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.

The Portable Henry Rollins by Henry Rollins

A selection from the works of America's favorite aging alternative icon. Some are journal entries, taken while on the road with Black Flag or the Rollins Band, others are stream-of-conscious fiction writing, rants, and poetry.

Rollins is intense. Brooding. Angry. Focused. For me, Rollins shines when talking about life on the road. If you ever needed literary evidence that "fame" is a bitch, check out what the road is like for Rollins. Whether it's his fledgling days in Black Flag or his "Buzzworthy" years as an MTV alt icon, Rollins remains unchanged. He wants to live life and he doesn't want people getting in the way of that. Some of the more intense entries deal with the night his roommate was murdered in front of him, or his years as an ice cream store manager/pet store clerk. Poor Bunny.

Be sure to check out the essays "The Iron" and "The Shit is on Fire Show". Rollins isn't for everyone, but I think it's a perspective that everyone should see; a man who refuses to accept anything at face value, who desperately wants honesty and truth in life, who's thrashing back at those who build the facades.

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks

Tony Hawks (the British comedian, not the skateboarder Tony Hawk) has made somewhat of a name for himself by staging drunken bar bets. Well, that's not entirely true. Apparently he's quite popular in the Queen's country, but I've only read about his drunken exploits (see my review of Hawks's Round Ireland with a Fridge). In this book, while watching a soccer match with his friend, Hawks gets into a discussion of athleticism with a friend. Are athletes natural sportsmen, or is their skill strictly the result of hard training and dedication? At the pro level, sure, but could, say, a soccer player from Moldova beat a British comedian at tennis?

Hawks finds himself facing a trip to Moldova (what? You've never heard of Moldova?) to play their national team in singles tennis. The winner gets the glory. The loser of the bet must sing the Moldovan national anthem on the street in front of the bar. Stark naked. Ah, yes the stakes were high, but Hawks is an eternal optimist. It's difficult not to be inspired by his stories, as he just simply won't take no for an answer.

This story becomes less about tennis and more about the sorry state of affairs in Moldova as Hawks is confronted with corrupt government officials, corrupt businessmen, starving citizens, and corrupt executives. Moldova is a country whose spirit still seems crushed under the weight of the Iron Curtain. Hawks does his best to bring some cheer, but is lucky to escape with his sanity (and possibly, his physical well-being).

His jaunt around the world comes full circle, as he must return to the UK to finish his quest. It's not so much playing the Moldovans at tennis that's difficult. It's arranging for them to actually arrive at the game. There are double-crosses, cliffhangers, and the ghosts of aspiring pianists. And in the end, most importantly, nudity.