Booklife Review

Film director and spiritual practitioner Rosenberg shares interviews with Hollywood creatives in this motivational debut, built on the advice that "success comes when you are ready for it." Featuring anecdotes and tips for success from well-known writers, directors, producers, actors, and crew members—including such notables as Catherine Hardwicke, the director of Twilight, and starlet Ashley Tisdale, with Disney's High School Musical—Rosenberg offers readers encouragement and real-life lessons on achieving goals and dreams, ranging from topics such as gender politics, taking risks, originality, and more.

Through personable and candid storytelling, Rosenberg and her featured Hollywood elite share behind the scenes insight and uplifting platitudes that will spark creativity and a desire to "believe in something… [and] go for it." The creative range is immense, spotlighting an eclectic ensemble, including producer Tamara Rawitt, co-creator of comedy series In Living Color; actor Virginia Madsen, who wisely counsels to “take it easy, breathe, and just let things happen”; and journalist Rex Weiner, who, in 2019, broke the news of Britney Spears’s guardianship plight for Los Angeles Magazine. Later in the guide, notables like Maryann Brandon (nominated for an Academy Award for her editing work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens) share the gritty side of the hard work required to succeed in Hollywood’s cutthroat business.

Rosenberg’s resounding message—that "life is a movie and you are the star"—is bolstered by a slew of sensible steps to success, making this guide as practical as it is inspirational. The icons featured throughout have unarguably earned their stripes, and Rosenberg is careful to put even their most obscure projects on center stage, as examples of how to “elevate your path to success, happiness, and to help create your personal legacy.” Ultimately, she writes, "the act of creation is its own reward," an assertion that is echoed throughout this energetic guide.

Takeaway: Interviews from successful creatives, featuring practical life lessons.

Comparable Titles: Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, Patrick McGilligan's Film Crazy.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A