Straczynski has used his considerable storytelling skills to tell his story. It is personal, unflinching and deeply moving, telling a rags-to-riches, hard-work-pays-off Hollywood story without being cloying, sensational or scandalous. If you're a fan of Babylon 5, Superman, Spiderman, or comic books in general, this is required reading. If you're a writer struggling for inspiration, you'll find it here. If you're just looking for an engrossing story of endurance and overcoming circumstances, this is what you want. ( )

A truly phenomenal read from one of my favorite creators. The entire work is beautiful written and fascinating. Of course I particularly enjoyed everything to do with "Babylon 5" and Spider-man and "Sense8", but everything else was just wonderful. I wish I had more words other than "it's very good", but I guess my best praise is that it's the best non-fiction I've read in a while, easily. ( )

Really interesting book. I got it because I love the tv series B-5 (big influence on me). Before he gets into stories of working in television (and there are many interesting stories - he has worked across different tv genres and we as different writing genres), JMS writes about growing up in an abusive household. One of the points of this is to show how acts of kindness (from strangers or people he knew) made a difference. However, the stories of abuse can be difficult to read. Reading it just makes me wish that someone (or multiple someones) could have helped him sooner in his life. One of the positive forces in his young adult life was Rod Serling (of Twilight Zone) and later Harlan Ellison (well known s-f author). I recommend this book with the caveat that reading about terrible childhood and family trauma may be too difficult for some readers). The last third of the book is stories of JMS' career in tv and comics and how he has worked on new challenges, the difficulties when working in the tv industry, and risks JIM takes in what he creates. ( )

I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of autobiographies I've read. I've always viewed the form skeptically -- for reasons you can probably guess.

But this book. This book floored me. Humbled me. Made me bristle with anger. Took me to the brink of tears.

The Babylon 5 universe almost completely contains my familiarity with JMS. And I loved and still love B5. Even today, it stands at or near the top of the mountain of sci-fi series ever made in my opinion.

I know now that I read comics he wrote, watched other series he scripted, I didn't pay attention to writers. The only non-B5 thing he did I knew he wrote was Sense8, but only after I started watching. So, it was shocking to hear just how much of his work I'd enjoyed, from He-Man to Murder, She Wrote to the film adaptation of World War Z.

I was a little embarrassed to be honest. Embarrassed because I really loved B5, and so why hadn't I looked around to see what else he had done, was doing?

His success as a writer in every field he applied himself (journalism, cartoons, TV series, comics, novels, movies, and now, of course, autobiography) grows all the more shocking when you learn about his childhood. By all rights, and by his own admission, he should've ended up as the world's biggest asshole. His father was a raging alcoholic, control freak, wife-beater, child abuser, inveterate liar, cheat, racist, and a war criminal.

That JMS survived that to become not just successful, but as kind, honest, and willing to stand by his principles as anyone, speaks volumes about our ability to rise above our circumstances, be personally and professionally courageous, and pursue our passions even when circumstances stand at their most precarious -- and that sometimes life may shit on us for doing so, but sometimes it rewards us too.

I listened to the audio version of this, read by Peter Jurasik. Fans of B5 will likely recognize the name as that of the actor who played Londo Mollari, and did a damn fine job of it. He does a damn fine job reading this too. Five stars to you as well, Mr. Mollari. ( )

You come into this book excited to learn more about shows, cartoons and movies that JMS has enriched your life with. That's all there, but the real life upbringing and family of the author is the true driving narrative of this book and every bit as compelling and shocking as any fiction ever put to screen or paper. ( )