This is a fine read -- for every great reader or writer. Donald Newlove has gathered from literature some of the finest first paragraphs ever written! The works of authors such as Isak Dinesen, Melville, and Hemingway are looked at in a wonderful way. This book is as energizing and inspiring as a savouring cup of coffee!

I take immense delight in reading anything by this author - and this book, the 3rd volume of his wonderful trilogy of "Handbooks For The Soul" is an homage to the pure heart of the writer found in the dialogue of a sundry array of works in film, stage, and literature. Mr. Newlove is in possession not only of an enviably keen eye and ear for the stuff that stirs the soul, but also with a passion for words further enhanced with an acquaintance with their power, so rarely discovered in literature. This is indeed a handbook for the soul - for it is wholly without academic babble - you will not find herein even a jot of instruction on the craft of writing, but rather a celebration of it ~~ And for any body who reads or writes for the shear and pure revelry of it, a celebration is all that could ever be desired!

I loaned this book to Jonny Mac in Boston, and he never gave it back. This book explores the self-destruction which is so attractive to so many writers, such as Dylan Thomas in his little cottage by the sea. Inversely, it seems to exert a pull on those who are in mid-binge phase, hoping that the self-destruction will make them better writers. Which always sounds like someone saying that developing ulcers and colitis to be more like John Calvin, will make them a better theologian. The author shook himself loose from this thinking, but not until it almost killed him. If Mac gives me the book back some day, I'd like to read it again. John, it's been what, since 1982 or so? Are you done yet?

There have been countless books and plays about alcoholic characters, many of them writers, but less works about the writers themselves. The first half of the book is an autobiography of Newlove from his sloshed life. The second half profiles an array of great alcoholic (or at least near alcoholic) writers (Faulkner, Capote, Fitzgerald, etc). Unfortunately out of print, I still remember this one pretty vividly from about 20 years ago when it came out.