110 of 116 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for Star Trek fans, September 6, 2004
This review is from: Just a Geek (Hardcover)
If you wish you could be a famous actor like Wil Wheaton, after reading this book you might understand that being a famous actor is not all cracked up to be. This is a guy who has had a hit movie and a hit TV show. Not many actors can claim one of each, and yet, he suffers the life of a "has been" and doesn't enjoy the riches we all think famous actors of hit stuff enjoy for a lifetime.
This guy has impressed me with his brutally honest autobiography. The people and industry he speaks of are the people you and I are likely to have heard of. It's the kind of stuff that could get you kicked out of Hollywood for good.
Why would anyone want to read an autobio about a guy on a couple of hit shows who is a blogger? I can't answer that, but I can tell ya it is great reading. The people who would like this book are geeks, bloggers, Star Trek fans, famous people fans, actor wanna-bes, parents with step-kids, and Shatner haters.
Despite his being celebrity, he's a guy who faces problems many of us do. Financial, a difficult ex who is no help with the kids, balancing a career and family, and finding the right job.
His writing style is candid, conversational and comes across like a friend who is talking to you. Since he and I are parents, must mention that he uses a few cuss words. If you like his blog writings, you'll like this book - without question. However, if you've read every blog entry he has done, you've read most of this book. Furthermore, if you've read Dancing Barefoot, you've caught about a chapter's worth of this book.
Trek fans, don't expect an entire book on his life as Wesley. Wheaton, the actor fans, don't expect an entire book about acting although it covers a bit. WWdN, you're getting exactly what you see in his blog.
He might be famous and a hotshot blogger, but he has lived through many things you and I have, too. That's what makes the book a delight. This review may sound like one from a groupie, but my responsibility is to readers not to Wheaton. My only disappointment was "re-reading" the "Saga of Spongebob Vegaspants" since this was already covered in Dancing Barefoot.
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116 of 127 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not what you would expect, June 28, 2004
This review is from: Just a Geek (Hardcover)
This book is a frank, straight up look into Wil Wheatons life and transformation from actor, to writer (and believe me there is a lot that happens in between that transformation). I highly recommend this book, whether you are a Star Trek fan or not, its a book about simply being a loving, caring, individual.
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59 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even Non-Trekkies Will Warm to Wil, July 6, 2004
This review is from: Just a Geek (Hardcover)
Although Wil draws on his experiences during and after Star Trek for this book, it's not a celebrity memoir or similiar plea for attention. Just a Geek is a real-world story of one guy's struggles to be a good person/husband/father/actor/blogger/geek -- basically what we all deal with to some degree or another -- but funnier than heck. Wil Wheaton has great comic timing and a refreshing willingness to poke fun at himself and his mistakes.
And even though Trek isn't all this book is about, if you've ever attended a SF convention or watched Trekkies read this book for a glimpse of the actor's lives behind the scenes.
I never bother to get writers to sign their books, but if I ever get the chance to meet Wil, I'll ask him to sign my copy. Brilliant stuff.
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