Member Reviews
This star rating probably isn't fair if you are a huge fan of the Seinfeld series. I am only a small fan but thought reading this book would be fun and make me more so. I think it's definitely for people that are big fans already! Lots of details about the show's creation and I highly recommend for Seinfeld fans!
Excellent rundown of what made the show successful, what made it interesting, what still holds up, and what ages poorly. Recommended for any fan of Seinfeld.
This book is about Seinfeld, the show about four self-centered friends and what happens in their lives.
The chapters are:
1. Jerry and Larry
2. A Guy Walks into NBC ...
3. Who (Almost) Killed the Pilot?
4. Ensemble Alchemy
5. The Four
6. The People in their Neighbourhood
7. Faith, Race and Place in Seinfeld's New York
8. Jerry and Company in the World and in the Bedroom
9. The Spectacle, the Disappointment and the Brilliance of the Finale
10. Television Legacy
11. Critics and Missteps
12. Seinfeld Today
13. The Rankings: Every Episode from Best to Worst
The book provides the details about how the show came to be ... Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld coming up with a show that the network didn't really believe in and David and Seinfeld themselves didn't think would go anywhere (David hoped it wouldn't). It lasted nine seasons until Seinfeld decided to quit while they were on top. It was interesting to learn more about the writing and how the stories came about.
There is information about the backgrounds of Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Richards along with what they have been doing post-Seinfeld.
If you are/were a fan of Seinfeld, you'll find this book interesting.
THis was a cute stroll down memory lane for Seinfeld. Its a must read for any Seinfeld fan! It takes you inside Seinfeld. Seinfeld changed the way shows were made and some of its issues still ring true today.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a nonfiction work dedicated to the classic sitcom of the 1990s. It is divided into three parts: 1) the origins, including the two co-creators; 2) themes and characters; 3) its legacy. There is also a section where the author ranks all 168 episodes, based on his own personal preferences, which I found fun to read and compare. At the end is an extensive section of notes, chapter by chapter, reflecting the author's research. I have not read a lot of books about Seinfeld, but for me this book offers a unique look into the show. The legacy section goes a little too deeply into the shows that came after and how they were influenced by Seinfeld, but overall, the book is a worthwhile read. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC.
I LOVE Seinfeld and am actively bingeing it right now so I was very excited to read this one. I loved all the facts and getting to know more about Seinfeld. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Serious fans of Seinfeld will devour Seinfeld by Paul Arras. Arras's well researched study of the series is scholarly in nature, but still enjoyable for the regular fan. Much attention is paid to the writers on the show. A must for any serious fan of Seinfeld.
For Seinfeld obsessives only! This is not a summary of every episode but more an overview of the themes that exist throughout the show., but using individual episodes to back up the author's point of view. The book also touches on some of the cultural issues the show seemed to avoid while still maintaining its popularity. There is a lot of focus on the season finale and on the "Curb" reunion. It almost feels like, with hindsight being 20/20, Larry David is given more credit (and ink) than Seinfeld himself. Overall, if you're a fan, you will enjoy this though I don't know if you'll learn anything you didn't already know. That said, this author comes at things from a new perspective, 20+ years later and for that point of view, he does a great job.