Howard Kissel Stella Adler: The Art of Acting

Last updated: November 1, 2022


Howard Kissel Stella Adler: The Art of Acting

We looked at the top Acting Books and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Acting Book you should buy.

Product Details

In our analysis of 24 expert reviews, the Howard Kissel Stella Adler: The Art of Acting placed 7th when we looked at the top 9 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Stella Adler was one of the 20th Century’s greatest figures. She is arguably the most important teacher of acting in American history. Over her long career, both in New York and Hollywood, she offered her vast acting knowledge to generations of actors, including Marlon Brando, Warren Beatty, and Robert De Niro. The great voice finally ended in the early 1990s. But, her decades of experience and teaching have been brilliantly captured and encapsulated by Howard Kissel, in the 22 lessons you’ll hear in this audiobook. This brand-new audio edition of The Art of Acting is vibrantly narrated by Bonnie Agan.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

Phenomenal. Even if you aren't studying to be an actor it is still a good read. She has a way with words. It also has a self-help sense to it.
Men have often dominated the history of American acting. But one woman refused to sit quietly in the wings—instead pulling the American method in a bold new direction. This woman was Stella Adler, an artist and teacher who was determined to demystify acting and help actors create deliberate performances.

What reviewers didn't like

I found the book easy to read, but difficult to finish. This is because it isn't really a book at all—it's a transcript of an acting course. After a while, it's hard to engage with the material as a reader (and not as a pupil in a classroom completing all the assignments). I would much prefer an acting instruction that is intended to be read.
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