Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder
by William Shatner
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The beloved star of Star Trek, recent space traveler, and living legend William Shatner reflects on the interconnectivity of all things, our fragile bond with nature, and the joy that comes from exploration in this inspiring, revelatory, and exhilarating collection of essays.Long before Gene Roddenberry put him on a starship to explore the galaxy, long before he actually did venture to space, William Shatner was gripped by his own quest for knowledge and meaning. Though his eventful life show more has been nothing short of extraordinary, Shatner is still never so thrilled as when he experiences something that inspires him to simply say, "Wow."
Within these affecting, entertaining, and informative essays, he demonstrates that astonishing possibilities and true wonder are all around us. By revealing stories of his life—some delightful, others tragic—Shatner reflects on what he has learned along the way to his ninth decade and how important it is to apply the joy of exploration to our own lives. Insightful, irreverent, and with his signature wit and dramatic flair, Boldly Go is an unputdownable celebration of all that our miraculous universe holds for us. show less
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I like to throw in at least one memoir in my reading year and more often than not, it will be from the entertainment world - they tend to be more enlightening. I like Shatner. Oh, I've heard the anecdotes, some first person ones, both positive and negative (more the latter, it seems), but I don't blame him or any other celebrity. He has drawn a line for when he is outside a convention, and I respect that. Some don't.
So yeah, I like Shatner. He's entertaining. And he's not afraid to poke fun at himself ("[Seth McFarlane] mused that the best composers are true storytellers, and what he was saying made a lot of sense to me. As actors, our storytelling often relies on beats or pauses. (Some say I have… my own… style… of pausing.)" show more Not the first time he's ... joked ... about ... the pauses. He loves learning:
At 91, he doesn't need to worry about any effs to give. And he does make a few apologies and shares some regrets. This is candid. He opens up even more than in previous memoirs. I don't have heroes, but if I did, Dick Van Dyke, who at 96 is still dancing, if more slowly. And Mr. Shatner, because at 91 he'll still dive with tiger sharks and make appearances. He's not stopping, and I'm glad for that.
Selected takeaways:
[on responsibility as a pet owner] Sometimes a dog becomes so ill, and its quality of life marred by such constant pain, that we are led to the difficult but humane decision to put them to sleep. I believe with every fiber of my being that you must be there for the end. If possible, seek out a vet who will come to your home to administer the end-of-life medication. It is almost too painful to say, but there are stories of dogs that are brought to the vet to be put down, and in their final moments, they cast their eyes about, looking for their owners, confused, frightened, and needing reassurance. I beg of you, if you take one thing from this book, take away that you cannot allow that to happen.
{Yes. Been there. And people need to be there.}
[on flubbing a line in Star Trek}
That was fifty-four years ago. Why does it still bother me? Why does any of it bother me? Perhaps I never learned the difference between shame and guilt. Shame can shut you down, whereas guilt can be a tool that helps you avoid hurting other people again, or yourself.
[on Bezos]
One day, when Jeff was ten, he was in the back seat of his grandparents’ car on a summer road trip somewhere. Jeff’s grandmother was a persistent smoker, and the wafting of cigarette smoke riled this precocious young boy. Ever eager to show off his advanced arithmetic skills, Jeff started running calculations.
“You really ought to stop smoking,” Jeff told his grandmother.
“I know, I know,” she replied, taking another drag. Jeff’s grandmother knew intellectually that smoking was likely killing her, but she had an addiction and no way to break it, so it was a sensitive subject for her.
Thinking he was just the cleverest person in the car, Jeff turned to his arithmetic. “If every cigarette took three minutes off your life, and you smoke three packs a day… Grandma, you’ve taken nine years off your life!”
Jeff thought he was very smart for coming up with this calculation, but his grandmother found herself weeping uncontrollably. She knew cigarettes were killing her, but it wasn’t that simple for her to quit. It was like a long suicide note she couldn’t stop herself from writing.
Jeff’s grandfather stopped the car, got out, and indicated for Jeff to join him. Jeff obeyed. His grandfather put his hands on Jeff's face and said, surprisingly calmly, given what had just transpired, "Jeffrey, it's much easier to be clever than it is to be kind." With that, Grandpa went back to the driver's side of the car and got back in. Jeff stood in stunned silence. "I have never forgotten that moment," he told me.
{Good lesson}
[on the Blue Origins flight]
And so, I thought, I must go to space. Not because I was Captain Kirk, but because I’m alive.
{Yes! (He refused at first.)}
In space, you’re an instant icicle; too close to the sun, an instant fireball. Every precaution we take on Earth is to ensure we are never subjected to such elements. I was so thoroughly unprepared for this experience. It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered.
[...]
It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral.
{The Overview Effect (which he discusses), is more common that the few who have been there let on.}
[on his curmudgeon reputation]
The point is—and I promise, there is one—I don’t eat directors for breakfast, to which Ben can attest. You’d just better know what you want from me when I come in, and, more importantly, don’t ask me to pronounce sabo-taaj as sabo-tahge. I simply won’t do it. For you see, it would sabotage my natural Shatnerian pronunciation.
{Do your job!}
[on tinnitus]
The most difficult part of tinnitus is that it never stops. It is unwavering. It doesn’t take a break, and sadly, for some that can be too much. I have known fellow sufferers who have ended their own lives rather than go on with that noise inside their heads.
{I have suffered for more the 30 years. I've learned to deal with or ignore it, but sometimes it is overwhelming.}
[simple wisdom]
I consider myself lucky that I knew what I wanted to be and was not gripped by any ambivalence, but it’s easier to consider yourself lucky when you’ve been successful.
[more]
Your place in the universe is whatever you make of it. I don’t know how I got here, and I don’t have any specific advice that could allow you to replicate my journey. All I can tell you is that I truly believe there is an entanglement at work in the universe, that we are all connected. Each time you open yourself up to that possibility, there’s a little bit more on offer, a little bit more to explore.
[perfect]
As a function of age, I cannot help but forget things as I go on. But I also learn things. If something falls out of my brain—a date, a quote, the exact detail of where I was and what I did on some particular day—it feels insignificant next to the power of what I am taking on.
{I need to think like this.} show less
So yeah, I like Shatner. He's entertaining. And he's not afraid to poke fun at himself ("[Seth McFarlane] mused that the best composers are true storytellers, and what he was saying made a lot of sense to me. As actors, our storytelling often relies on beats or pauses. (Some say I have… my own… style… of pausing.)" show more Not the first time he's ... joked ... about ... the pauses. He loves learning:
I get a tingle down my spine when I’m presented with an opportunity to learn something new, a daily occurrence for me, even at ninety-one years old. Open your eyes, your ears, your mind, and you’ll quickly be overcome by the wonder that surrounds us. I am never so thrilled as when the word wow escapes my mouth. It’s an almost involuntary expression of childlike delight at learning something new. I probably say wow more now than when I was a child, and I am absolutely enchanted by that fact.I fancy myself a philomath and I so get this!
[...]
I swear, it’s why I wake up as early as I do and spring out of bed. That thirst for understanding powers me; in the vast universe of knowledge, I know nothing. I know a fraction of nothing. I need to learn more.
[and...]
But I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. I don’t have to do any of these things. Not for any material reasons. I am taken care of financially. I am well-fed. (Too well-fed, frankly.) But as I get older, I find myself accessing an increasing urgency within me to absorb more.
At 91, he doesn't need to worry about any effs to give. And he does make a few apologies and shares some regrets. This is candid. He opens up even more than in previous memoirs. I don't have heroes, but if I did, Dick Van Dyke, who at 96 is still dancing, if more slowly. And Mr. Shatner, because at 91 he'll still dive with tiger sharks and make appearances. He's not stopping, and I'm glad for that.
It has been said that one of the secrets to staying alive as you get on in years is keeping busy. I am one busy dude, so I confirm this is the case.Lots of wisdom here:
The acquisition of knowledge is beauty and love combined. To lose your sense of wonder about all of that is to lose your sense of the mystery of life. My dear reader, I hope you leave yourself open to looking at the bewilderment of riches that abound our very senses.Keep on boldly going!
Selected takeaways:
[on responsibility as a pet owner] Sometimes a dog becomes so ill, and its quality of life marred by such constant pain, that we are led to the difficult but humane decision to put them to sleep. I believe with every fiber of my being that you must be there for the end. If possible, seek out a vet who will come to your home to administer the end-of-life medication. It is almost too painful to say, but there are stories of dogs that are brought to the vet to be put down, and in their final moments, they cast their eyes about, looking for their owners, confused, frightened, and needing reassurance. I beg of you, if you take one thing from this book, take away that you cannot allow that to happen.
{Yes. Been there. And people need to be there.}
[on flubbing a line in Star Trek}
That was fifty-four years ago. Why does it still bother me? Why does any of it bother me? Perhaps I never learned the difference between shame and guilt. Shame can shut you down, whereas guilt can be a tool that helps you avoid hurting other people again, or yourself.
[on Bezos]
One day, when Jeff was ten, he was in the back seat of his grandparents’ car on a summer road trip somewhere. Jeff’s grandmother was a persistent smoker, and the wafting of cigarette smoke riled this precocious young boy. Ever eager to show off his advanced arithmetic skills, Jeff started running calculations.
“You really ought to stop smoking,” Jeff told his grandmother.
“I know, I know,” she replied, taking another drag. Jeff’s grandmother knew intellectually that smoking was likely killing her, but she had an addiction and no way to break it, so it was a sensitive subject for her.
Thinking he was just the cleverest person in the car, Jeff turned to his arithmetic. “If every cigarette took three minutes off your life, and you smoke three packs a day… Grandma, you’ve taken nine years off your life!”
Jeff thought he was very smart for coming up with this calculation, but his grandmother found herself weeping uncontrollably. She knew cigarettes were killing her, but it wasn’t that simple for her to quit. It was like a long suicide note she couldn’t stop herself from writing.
Jeff’s grandfather stopped the car, got out, and indicated for Jeff to join him. Jeff obeyed. His grandfather put his hands on Jeff's face and said, surprisingly calmly, given what had just transpired, "Jeffrey, it's much easier to be clever than it is to be kind." With that, Grandpa went back to the driver's side of the car and got back in. Jeff stood in stunned silence. "I have never forgotten that moment," he told me.
{Good lesson}
[on the Blue Origins flight]
And so, I thought, I must go to space. Not because I was Captain Kirk, but because I’m alive.
{Yes! (He refused at first.)}
In space, you’re an instant icicle; too close to the sun, an instant fireball. Every precaution we take on Earth is to ensure we are never subjected to such elements. I was so thoroughly unprepared for this experience. It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered.
[...]
It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral.
{The Overview Effect (which he discusses), is more common that the few who have been there let on.}
[on his curmudgeon reputation]
The point is—and I promise, there is one—I don’t eat directors for breakfast, to which Ben can attest. You’d just better know what you want from me when I come in, and, more importantly, don’t ask me to pronounce sabo-taaj as sabo-tahge. I simply won’t do it. For you see, it would sabotage my natural Shatnerian pronunciation.
{Do your job!}
[on tinnitus]
The most difficult part of tinnitus is that it never stops. It is unwavering. It doesn’t take a break, and sadly, for some that can be too much. I have known fellow sufferers who have ended their own lives rather than go on with that noise inside their heads.
{I have suffered for more the 30 years. I've learned to deal with or ignore it, but sometimes it is overwhelming.}
[simple wisdom]
I consider myself lucky that I knew what I wanted to be and was not gripped by any ambivalence, but it’s easier to consider yourself lucky when you’ve been successful.
[more]
Your place in the universe is whatever you make of it. I don’t know how I got here, and I don’t have any specific advice that could allow you to replicate my journey. All I can tell you is that I truly believe there is an entanglement at work in the universe, that we are all connected. Each time you open yourself up to that possibility, there’s a little bit more on offer, a little bit more to explore.
[perfect]
As a function of age, I cannot help but forget things as I go on. But I also learn things. If something falls out of my brain—a date, a quote, the exact detail of where I was and what I did on some particular day—it feels insignificant next to the power of what I am taking on.
{I need to think like this.} show less
Road trip! Time for a celebrity memoir audiobook!
Getting into his nineties, but still going strong, William Shatner is a reliable road companion. As with some of my older relatives, sure, I've heard a lot of these stories before, but it's still comfortable to sit and hear them again.
Shatner likes Leonard Nimoy, dogs, and horses. He's not so fond of space travel or other things that remind him he is steadily approaching the end of his life. He is happy to ramble on about all those topics and more though, and I'll be happy to listen to as many more books as he is willing and able to produce.
Getting into his nineties, but still going strong, William Shatner is a reliable road companion. As with some of my older relatives, sure, I've heard a lot of these stories before, but it's still comfortable to sit and hear them again.
Shatner likes Leonard Nimoy, dogs, and horses. He's not so fond of space travel or other things that remind him he is steadily approaching the end of his life. He is happy to ramble on about all those topics and more though, and I'll be happy to listen to as many more books as he is willing and able to produce.
William Shatner waxes poetically about his life and his eventual death, about nature and how everything fits into it, about Earth and the universe, and space. This book is more than a memoir. Although he does talk about some of the things he has accomplished, Shatner discloses his view on humanity, on animals, on beauty, on music, and more. He talks about the regrets he has, the risks he took, the successes he is proud of, and his love for his family. It’s quite a in-depth look at Shatner’s take on the world. Well written, it seems that life isn’t done with Shatner, nor is Shatner done with life. We can expect more from this remarkable man.
Shatner is like a fine wine - he keeps getting better with age. As a nonagenarian, William Shatner has become highly introspective about life, about beauty and about grace. He possesses a wisdom that most people lack and enough age behind him to admit his mistakes or at least show remorse. This is the 6th autobiography of Shatner that I've read and I think they keep getting better and better.
This is a book by my favorite Enterprise captain. This is a book of essays written by Shatner which explores his fame, his losses, and mostly, his philosophical musings. I was hoping to get some Star Trek insider information. There was some, but this was not the focus of the book. Shatner's mind is certainly wandering and wondering at age 91! Meh
2023 book #10. 2022. If you're a fan of Shatner (and I am) you'll probably like this book. If you think he's a big insincere blowhard (and he can come across that way) you won't like this. It's a series of essays of things he's done over his many years. And he's done a lot.
Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder by William Shatner was a disappointment for me. I didn’t grow up watching Star Trek or anything else Shatner is known for, although I am fully aware of his celebrity.
I felt the book read like random, rambling diary entries mixed with boasting accomplishments to please the ego. I didn’t walk away with inspirational insight. I mean, we all know that horses are majestic and dogs are pure love. I had to force myself to read the entire book. Perhaps it would have served me better if I were a fan of Shatner’s.
I enjoyed the chapters about Shatner’s early life and trip to space. I respect Shatner for showing his vulnerability in his fear of death.
Update a few days later: I gave the book show more to my father to read. He said as a young man, he watched Shatner on Star Trek and that he enjoyed the book.
My father remembers all the Star Trek episodes and actors that were mentioned, how Shatner was made fun of for his early music, and recognized his voice in Futurama (Dad's a fan). Dad was glad to see that Shatner was able to accomplish what he wanted with music, that he's an animal lover, and his story of space was especially interesting.
Two completely different thoughts on this book. Is the difference personality, age, gender, or knowing/not knowing Shatner's life...
My appreciation to Atria Books and author William Shatner for the Goodreads Giveaway and free ARC. show less
I felt the book read like random, rambling diary entries mixed with boasting accomplishments to please the ego. I didn’t walk away with inspirational insight. I mean, we all know that horses are majestic and dogs are pure love. I had to force myself to read the entire book. Perhaps it would have served me better if I were a fan of Shatner’s.
I enjoyed the chapters about Shatner’s early life and trip to space. I respect Shatner for showing his vulnerability in his fear of death.
Update a few days later: I gave the book show more to my father to read. He said as a young man, he watched Shatner on Star Trek and that he enjoyed the book.
My father remembers all the Star Trek episodes and actors that were mentioned, how Shatner was made fun of for his early music, and recognized his voice in Futurama (Dad's a fan). Dad was glad to see that Shatner was able to accomplish what he wanted with music, that he's an animal lover, and his story of space was especially interesting.
Two completely different thoughts on this book. Is the difference personality, age, gender, or knowing/not knowing Shatner's life...
My appreciation to Atria Books and author William Shatner for the Goodreads Giveaway and free ARC. show less
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William Shatner is an actor and writer. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on March 22, 1931. He graduated from McGill University in 1952. Shatner made his acting debut at the Montreal Playhouse in 1952 and performed with the Canadian Repertory Theatre in Ottawa. From 1954 to 1956 he appeared in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario show more and in 1956 he made his Broadway debut in Tamburlaine the Great. In 1966, Shatner was cast as Captain James Tiberius Kirk in the TV series Star Trek. The TV show inspired several film spin-offs, the early ones starring the original cast. Shatner directed Star Trek V. He also co-starred in a law-related series on television called Boston Legal with James Spader. In addition to acting, Shatner began a career as a writer of science fiction novels. The first one, Tek War, was published in 1989. Shatner has also written his memoirs, Star Trek Memories. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1999 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as The Big Giant Head on the TV series 3rd Rock From the Sun. Shatner's title co-authored with David Fisher, Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man, was a New York Times betseller in 2016. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- William Shatner; Richard C. Sarafian; Neal Watson; Cristina Zenato; John Lennon; Elizabeth Shatner (a/k/a Elizabeth Anderson Martin, wife of William Shatner) (show all 49); Suzanne Simard; Nerine Kidd (third wife of William Shatner); Sergeant Reckless, originally Ah-Chim-Hai; Kristin Neff; David Fox-Brenton; Hachiko/Hachi; Philip J. Fry (Futurama); Seymour Asses (dog of Philip J. Fry, Futurama); Leonard Nimoy; Derek Paravicini; Nichelle Nichols; James Doohan; Walter Koenig; George Takei; Marlon Brando; Seth MacFarlane; Jason Ehrlich; Jeff Bezos; James T. Kirk; Glen de Vries; Gloria Rand (first wife of William Shatner); Leslie Shatner; Lisabeth Shatner; Johnny Carson; Ben Folds; Rated R (Walter Burns); Walter Burns (Rated R); Rob Sharenow; Dan Miller (of They Might Be Giants); Robert D. Ballard; Anthony Bourdain; David Kessler; Roger Corman; Angie Dickinson; Ali Binazir; Melanie Shatner; Edward G. Robinson; Laurence Olivier; Christopher Plummer; Mareach "Moe" Angok; Kenneth Mitchell; Stephen Hawking; DeForest Kelley
- Important places
- California, USA; Visalia, California, USA
- Epigraph
- The cosmos is also within us. We're made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself. - Carl Sagan
- Dedication
- My family – which includes my daughters, my sons-in-law, and grandchildren – has a new member: His name is Clive. Clive is a step into the future. Unbeknownst to him, the world is changing rapidly. The recipient of all th... (show all)ose changes will be Clive. This book is dedicated to the Clives of the world, who are being born into a maelstrom of activity. If we are diligent enough given all the new wonderful things that are being invented even as you read this book, the world as we know it may continue to exist. That will bu up to Clive and company. I wish them well.
- First words
- Knowledge feeds me. It's as necessary to my existence as oxygen. It thrills me. [Introduction]
I heard a story once about a young John Lennon. [Chapter 1: We Belong Together] - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)In the words of the Lakota, Mitakuye Oyasin: We are all related. [Chapter 9: When I'm Gone]
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I have searched my whole life for meaning, for connection, and though I cannot touch its essence or unravel its vast mystery, I believe that in my soul, I have found what I have been looking for. [Epilogue] - Original language
- English
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- 791.4502 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Movies, TV, Video Motion pictures, radio, television, podcasting Television
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- PN2308 .S52 .A3 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Drama Dramatic representation. The theater Special regions or countries
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