Joy to read

From this memoir, it is abundantly clear that Patrick Stewart is first and foremost a stage actor whose ultimate goal and ambition is to perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company. And against all odds, as he so aptly describes, he succeeds. His worldwide fame is, of course, due to Star Trek and the X-Men, but as he himself states: “… I still yearned for the stage, for it is my first love and keeps me sane” (pg 356-357).

The only downside to this entertaining and highly readable autobiography (good editing!) is that it's sometimes a bit too sugary. On the other hand, you could argue that it's a testament to acquired wisdom, expressed in the open discussion of various difficult life questions and the gentle reflection on them. This glimpse into Patrick Stewart's personal life and why he made the decisions he did is richly and humorously interspersed with anecdotes about his career. Or is it the other way around? Whatever it is, it is a joy to read.