l love the energy and the optimism of these essays.The extravagant display of an ego too large for this solar system makes me smile.

I love Bradbury. I really do. And I was enthused by his pronouncement that your best writing comes when you're talking about things you care about.

Unfortunately, he seems to mostly care about having written the screenplay for Moby Dick. There is a lot of celebrity name-dropping here as he describes encounters around the world with people he (mostly) admired, and he generally makes himself look humble, but the overall effect is of someone whose self-esteem needed a boost going "See all these people that I rubbed elbows with?!"

These essays are in some cases repetitive and often make him look like an old grump on the porch yelling at kids to get off his lawn. There's some inspiration to be found in his reasoning for going back to the moon and Mars, but not enough to make this collection worthwhile.

Essays on many different topics, always interesting. Some repetition within the different sections, but overall a good read from a writer I enjoy.

It was nice to read essays from Mr. Bradbury as opposed to fiction. Why can't I just happen to run into this guy while I'm out doing things?

I have always found it difficult to sum up the writings of Ray Bradbury. One simply cannot read and then comment; Bradbury's works have to simmer and stew in your mind, you need to allow yourself time to think the writings over and over, and as you do, so much more comes out than was in the writings.

But in a quick commentary, there were many very interesting essays in this work detailing many projects that Bradbury worked on. Bradbury actually wrote the screenplay for the movie Moby Dick.

He also commented that the movie "Singing in the Rain" was the first science fiction musical. While odd at the first glance, Bradbury has a point when the concept of science fiction is analyzed. Science fiction, argues Bradbury, is the the process of human beings adapting to a move from old technology to new. This is exactly what Singing in the Rain is all about. Movies are moving from silents to talkies, and it changes the lives and fortunes of all involved in the process.

Disappointing. Instead of getting insight from one of the greatest sci-fi authors ever about his writing process, futurism, and so on, I got a series of shallow essay on what it's like to adapt Moby Dick and be friends with Walt Disney. I guess the most illuminating thing about this is how you could write short sci-fi stories back in the day and become wealthy and a member of the Hollywood élite.

Ray Bradbury is one of my absolute favorite writers. I have been devouring every last bit of his fiction I could find at used book stores and libraries. Most people are surprised to hear this coming from me, as I don't generally list Science Fiction as an interest of mine, but there is something profoundly literary about Bradbury's writing that takes his writing out of the genre and gives it a much wider appeal.

I had not, however, ever read anything he had written besides fiction. I was overjoyed to see that his jubilent, awe-struck, wonder-filled style and tone carried over into his essays -- that it was not just the way he described his imaginary worlds, but that it was actually the way he sees his world, and that the former is actually a result of the other. I was also surprised to learn of the many ways in which he had used his abilities as a writer to branch into other things, such as urban planning and screenwriting.

The collection as a whole, is a marvel. My favorite, though, was his essay on overcoming his fear of flying, HYSTERIA, THE GODDESS OF FLIGHT, OR ON TAKE OFF, DO NOT RUN UP AND DOWN THE AISLES SCREAMING. What a hoot!

This collection of editorial essays from the great Bradbury is hit and miss for me. The beginning and end sections, "About New York" and "About LA" respectively, seem to solely focus on how many famous people Bradbury had met and how he influenced their lives (through his own view). This was jarring for me, uninteresting, and even to a point self-serving. Yet I can see why he wrote those entries and why they're included in this book. I can imagine them in an Entertainment or editorial section of a publication for people that want their fix of the media workings. I don't. I ready Bradbury for his wonderful vision of science fiction.

By contrast the middle two sections of the book are phenomenal, specifically in his essay outlining his lifelong fascination with trains, and "Mouser", which accounted his dealings with Walt Disney. These dealings went on to shape Bradbury's own writing career and turned many a concept into an allegory of Disneyland and its characters.

Overall a good read, and perhaps this format is best suited for hopping around. I would re-read about half of it.

This essay collection is best appreciated as a convenience, gathering work from hither and yon, some unpublished, for his fans. I'm one, but the repetition and lack of focus tested my patience.

A neat collection of essays that outlines Bradbury's experiences and thoughts on various topics. It has spurred me on to read Moby Dick, 20,000 Leagues and Tender is the Night.

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