The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans

He's a gambler, a hustler, and best of all, a straight shooter in a town full of con men. Robert Evans documents his incredible rise from B-list actor to fashion magnate to head of Paramount studios to persona non grata and back again. The book plays out a bit too disjointedly, sometimes feeling like you're having a series of lunch meetings with Evans while he recounts his life stories for you.

What you'll learn: Hollywood is full of backstabbers and made men, fame whores and hard workers, broken dreams and moments of glory. Evans lives life at full throttle, working ceaselessly to maintain his empire (no matter how small it gets). His most startling revelation may be the fact that he actually seems to be working for the love of the art, he certainly isn't making "Hollywood money" (at least not as of the novels writing). Evans is not good with money, and sometimes not so good at seeing a sucker deal coming his way. He recounts his career as a producer in all its glory, his hits (The Godfather, Love Story, Chinatown), his respectable almosts (Sliver, Popeye) and his Jesus how did the screw that up so badly (The Two Jakes) moments. He doesn't shy away from detailing his blunders, and readers looking for insight into entertainment (or any business) would be wise to learn form his mistakes.

There's some inside dirt here (Divas, Drama Queens, slimeballs, and jerks) about Hollywood's leading figures. You'll hear about the private lives of Warren Beatty, Ali MacGraw, Francis Coppola, and a surprisingly touching account of Jack Nicholson's friendship and loyalty. An excellent read to boost the spirits of those looking to break into the "biz", and a fabulous cautionary tale for those smart enough to stay away from Tinseltown.