The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide Paperback – November 14, 2017

I felt like I was sitting in her living room while she told me this story. And everyone she spoke about visited us while the book pages turned. A beautiful candid account of an actors life and the added stories at the end were a heartfelt touch to share.

Jenna Fischer's "The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide" is an absolute gem! Even if you're not pursuing a career in acting (like me, a community theater enthusiast), this book is a delightful read. Steve Carell's foreword is wonderful, and the photos from Jenna's early acting days are a treat. Her writing style is so casual and engaging, it feels like having a conversation with a friend.What I loved most is how honest Jenna is about her experiences. She doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of the industry, sharing her own rejections and the eight years it took to land her big break on "The Office." This honesty makes the book relatable and inspiring, whether you're a seasoned actor or just starting out.The book is packed with practical advice on everything from creating headshots and resumes to nailing auditions and networking. She even includes sections on the not-so-glamorous parts of an actor's life, like managing finances and juggling side hustles.Jenna also dives into the emotional side of acting, discussing the toll that rejection and self-doubt can take. Her advice on staying motivated and maintaining a healthy perspective is truly invaluable."The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide" is more than just a how-to guide; it's a heartfelt and humorous exploration of the acting world. Jenna's passion for acting and empathy for her fellow actors shine through, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in the craft.

As an aspiring actor myself trying to build my skill and resume, I’ve read many a book, watched many a video like The Acting Career Center’s content. This book is inspirational, it’s well written, and like the lady who had recommended this to me said “life changing”. I’m so glad I purchased this, I’ve read it twice so far and it’s incredible. If you are a green actor like me, I’d definitely recommend this book. Even if not, Jenna’s story is so insightful and compelling to read, accented by her signature humor, I found it very digestible, and I think anyone could learn to love this book!

So I saw this on sale on Amazon and slightly glanced at the title. I thought it was going to be a funny memoir not an actor’s guide to survive acting. Whoops!I contemplated not finishing it but found it kinda fun to read and learn about the ins and outs of acting.Because I live in LA and in my 20’s worked in entertainment (but not as an actor) it was fun to read about what a lot of my friends had tried doing or are still doing!Also, given my experience and that I live in LA a lot of people not from here will ask me acting advice. Why? I am not sure, but they think that because I used to work in entertainment and live in LA I must know something about it.So I kept reading it to see what Jenna would tell them. I laughed out loud in some of the sections and found this book to be full of great advice to anyone wanting to act (or write) in Los Angeles or NYC.Basically if you want to be an actor please read this book.I should probably buy a few copies of this to give out to people when they ask me how to break in to acting... as if I should know just by living in LA. Lol!My only criticism is that this book doesn’t give advice to those who should quit. Jenna came close when she talked about her friend who was managing a coffee shop ... but maybe an addendum in later copies would be helpful.You know- You should quit trying to be an actor if you’re a hermit and never audition. Or you’re a temp but don’t ever audition... or you stopped auditioning because you now manage a coffee shop. Or if you don’t follow the advice here in this book you should rethink your job choice. Something along those lines.Basically if you stop fighting hard for the chance to act you should stop and find another profession. Kudos to those I know who changed courses when they realized they didn’t have the fight to keep on going and ended up being successful elsewhere. And kudos to those I know who didn’t stop and kept on going. They know it’s a hard road but they love it and fight for it!Just know it’s okay to change your mind at any point along your path. I saw too many people hang on for too many years because they didn’t want their dream to end but their heart had left the game years before. I wish they had read this book as I do think it would’ve helped them figure out if they really wanted in on the game or not.If you want to be an actor or are struggling to be an actor read this book!

This is a great book. I read this after reading “The Office BFFs” and listening to the podcast. When I read this book, I can hear Jenna Fischer’s voice in my head. The writing is very natural, the info is fascinating, and the advice offered in the book is helpful advice for actors.Jenna Fischer tells you about life before The Office as a struggling actor. She gives advice about headshots and auditions and explains what an agent should do for you. She recounts a story when she tried to get into a casting call without her agent submitting her as a potential candidate first. The story is painful/embarrassing to recount, but it taught her an important lesson and she shares the wisdom gained in this book.Quote from actors and directors are sprinkled throughout the book for encouragement and to help describe the long hard road that many actors have had to endure before their name became a household name.This book has pictures which is great because it helps give you a picture of what she is discussing. She shares her headshot photos and talks about how a sultry, stunning headshot did not land her many roles because it did not fit her personality/true self.RECOMMENDATION: BUY. This is a fast, enjoyable, witty, and interesting read.