Customer Reviews

The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Grace Lee Whitney was a large part of Star Trek in the beginning and I always wondered why she just disappeared from the series..Well, this very insightful autobiography tells you, along with other very interesting anecdotes about her involvement with the series. Yeoman Rand was an interesting character and it would have been neat to see where Grace would have taken this character if she had been allowed to continue in the role.

It's quite revealing how Grace plunged into the depths of alcoholism and other addictions and how she literally "ruined" her career in Hollywood with a bad reputation. However, it's quite inspiring to read how she pulled herself out of this hole and gradually came in touch with her religion and the realization that she needed to change her aberrant behavior and start respecting herself again..For anyone who has experienced great lows in their life, they should read this book and be inspired!

Of all the autobiographies written by former castmembers this is the one that is most heartbreaking..however it does have a happy ending! For all you Trekkies out there this is a must read!!

Grace Lee Whitney writes this book for "Star Trek" fans, certainly, but what she says to addicts -- and those whose lives are affected by them -- is far more powerful. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Whitney and reviewing this autobiography for The Detroit News when the book was first released. I was struck by her graciousness and kindness, but I was also struck by the gritty strength she conveys in this book. Frankly describing incidents like her hit-and-run on Grand River Avenue in Detroit, and her guarding the bathroom door of a Chicago club while the heroin-addicted Billie Holiday was getting shot-up inside, she just puts it out there, none too concerned what her cult-TV fans will think of her. You've got to appreciate that. And it's pretty clear, throughout the book, that her motives are not to make herself look good, or bad, but to shine a light on the effects of a gruesome and very common illness.

I am a long time Star Trek fan who bought this book because I have had the honor of meeting Ms. Whitney at a couple of conventions, and she has impressed me with her warmth and wit. I read this book in a single sitting because I could not put it down. Unlike the other Trek memoirs I've read, this one focuses not on a TV series, but on the incredible story of a woman's fight to find peace with God and herself. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever experienced tragedy, loss of self esteem, or addiction. The one thing that concerns me most is that I feel too many people will look on this as just another Star Trek book when its audience should be far greater than just Trek fans. The author has bared her soul in an attempt to help others, and the courage that must have taken is awe-inspiring. Bravo, Grace Lee!

I found this author's openness "amazing." The story of the original Star Trek is very little because the author kept the story line mostly "about her life", her ideology and personal affairs more than about Star Trek. Star Trek is used as a vehicle to tell her story of alcohol, sex, drugs, religion, recovery and survival; which makes it an Important book for anyone who is suffering from addictions. I found the book educational about what one goes through when in the throes of addiction; i.e., dry drunk where alcohol is replaced by pot, medical issues about circulation in the legs, etc. from alcohol and drug abuse, etc. I find the story of her ex-husbands being able to railroad and take her to the cleaners financially very informative and a "wake up call" to others in a similar situation, meaning, being drunk or stoned blinds one and makes a person a victim to those who are opportunists. I found the recovery part of the book great -- the author's lifelong longing to feel connected, loved and accepted by those she likes and respects and she finally feels all this when with the actors in the AA meeting she'll finally attend and accept sobriety. This is a wonderful thing she shared with us readers as many in our society do feel this same sense of longing. The author also showed an iron will throughout her life, which I'm sure is why she was able to survive such a tragic, horrific life of abuse. It's a good read, well written and one I'd recommend to those who learn and grow from another's experiences, i.e., marrying someone without really knowing their attitudes about women. The first ex-husand in this book is a great example. His looks, talent, being in the music industry became more the author's focus than him being from a background that is known for their horrific neglect of women and total male authority over women. And, the second ex-husband is a great lesson in that a person can go over the edge when an alcoholic or drug addict when getting involved with someone who is one also. There is much to gain from reading this book when one is struggling with abuse of any kind, whether it's emotional neglect, men with anger outbursts in marriage, to women who marry not really knowing the other person, to those afflicted with addictions. Gradulations Grace Whitney for baring all to us. You've had an amazing life.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Grace Lee Whitney and hearing her speak. She is exactly what she seems in the book. Gorgeous, funny and infinately kind. If you are a Star Trek fan and/or if you have an interest in little miracles, recovery and redemption, read this book.

Grace Lee Whitney sounds like a warm, charming, witty, delightful person, and I enjoyed her cautionary tale of substance abuse in the life of a working film actress (not a "star"). In addition, it was great to read a female account of the Star Trek phenomenon NOT written by a woman hell- (or heaven!) bent on proving she is a better man than any or all the men in the known universe.

I think Ms. Whitney was mis-served by her publisher or, perhaps, her collaborator, however. Her book is choppy, repetitive, and contains some misstatements. (Was the character's name "Uhura" or "Uhuru"? How many kids does Shatner have?) A good editor or ghost writer could have limited the meandering, tightened the focus, fact-checked, and improved some of the diction without losing the author's own voice. This is not a criticism of the author (who is a professional actress, not a professional writer) but of the people who printed the book. It is insulting to literate readers to find the equivalent of the following sentence on virtually every page of this book: "I was a green kid wearing bobby sox with my high-heeled shoes, taking it all in with my youthful fascination." (p. 29) (No, I did not red-pencil the book as I read--I opened to a random page to cull that example.)

I'm writing this because Ms. Whitney has points to make about religion and the human spirit that risk getting lost beneath the bad prose. Many educated (perhaps over-educated) people who might benefit from her points will, sadly, refuse even to consider them as they are written; these are the people who know they know everything and turn down their noses on the literary efforts even of C. S. Lewis and Thomas Merton. There is definitely a sharp mind and an excellent psychologist within Grace Lee Whitney, as are shown in her analysis of Gene Rodenberry and some of her throw-away points (such as the religious nature of Star Trek to some of its fans). By her own account she is a person with a lot of energy and perseverence. She deserved the help of someone who could have produced a book that might have transcended both the "Star Trek" and the "Twelve Step" genres.

Miss Whitney did a wonderful job on this book. She tells more of what went on behind the scenes than most of the other characters did in their books. She is so open in writing this book that it really should not go unread.

Grace Lee Whitney truly has written "The Longest Trek" with her heart and soul. She has bravely, and with love, held nothing back as she relates the incredible adventures she has lived in her journey through life. It is hard to imagine how such a beautiful person could possibly feel inadequate, but you feel her pain as she strives to reach her goals. The Hollywood "Tid-bits" are fun to read about. It is evident that Grace Lee wants to help others to learn from her painful mistakes. With time she has grown to accept her experiences, live with the memories and look forward to the future. Barbara in Arizona

This book, essentially a biography, deals with the life and struggles of singer/songwriter/actress Grace Lee Whitney who played a memorable STAR TREK character ( Yeoman Janice Rand ) for a short time until being written out of the series after years of bit parts a "Dream Role" finally had come her way that is until a terrifying rape and a story character/script problem put an end to the short~lived happiness of the Authoress the traumatic experience aggravated long standing personality problems which resulted in addictions to alcohol and drugs after suffering for years (it was only a matter of time before she would die as a result of the addictions) she was rescued by a new found faith and the "Twelve Steps" approach originally pioneered by Alcholics Anonymous and today, when not enjoying the peace and serenity of her home near Yosemite National Park Grace Lee Whitney shares the message of hope and sobriety at STAR TREK conventions, in prisons and jails, and on talk shows This biography is in no way a lurid potboiler and contains a number of photographs of Ms.Whitney at various times and places and with Star Trek players and has a true life happy ending instead of a tragic one.

Grace Lee Whitney is a hero for those recovering or considering recovering from alcoholism and addiction. She brings both her sorrows and her joys to life in this revealing memoir, and is very brave about her honesty. At eighty, she is still walking the walk and talking the talk. Go, Grace Lee!!