Applause Books/Rowman and Littlefield provided an early galley for review

I grew up on Lear's shows, often watching them on first-run over at my grandmother's house along with my mother, my aunt and my cousin. These were thought-provoking, heartfelt comedies that could make you laugh and cry, sometimes in the same half hour.

Broken into twenty-eight chapters across four sections, the reader is taken through his early life, his start in the business, the successes and the later years. No surprise that the bulk of the book is devoted to those glory years of the 1970s when his shows were at the top of viewing numbers week after week. At a time when there were only three networks to choose from, it was very likely you would have someone to discuss the shows with the day after they aired. As a big fan, I was very eager to hear all the stories (some I knew, many I did not) about the making of these classic shows.

Whetsell is a scholar when it comes to television, and he shows his depth of knowledge even when going off on contextual tangents that show the relationships to things Lear did in his own career. I appreciated the stories about the early days of television when Lear was honing his writing chops.

On the informativeness and being detailed and nuanced sides, this book is a 5/5.
It is how I’d like a book about writer and producer’s life to be; with many insight about their work.
This was a rewarding read in that sense.
Though I would be interested in reading a more visually supported book about Lear’s professional life and work.

Absolutely loved this guide about the iconic Norman Lear. It does a great job showing readers his many accomplishments over the years. Perfect for any fan of his work.