."

Somehow, though, I think Cage and his connections would think it a very good idea for any actor, at any stage, to know as much about the industry as they possibly can. This will do it for them - right down to analyzing a script!