So Far

Rating:
Summary: A pleasant surprise!
Review: Familiar with Grammer's work on both "Cheers" and "Frasier," I find him a talented actor and enjoy his celebrated character, Dr. Frasier Crane. However, upon first seeing his autobiography I was immediately skeptical. In order to appeal to the least common denominator in all of us, I expected it to be filled with only two things: tales of controversy from behind the scenes of his two hit shows, and scandals from the semi-private life of a celebrity.

Instead I found an extremely intelligent and sincere look at the self. The narrative moves naturally through a life filled with great losses and spectacular successes, united by the thread of self-awareness and acceptance. The fabulously successful TV shows are only touched upon, and some readers may be disappointed by this dearth. But it is not sit-com writers who bring poignancy to Frasier Crane, it is Grammer himself, and his story provides not only an enjoyable and philosophical look at his life, but at life itself, and his tale of "trials and triumphs" is truly inspiring.

I especially recommend the audio format (unabridged if available) of this book, which is read by the Grammer himself, and which provides the listener a particularly intimate relationship with the author.

Rating:
Summary: Provocative and enjoyable
Review: My comments pertain to the audio tape version of this book, which I highly recommend. I think Kelsey Grammer's reading helped to paint a better picture than the print version would; hearing his voice added to the character of the stories he told.

Not being a hardcore fan of Frasier or Cheers, I knew very little about Kelsey Grammer, other than that I liked him in those shows. I happened to see the book on tape and thought I'd give it a try. I was not surprised to learn that Mr. Grammer is as introspective and articulate as his popular television persona. It was fun to come along for the ride as he described his early years, and thought-provoking to hear him describe how the tragedies and other events in his life had shaped him as a human being.

All in all, I found the audio version of this autobiography to be compelling and quite worthwhile.