Life Isn't Everything Audiobook By Ash Carter, Sam Kashner cover art

Life Isn't Everything

Mike Nichols, as Remembered by 150 of His Closest Friends

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Life Isn't Everything

By: Ash Carter, Sam Kashner
Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies, Suzanne Toren
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

"Superb narrators Stephen Bel Davies and Suzanne Toren make the listening informative and entertaining... A perfect vehicle for audio." (AudioFile Magazine)

An up close and personal portrait of a legendary filmmaker, theater director, and comedian, drawing on candid conversations with his closest friends in show business and the arts - from Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep to Natalie Portman and Lorne Michaels.

The work of Mike Nichols pervades American cultural consciousness - from The Graduate and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to Angels in America, The Birdcage, Working Girl, and Primary Colors, not to mention his string of hit plays, including Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple. If that weren’t enough, he was also one half of the timelessly funny duo Nichols and May, as well as a founding member of the original improv troupe. Over a career that spanned half a century, Mike Nichols changed Hollywood, Broadway, and comedy forever.

Most fans, however, know very little of the person behind it all. Since he never wrote his memoirs and seldom appeared on television, they have very little sense of his searching intellect or his devastating wit. They don't know that Nichols, the great American director, was born Mikail Igor Peschkowsky in Berlin and came to this country, speaking no English, to escape the Nazis. They don't know that Nichols was at one time a solitary psychology student, or that a childhood illness caused permanent, life-altering side effects. They don't know that he withdrew into a debilitating depression before he "finally got it right," in his words, by marrying Diane Sawyer.

Here, for the first time, Ash Carter and Sam Kashner offer an intimate look behind the scenes of Nichols' life, as told by the stars, moguls, playwrights, producers, comics, and crew members who stayed loyal to Nichols for years. Life Isn't Everything is a mosaic portrait of a brilliant and original director known for his uncommon charm, wit, vitality, and genius for friendship; this volume is also a snapshot of what it meant to be living, loving, and making art in the 20th century.

©2019 Ash Carter, Sam Kashner (P)2019 Macmillan Audio
Direction & Production Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Comedy Funny
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Life Isn't Everything

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    72
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    62
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    69
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

How Mike Nichols affected his actors.

It’s not about Mike Nichols personal life. It’s about his work and his different projects.
But, if you like theatre or film, it’s very interesting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The pure genius that was Mike Nichols

Some of the narration was a bit stilted, queeny …..but above and beyond, the book was filled with anecdotes that are unbelievable and unforgettable.
Mike Nichols was larger than life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best audiobook in recent memory

The readers, the unique format of the entire book being taken from interview quotations that were effectively read, the powerful content of Nichols’s life, and the message of humanity within his approach to his direction and his relationships combined to create an extraordinary experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful biography

Fascinating detailed description of Mike Nichols many talents and particularly his genius as a director of plays and films. Told through the words and reminiscences of the creative artists who felt privileged to work with him. I enjoyed it greatly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So fun & interesting

I did not realize how little I knew about Mike Nichols. He had a fascinating life. I binged this book as I enjoyed it so much. Great information for actors and people who love the creative process

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hollywood (& Life) Gold!!!

A fantastic telling, by the people who were there, of the life and times of Mike Nichols.

I could go into detail, but rather than me trying to capture the magic, I recommend buying the book!!

Thank you to all that participated in bringing these stories to the readers!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I’m now obsessed by everything MIKE NICHOLS!

Having listened to this book, I’ve played his masterclass, watched his films, stalked Elaine May and Diane Sawyer, and revere Meryl Streep even more, (because Mike did.) A wonderful listening experience, except that I went into a period of mourning during the final chapter, knowing he was gone from the world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Did not want this to end !

This book is so wonderful! . Everything you could want to know about the brilliant director Mike Nichols. All who loved him & how much everyone did ! How lucky they were!
One also learns so much about how he directed and all about the many many fabulous movies and plays he did! Great Book & great fun to listen to to !!..literally stayed in my car in the driveway listening❤️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow. Just wow.

Couldn’t put it it down. Didn’t want it to end. Amazing insights . Must rewatch his movies now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mike Nichols is Everything

If you appreciate Mike Nichols’ body of work, if you love movies, stage, acting, you will love this intimate documentary.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!