Ian Nathan, the former editor of Empire magazine, has written a series of well received books about some of Hollywood’s greatest directors, so it seems a little strange that it has taken him this long to get to one of the best known, Steven Spielberg. He explains this delay well though – Spielberg’s films are deceptively simple and often mistaken as purely feel good despite covering a wide range of often difficult subjects, so there is actually an awful lot to unpack in terms of the personality of the director, the subject matters covered and the technical brilliance of many of his films. Nathan admits that the sheer impact Spielberg has had on him personally and on film as a whole makes this a very difficult subject to cover but he does it brilliantly.

Each film is covered in depth on its own merits and as part of his development as a director and it’s fascinating to go back and realise just how many of our iconic films have been his, and to understand just what makes them work so well. The author goes into what is done technically to make this so but the human part of Spielberg’s work is also brought forward, and the reflection of the man himself in so many of these works. There are an enormous amount of photos from the films and plenty behind the scenes information of the making, with each film having essentially a chapter.

I will confess to being a huge fan of Steven Spielberg and knowing a fair amount already but there is so much detail in this book, I learned a lot more and it’s lovely to have a book that is so up to date, running all the way to The Fabelmans in 2022. This is a must buy for fans of Spielberg (and film generally) and a beautiful book to have on the shelf and return to over and over. I will certainly be adding it to my shelf!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

A detailed overview of Spielberg from early life and career to date, lots of background information on the genesis and making of the films accompanied by full-colour photography and other archive material throughout. We have had others from this series in store, and will certainly be getting this title to add to our film collection.

This visually engaging book offers a fascinating exploration of Spielberg’s films in the context of their making. For me, the strength of this book lies in its vivid illustrations—stills from his films, behind-the-scenes photos, historical movie posters, and more—that bring his cinematic world and visual culture reference points to life. The corresponding text weaves together notes about Spielberg's influences, such as the themes and childhood stories that most held his imagination, plus practical details about each project's resources and timing, and discusses how these affected his decision-making and process for the final result. Altogether, the book succeeds in providing valuable context that enhances our understanding of his storytelling methods. An essential read for those wanting to grasp the nuances of this iconic filmmaker’s oeuvre.

Steven Spielberg is the world's most famous living film director with very good reason. His phenomenal fifty year career has included many of the greatest movies ever made amongst them Jaws, Close Encounters..., the first four Indiana Jones films, E.T, not to mention Schindler's List and Jurassic Park, the last two both in the year 1993. The second half of his career has perhaps been slightly less dazzling than the first but has nevertheless still featured many highs including Minority Report, Ready Player One and War Horse. This nicely illustrated book from the experienced British film writer Ian Nathan covers all of these plus the filmmaker's less celebrated moments such as 1941, Always, Hook and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls.

As a filmmaker and filmmaking teacher, I can speak for hours about Spielberg, although personally he is not my most favourite film director, he is a master of cinema and storytelling. I am moderately informed about Spielberg’s personal life and how it informs his storytelling. These being said, I learned new facts about his career from this book, and I would happily recommend it to Spielberg fans, film students, film buffs, critics, and sharks. Sharks and dinosaurs, read this book.

From the very first pages, I was immediately captivated by the life and legacy of Steven Spielberg. I've always seen him as a monumental figure, almost larger than Hollywood itself. Yet, this book offers a fresh perspective, portraying a side of Spielberg that feels darker and more complex than he's often credited for. After finishing it, I completely agree—there’s so much more to him. He embodies creativity, depth, and thoughtfulness. His art is both intricate and descriptive.

The book is thoughtfully divided into sections, each focusing on different aspects of Spielberg's life and his groundbreaking creations. It dives into how he transformed the film industry and the hurdles he overcame to bring his visions to life. Fans of Spielberg or cinema in general will find this an absolutely fascinating read.