Boldly Go
Written by William Shatner with Joshua Brandon
When William Shatner, best known for his portrayal of Captain Kirk on Star Trek, touched ground again after visiting space on Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space shuttle in 2021, his live reaction on television captivated me. It was a completely unscripted moment of awe, gratitude and humbleness. I picked this book up to gain more insight and wisdom from that moment but only one (brief) chapter was devoted to it. Most of this book is philosophical recollection on Shatner’s life and career that can be found elsewhere.
Favourite line: “I had thought that going into space would be the ultimate catharsis of that connection I had been looking for between all living things—that being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe. I had a different experience, because I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there, it’s down here, with all of us.”
I’m Glad My Mom Died
Written by Jennette McCurdy
Star of a mid-2000s Nickelodeon television show, Jennette crafts a well-written, cautionary, and, at times, humorous memoir about the dark subject of having a co-dependent relationship with an abusive narcissistic parent and its continued effects on adulthood.
Spare
Written by Prince Harry
I’m definitely not a monarchist but couldn't help but be intrigued by this peek behind the curtain of the British Royal Family and the firsthand account of drama within its tax-payer funded ranks. Prince Harry does not hold anything back; in some instances, it is to the point of bluntness that I don’t see repairing relations anytime soon with the family—and life—he left behind (calling his brother, Prince William, “alarmingly bald” seems a bit of a low-blow; Camilla Parker-Bowles is also portrayed as an evil stepmother-type figure). In all though, this is the often sad narrative of a man who never got to properly mourn his mother and seems to still be searching for that closure.
Favourite line: “As the primacy of Self fades … the idea of Service takes over.”