Customer Reviews
a masterpiece... 
2007-03-05
Mr. Meisner's book should be in your collection if you are a serious student..on the Mt Rushmore of acting teachers he would be right up there with Hagen, Adler, Stanislavsky and Strasberg. Meisner goes beyond the 'method' to what are the greatest tools you can bring to any performance...listen and react...listen and react..if you master the first the reaction will come naturally..but the first is the most difficult for any beginning actor..you might think you're listening but chances are you're not..
A Great View of Meisner Acting 2007-02-24
Sanford Meisner shared some very cool ideas on the theatre, and a contrast to Stella Adler's talkative nature.
They basically believe the same thing, but go about it in completely different ways. For a stage performer , and in a different way, any artist, this book is one of the many paths to a deeper and richer manifestation of your craft.
A great read indeed.
great book 2007-01-10
I bought this book at a time when I bought a lot of other, more recently written, books on theater. The books were by Anne Bogart and others who wrote about techniques that are not the Method. I thought that I would get a Meisner book because I thought it would be good to get to know some of the history of acting... and Meisner was certainly important historically. I saw this book as a sort of "eat your vegetables". So, I left it for the last book of the bunch that I read...... and it turned out to be WONDERFUL!
This book is INCREDIBLY not dryly written. It is SO interesting to read. It is written as a series of reports on a class that Meisner was teaching, so you get to follow along and learn the Method with his class and see where Meisner is coming from on his beliefs on the Method. The writing style is really interesting and easy to read because Meisner's speech is really interesting.
This book is WONDERFUL!
Meisner On Acting Review 
2007-01-09
This is different from other acting books in that the reader learns the technique through following the process of students in thier first year with Meisner. He never gives any direct, step-by-step, this-is-how-we-learn-to-act instruction. You have to be patient enough to follow the story and mine the diamonds for yourself. I found a few useful tidbits to add to my technique, but many of Meisner's tools don't work for me, for I'm an Adler girl at heart; however, I have also found it useful to understand the process of my colleagues who use Meisner's technique.
A Free Meisner Class with the Man Himself 2006-12-10
This excellent book is an edited transcript of an actual studio class, recorded during one of Sanford Meisner's two-year studio sessions. The reader begins at the beginning and tracks this group through the major phases of training, while getting to read Meisner's own words, and those of his students. If one already knows something about acting techniques and even Meisner, this book deepens and develops that understanding right from the horse's mouth; it charms and provokes myriad thoughts about the art of acting. It's awesome. However, if one is looking for an introduction to the "Meisner Technique" or to any other technique that branches from Stanislavski or The Group Theater, this book is too advanced -- and even somewhat opaque at times -- because it takes for granted certain underlying concepts and vocabulary.
Ring of Truth 2006-04-18
This book, written in collaboration with Dennis Longwell, follows an acting class of eight men and eight women for fifteen months, beginning with the most rudimentary exercises and ending with affecting and polished scenes from contemporary American plays. Throughout these pages Meisner is delight--always empathizing with his students and urging them onward, provoking emotion, laughter, and growing technical mastery from his charges. With an introduction by Sydney Pollack, director of "Out of Africa" and "Tootsie," who worked with Meisner for five years.
"This book should be read by anyone who wants to act or even appreciate what acting involves. Like Meisner's way of teaching, it is the straight goods."--Arthur Miller
"If there is a key to good acting, this one is it, above all others. Actors, young and not so young, will find inspiration and excitement in this book."--Gregory Peck
Thumbs up for this book! 2006-03-18
I was asked to read this book, prior to attending an introductory class on the Meisner acting method. The book really gave me a strong sense of the experience of using this approach to actor training.
Review 2006-03-15
Very good book. I would recommend it heartily for anyone interested in learning more about the craft and or teaching of acting.
Excellent introduction 2006-03-13
I am working with an acting coach who uses the Meisner method. She suggested I read this book as a primer and it is outstanding. Of course, you can't get the method simply by reading a book, but it is a wonderful basic introduction.
A decent read 2005-10-15
I would recommend reading this book, although not before reading Stanislavski's trilogy.
This book contains much useful advice, but is confusing in places. Meisner is much easier to learn with a teacher, and some of the techniques and exercises described in the book are difficult or impossible to practice on your own.
In spite of this, I would still recommend this book as an introduction to the Meisner technique, which I think that all actors should be familiar with.
