Martin Perlich's 30+ years of interviewing experience can aid and inspire all levels of journalists. Both entertaining and instructive. Useful for interviewers and interviewees. Interview examples with major figures in classical, jazz and rock music, sports and film. Featuring Leonard Bernstein, Frank Zappa, Yo-Yo Ma, Ralph Nader, Gore Vidal, Carl Sagan, Whoopi Goldberg and many many more.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Fun to read, yet genuinely informative. I would recommend it to anyone faced with an interview. Bravo! -- Ian Freebairn-Smith, Composer, Arranger, Broadcaster
Ideal as a teaching tool—perfect for use in educating the broadcasters of tomorrow. -- Tony Hanover, Program Host, KCSN Los Angeles
You will learn something from this insightful book. An invaluable resource whether you are asking the questions or answering them. -- William Toutant, PhD. Dean, College of Arts, Media and Communications, California State University, Northridge
Ideal as a teaching tool—perfect for use in educating the broadcasters of tomorrow. -- Tony Hanover, Program Host, KCSN Los Angeles
You will learn something from this insightful book. An invaluable resource whether you are asking the questions or answering them. -- William Toutant, PhD. Dean, College of Arts, Media and Communications, California State University, Northridge
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beyond the interviewing realm,
This review is from: The Art of the Interview: A Step by Step Guide to Insightful Interviewing (Paperback)
An interview - well, I never gave it much thought. But now, after reading The Art of the Interview I'll never hear one the same again. The author, Martin Perlich presents the interviewer begining with a blank sheet of paper or glob of clay and it is his/hers task to create the Mona Lisa or drop the ball, so to speak. The end product becomes a work or art; hence the title. The book gives some very practical advise on how to prepare for and conduct a good interview. If this were the whole focus of the book it wouldn't have held my interest throughout. Perlich see the that interview is about remaining open to possibilities, entering situations without set goals in mind and allowing space for spontaneity, growth and even insight to happen -just like life. Mr. Perlich's approach and philosophy extends well beyond the interview realm. Lots of common sense advice, a bit of Buddhism, the politics dealing with stars and more than a touch of wisdom. Lest you believe the Art of the Interview to be too philosophical it is chocked full of small tidbits of fun stories covering the range from Jack Kennedy's sex life to Jerry Lee Louis' defense of his marriage to a very young teenage bride. Definitely a good read.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perlich delivers a good read,
By rick chertoff (LA, Calif) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Art of the Interview: A Step by Step Guide to Insightful Interviewing (Paperback)
A sleeper! This is one of the most delightful books I've read recently. It will become a holiday gift for friends and clients. I've decorated this book with food stains since it stole my attention, accompanying me to every possible solo meal for a week. It's as if Kurt Vonnegut was writing for and editing People Magazine. Perlich can write. His style is more compelling than one expects to find in such a slim volume (don't ask me why), and hardly a sentence goes by without a fresh turn of phrase. From the first page I felt pulled by the current through some interesting canyons, those being both of the call and response of interviewing and then also of the pantheon of musical and social icons he has interviewed over the decades. Having done some interviews myself lately, I was very interested in the interview process, but I found it was his interview stories that just take off. Many are lifetime "keepers," like the one with Jerry Lee Lewis, where Perlich raises a question that goes directly to one of Lewis' shall we say, less well considered life decisions, even though it takes up less than a page. The range of personalities is not only wide but the list has gravitas and covers about 40 years of interviews. Normally wide range could be expected and gravitas is a plus, but this is 141 pages! There are some great chuckles and genuinely intimate `revealings' of such a wide ranging characters as Leonard Bernstein and (the aforementioned) Jerry Lee Lewis, Isaac Stern and Oscar Brown Jr., Ron Kovic to Bill Evans. I mean, them's some heavy and very interesting folk, and nothing as dopey as a Hillary Clinton. That having been said, what I found most interesting were his philosophical insights in the instructional "how to" elements; how to communicate by the dual `humilities' of preparing and of listening. In this respect, the book is really about mediating the two complementary "energies" in any endeavor, each of which could be characterized by the two foundational Chinese philosophies, as I understand them; Confucianism ("structure") versus Taoism ("formlessness"). The Confucian "duty" is a worship of "role"; to be the best "interviewer" you can be. Paradoxically, Perlich demonstrates how that comes about only by observing its opposite, the "Tao", (I guess that's why they have two!) the embodiment of being aware of the emptiness of the moment needing to be filled or seized, such as challenging a star like Frank Zappa with a question that might end the interview but instead yields an insight. Perlich gives a professional bow to the marquee stars like Larry King or Charlie Rose for their preparation and abilities, although I feel betrayed by them as they invariably "soft ball" the very people we need to be made accountable. Here I think Perlich belongs to the higher school of the profession, more akin to Oriana Fallaci or Marc Cooper (however odious as a pseudo-left operative) who obviously have the depth of knowledge AND "cajones" that allow them to break new ground and ask the question the audience really wanted answered, even if the audience didn't know it. In other words, they have elevated their craft to an art. If The Art of the Interview achieves `Mozartian' lift, it is because it reads effortlessly but makes strong statements delicately executed, sweet or bitter. (He even admits abject failure in one interview with Peter Serkin). But he pursues The Question. That way the interviewer is fulfilling the sacred core of his role by delivering the real goods to the audience. Would that the corporate hired mega-bucksters would read this book and take it to heart. So by all means, read all about it, but look out for the marinara sauce on the last chapter.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterful. Oh, yeah.,
By kellytwo "kellytwo" (cleveland hts, ohio) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Art of the Interview: A Step by Step Guide to Insightful Interviewing (Paperback)
This delightful book is as much a `and then I ...' as it is a `and this is how you...' type of book. Martin Perlich (originally from Cleveland) was a young man in the right place at the right time, and happily grasped every opportunity made available to him. He describes his triumphs as well as his goofs in this book which is, really, a combination text-book and memoir.
Every page contains a famous name-or two, or three. Mr. Perlich has interviewed rightfully famous folk as well as celebrity-type folks, and cheerfully tells us how he got that story. For the classical music buff, the episodes about famous musicians will be all-too-short, but yet entertaining, even if too short. There are also tales about rock/pop musicians, athletic stars, politicians, and would-be's in each of those categories. For the person who wishes to conduct interviews-whether written or recorded (audio or visually) his tips cannot fail to be helpful to the novice as well as the more experienced reporter. Mr. Perlich is very willing to give credit where credit is due, a most enjoyable trait. He happily acknowledges those who helped him along the way. I could wish the book was twice the size it is-probably you will, too. Hint, hint.
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