William B. Davis’s On Acting...and Life blends memoir with acting insights in a compelling way. His anecdotes, including interactions with legends like Laurence Olivier, are fascinating, though his privilege in the industry goes unacknowledged. The acting advice is sharp and often critical, but grounded in experience. Davis’s narration adds authenticity, making this a worthwhile listen for fans of acting, The X-Files, or behind-the-scenes memoirs.

I loved listening to William B. Davis read his book. His voice is always iconic. I loved learning about his history and opinions on acting. However, I found the section on teaching acting rather boring but I am not an actor so the section was not meant for me.
I loved hearing about his iconic first appearance on The X-Files.

Modeled on Stephen King's On Writing, actor and director William B. Davis smoothly narrates this book that serves as a memoir and guidebook to aspiring actors. I enjoyed hearing Davis's tales of theater and mentoring. Some of the guiding moments did not apply to me but would be worthwhile to those who are currently in show business (or who plan to be).

Narration: B+
Content: B
Best Aspect: Some very interesting memoir parts and good information for wanna be actors.
Worst Aspect: Mr. Davis voice is very soothing, and this made me very sleepy. May be better read than on audio.
Recommend: Yes.

I have to admit that I requested this audio ARC to fulfill a reading challenge prompt for a genre I've never read. Since there isn't much out there I haven't EVER read, a guide to acting seemed like one of the few safe bets there. I didn't even look at who wrote it - Davis is a pretty common name, right? But as soon as it started, I knew that voice!

My surprise at discovering Cigarette Smoking Man was the author and narrator was my own fault - but my surprise at how interesting and relevant the book is for a non-actor is also genuine. Having not read Mr. Davis' previous memoir, the first section contained a great deal of new information for me, along with a profound appreciation of the pettiness required to have hung onto resentment of someone claiming credit for your set painting 70+ years later. You really don't see that level of commitment these days in grudges, and that's a loss for us all.

Really, though - the complete lack of acknowledgement of the privilege that came with being born white man in a well-off and well-connected family and having the mid-century safety net available to people like that in Canada/the UK severely limits the usefulness to anyone looking for actionable advice in the biographical section. But it's still interesting to hear about the ways that the theater and entertainment industry have changed from being reliable long term careers (albeit for a select few) to today's gig economy.

The author acknowledges in the prologue that some readers may only be interested in the biographical part and others may only be interested in the acting part, so there is a small amount of repetition of some anecdotes across the two halves of the book - but it comes across more as underlining his points than forgetting he already said that. Mr. Davis also does not hold back on his criticism of those with different acting methods than his own, but he builds such a strong case that it seems to be justified (I sprayed my beverage when he wondered whether Daniel Day Lewis also method acted in bed while spending two years pretending to be Abraham Lincoln 24/7 in preparation for a movie). His emphasis on acting as a way of interacting with other people makes the discussion surprisingly relevant for non-actors.

Ironically, the narration is not as consistent as you might expect from someone with a pretty extensive background in radio and audio drama. There is a definite quality of reading the book out loud (as opposed to the more flowing narration one would expect from a full-time audiobook narrator) - but I can't imagine anyone other than the author telling his own story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I appreciate so much voiced who have been in the industry for a long time and can speak to all the changes they have witnessed. Reading this book is literally time travelling and receiving wisdom from a past time that hold invaluable lessons. So happy I got to read it. Definitely recommend.

I started listening to this audiobook and decided it wasn't for me so took a break but came back to it and ended up feeling it was really interesting. I knew little of William B. Davis, probably one of a few people who never watched the X Files. I am a fan of biographies and so was interested to learn more of this Canadian actor/director/mentor. I became fascinated by his description of acting techniques and skills that I'd never considered before. I was also impressed with the list of people he's worked with - including Doug Rain though I don't think he mentioned that Rain was the voice of "Hal" in 2001, A Space Odyssey (oops, haven't seen that either!). The connection for me is that my Dad was born in Winnipeg less than 2 weeks before Rain was and they were both on radio together in Winnipeg as youngsters. (My Dad only because my grandfather D.R.P. Coats was on the radio; Dad didn't continue with it). Overall a well-written, well-narrated book with some great advice on acting...and life!

When I saw this book I was like, why not give a try. 6 hours not bad I love the story that was read by the author. It was heartwarming and loved. Love every about this person. And x-files is a great show. And I got to say I wasn't bord listening to this audiobook today!

On Acting...and Life is a fascinating look at the world of acting from the perspective of someone who has a long history in the theatre, film, and television. Part memoir and part acting manual, it guides the reader through Davis' life, gives cogent examples of what to do (or not to do) as a working actor, and provides guidance on techniques to improve your acting skills. If I had one critique it would be that sometimes the book references events that are explained in Davis' first book, so you get the feeling that the context would be useful, but even that is a small thing. In all I enjoyed the book and I plan to use Davis' suggestions to improve my own approach to acting!

As a big fan of the x-files I was delighted to see On acting and life on the audiobooks and even more delighted that it was narrated by William.b.davis himself.

Sadly it was not to be, I got about 3 hours into the audiobook before I turned it over. It didn't not interest me at all, even when I skipped to the section on the x-files. I found it all rather boring.

Although I did half expect him to start talking about how he killed JFK and that the moon landings were all faked.

I enjoyed this so much, I'm an actor and a huge X-Files fan so this couldn't be more in my note but I think most actors, directors, or theatre creators would be able to appreciate the humour and heart this book has to offer. Practical, humorous and kind--it's a joy to read and, especially, a joy to listen to because it is read by the author, William B Davis , who has a speaking voice that is very easy to listen to. I'm so glad to have gotten this ARC!

A well-rounded and well-narrated treatise on acting, its philosophical aspects, practices, and one actor’s experience with the craft.
Through anecdotes and tips (both personal and acquired over an extensive career) Mr Davis takes the reader on a journey allowing them a glimpse behind the mask.
Though not an actor myself, I still found this book interesting for the simple fact that I can better appreciate cinema, TV, and theater actors by learning a little bit about the effort that goes into breathing life into the characters written in the script.

I'm a little biased here - scrolling through Netgalley looking for my next audio book and stumbled on this one. Saw the author's name and realized his nephew is married to a friend of mine and decided to give it a listen. The author says right off that he modeled this book after Stephen King's memoir (which I've read) and it has a similar structure. I feel the same way about both books: the memoir portion is great, but the advice sections? Not so much. I understand his advice works for HIM, but like writing, everyone has an opinion. I hope those serious about acting will find the second half as compelling as the first part.

I've always felt William B. Davis has been an overlooked actor, especially after becoming a fan of him in The X-Files. In On Acting...and Life, Davis narrates his upbringing and how he got into acting. Fans of Davis' work and audiobooks will appreciate the terrific, calm narration that Davis provides. Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
On Acting...and Life is broken up into two parts. The first part is the memoir version of the book, in which Davis reminisces of his early acting years and mentions some places that aren't even searchable via Wikipedia. But there is a good amount of advice for actors in this first part as well. The second part is more detailed on the acting advice and is helpful for those looking to enter the world of theater, film, or television.
Davis is a fantastic narrator and a terrific writer. There are several references to his previous book, Where There's Smoke, and that should pique other people's interests in reading what else Davis has written.
Recommended for those who are X-Files fans, fans of memoirs, fans of acting books, and fans of great storytelling.

This is the perfect book for those in the acting profession or those who are X-Files fans. William B. Davis shares stories of his acting career dating back to when he was a child just starting out & also shares tips for those acting today. I definitely recommend the audiobook which is read by the author himself.

Review of “On Acting…and life” written and narrated by William B. Davis.

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC Audio version of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let me start out with I loved the X-Files so much, and was already a big fan of William B. Davis, so if you’re also a fan like me you’ll absolutely love William B. Davis’s “On Acting...and life.” It’s not just another boring acting advice book; it’s a fascinating mix of helpful tips and captivating stories from a seasoned actor’s life. Also, if you listen to the audio version, the author himself narrates, and I would highly recommend listening to the book.

But what really makes this book stand out is Davis’s down-to-earth wisdom, earned over decades in the industry. He dives into the nitty-gritty of acting philosophy, offering practical insights that any actor, newbie or pro, can appreciate. Plus, his push for updating actor training methods gives a fresh spin to the age-old craft.

And let’s not forget about Davis’s own journey from child actor to mentor and teacher. It’s inspiring to see how he’s evolved over the years and how he’s now passing on his wisdom to the next generation. So, whether you’re dreaming of making it big in Hollywood or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, “On Acting...and life” is a must-read that’ll leave you both entertained and enlightened.

William B. Davis has a nice voice to listen to and I'm glad he read his own book. As a fan of The X-files, I was looking forward to hearing more behind-the-scenes stories. As a student of theatre and film, it was fun to listen to as a how-to guide and for the stories. I always like to hear how people approach acting and directing for theatre and the screen differently, and how it's changed over the years. The first half of the book is a telling of how William B. Davis got into acting, and his life throughout the years as an actor and director. The second half is a guide on what to do and what not to do in acting. I found all of it to be interesting and easy to listen to.

This is a pretty short book, part memoir, part acting class. I love his voice, and I'm so glad the actor narrated his own book.
The world of acting has changed a lot since Davis was a new actor. There are so many schools that teach drama now, and Davis learned a lot by taking whatever theater opportunities he could find.
As an X Files fan, it was particularly interesting to me to hear how he started on the show without knowing anything about his character, and how he and the two leads were the only actors to be in the first and last episodes.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

An interesting story about a life that will keep audiences intrigued and entertained throughout the tale. The narrator had a nice tone, and added a sense of intimacy to the book. I enjoyed it and was wanting to learn more.