Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “In the Arena: An Autobiography” as Want to Read:
In the Arena: An Autobiography
Looking back over a career that has spanned half a century and a lifetime devoted to being the best possible, both as an actor and as a man, Charlton Heston writes of what it was like to live In the Arena. Heston began his career as an actor in New York shortly after he returned from service in World War II. Television was a fledgling industry then, and there were many opp
...more
Paperback
,
592 pages
Published
June 1st 1997
by Berkley Trade
(first published 1995)
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
In the Arena
,
please sign up
.
Be the first to ask a question about In the Arena
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
199)
In 1973 the movie PLANET OF THE APES aired on television for the first time. I was ten years old. Until that night I thought of movies as a tedious, vaguely sleazy adult pastime -- spy movies, cowboy movies, people kissing, etc.
Then came PLANET OF THE APES. A strange, desert landscape. An astronaut on the run. Ideas clashing with beliefs. Evolution, religious heresy, fanaticism, cynicsm, youth revolt. This was no John Wayne, that dreary macho cowpoke mired in run of the mill bully-boy heroics. ...more
Then came PLANET OF THE APES. A strange, desert landscape. An astronaut on the run. Ideas clashing with beliefs. Evolution, religious heresy, fanaticism, cynicsm, youth revolt. This was no John Wayne, that dreary macho cowpoke mired in run of the mill bully-boy heroics. ...more
view all 9 comments
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine came into our house and saw my poster of "The Omega Man" and he said, "I can't stand that man" referring to Charlton Heston.
It's amazing how in his last years, Heston became a polarizing political figure, hated by the left for his work for the NRA. But the same Heston marched with Martin L. King. Many of his films took quite liberal stances. "Soylent Green" advocated population control with a nearly hysterical ecological message. "Planet of the Apes" was c ...more
It's amazing how in his last years, Heston became a polarizing political figure, hated by the left for his work for the NRA. But the same Heston marched with Martin L. King. Many of his films took quite liberal stances. "Soylent Green" advocated population control with a nearly hysterical ecological message. "Planet of the Apes" was c ...more
A good autobiography is one in which you can hear the author audibly speaking out the book in your head as your read. Certainly you have that in the Arena. It will be a long time before I get the voice of Charlton Heston out of my head.
Summary: This book does have some politics in it but it is far from politically correct. One thing is certain about Charlton Heston: He speaks candidly about his opinions, and holds no punches for doing so. With that said this is not a book about politics. The fi ...more
Summary: This book does have some politics in it but it is far from politically correct. One thing is certain about Charlton Heston: He speaks candidly about his opinions, and holds no punches for doing so. With that said this is not a book about politics. The fi ...more
Charlton Heston's public voice comes through strongly in his autobiography, which is filled with anecdotes from his personal and professional life. But it also appears that he's struggling to be modest about his superiority.
His positive attitude and self-confidence is admirable, yet it's a wonder he doesn't get tired of patting himself on the back for all his many accomplishments. He never hesitates to point out the shortcomings of others, though his own self-confessed faults are minor by compa ...more
His positive attitude and self-confidence is admirable, yet it's a wonder he doesn't get tired of patting himself on the back for all his many accomplishments. He never hesitates to point out the shortcomings of others, though his own self-confessed faults are minor by compa ...more
Wonderful! I don't usually read biographies of celebrities. Some are hundred page long advertisements for their movies. But I have to admit while I do want to watch more of Heston's movies I have already seen most of them. This was a behind the scenes look into how he made those movies as well as the most important thing about him, The Man Himself.
Heston was a hardworking, stubborn man who lived his life doing what he wanted and what was right. This was a man who loved to perform his art and was ...more
Heston was a hardworking, stubborn man who lived his life doing what he wanted and what was right. This was a man who loved to perform his art and was ...more
My favourite actor ever. Got letter from him once too! :)
I was never really a fan of Heston's movies. I mostly knew of him because of his strong political views and his participation with SAG and the NRA. However whether or not you agree with his personal views on various issues, this book will draw you in. Not only is his writing style captivating, but Heston goes into such detailed accounts of his Hollywood days, his family and even the technical details surrounding his greatest and weakest performances. He is a very likable man. His family meant ev
...more
Heston deserves to be remembered most for two things, being a great actor, and being on the forefront of the civil rights movement. He picketed restaurants in Oklahoma that refused to serve black people. They ended up changing their policy as a result. He was one of the few folks that spoke to the public from the same stage with Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave his "I have a dream speech".
In his autobiography he goes back to his childhood, his college days, meeting his wife, he married and s ...more
In his autobiography he goes back to his childhood, his college days, meeting his wife, he married and s ...more
This review was written in the late nineties (just for myself), and it was buried in amongst my things until today, when I uncovered the journal it was written in. I have transcribed it verbatim (although square brackets indicate some additional information for readability) from all those years ago. It is one of my lost reviews.
The most important part of Heston's book -- and his life -- is his ability to speak his feelings with no remorse. He is not a racist, as far as I can tell he is not a sex ...more
The most important part of Heston's book -- and his life -- is his ability to speak his feelings with no remorse. He is not a racist, as far as I can tell he is not a sex ...more
The death of Charlton Heston was announced today. I do wish that I had never known of the politics that he favoured - it made me like him a lot less than I had previously.
I stand by the rest of my review, written previously, below...
"The book was somewhat spoiled by the politics of this right-wing zealot. Fortunately old-farts such as him are dying out and taking their views with them.
I quite liked Heston before I read the book, but now I dislike him immensely. {Still like some of his movies tho ...more
I stand by the rest of my review, written previously, below...
"The book was somewhat spoiled by the politics of this right-wing zealot. Fortunately old-farts such as him are dying out and taking their views with them.
I quite liked Heston before I read the book, but now I dislike him immensely. {Still like some of his movies tho ...more
I really liked this book. He starred in some of the iconic movies that have ever been made. He had a great career.
I know, I know...this seems like a weird choice for me. But I read a chapter from this book a while back as part of an assignment and I found it totally fascinating. Something about that old Hollywood charm seems to captivate in a way that Us Weekly just never will. I found Heston to be surprisingly engrossing. I must be on a light-reading/slightly brainless book kick this summer. By the way, my version does not have the glorious photograph of his glistening arms and that sunset in the backgroun
...more
Heston is a good writer and he played some of the most important film roles of the 20th century. The story of his early life and how he came to be an actor is fascinating. That's are enough to fill 200-250 very good pages. Problem is the book is 564 pages long.
I'm a fan of Mr.Heston. Reading this book only solidified by favorable opinion of the man. I learned a bit about the trials and tribulations of the acting craft. A career path for which I'm not knowledgeable whatsoever. My only disappointment was confirmed in that Mr. Heston didn't seem to be a fan of the Planet of the Apes series. I gather this shouldn't be a surprise as his acting chops developed on more high-brow fare were arguably not taxed for his character on Apes.
Charlton Heston is my favorite actor because of his talent, integrity, humanity and style. In his autobiography, Mr. Heston's charcater and talent comes forth. Very well-written, this autobiography is colorful and detailed. He shares his personal struggles, fight for his actor's persona, his civil rights advocacy and faith. I enjoyed this book and will probably reread it again.
My mom is a huge Heston fan and I grew up watching The Ten Commandments. Will definitely check out more of his work. I love his sense of humour too.
An interesting read on such a sexy subject. I have to be satisfied only reading about him when in fact I should be married to him. Yes, I know he is in his eighties, but I will remain faithful in my affection. The only thing that could have been better is if I had listened to it on tape and he narrated it with his dreamy voice.
More of a history book about his career. I did enjoy reading about his childhood and how he met Lydia, his wife. Some great photos. I can't say I read it word for word. The writing style was a bit dry. RIP, Mr. Heston. I loved your movies, if not your later political views.
Charlton Heston was a good man. He was a strong advocate of Constitutional rights. From marching with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 60s to leading the National Rifle Association in the 90s, Heston was a man who was never afraid to stand up for liberty.
I really enjoyed this book. It was an amazing review of the actor's career. The only thing I found a little annoying after a while was Charlton's many uses of the word "happily". I would go so far to say I would read it again.
I did not read the chapters in order and those that I read, I decided to skim read, but inspite of my laziness here, the book revealed the talent, integrity and gentle manliness of an amazing actor and a devoted family man.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your favorite and worse autobiographical book | 8 | 6 | Jan 29, 2013 09:15AM |
Charlton Heston was an American Academy Award-winning film actor.
Heston was known for playing heroic roles, such as Moses in The Ten Commandments , Colonel George Taylor in Planet of the Apes and Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur . Early in his career, he was one of a handful of Hollywood actors to publicly speak out against racism and was active in the civil rights movement. During the latter part of his mo ...more
More about Charlton Heston...
Heston was known for playing heroic roles, such as Moses in The Ten Commandments , Colonel George Taylor in Planet of the Apes and Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur . Early in his career, he was one of a handful of Hollywood actors to publicly speak out against racism and was active in the civil rights movement. During the latter part of his mo ...more
