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Never Have Your Dog Stuffed
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned | Alan Alda
21 posts | 19 read | 9 to read
Hes one of Americas most recognizable and acclaimed actorsa star on Broadway, an Oscar nominee for The Aviator, and the only person to ever win Emmys for acting, writing, and directing, during his eleven years on M*A*S*H. Now Alan Alda has written a memoir as elegant, funny, and affecting as his greatest performances. My mother didnt try to stab my father until I was six, begins Aldas irresistible story. The son of a popular actor and a loving but mentally ill mother, he spent his early childhood backstage in the erotic and comic world of burlesque and went on, after early struggles, to achieve extraordinary success in his profession. Yet Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is not a memoir of show-business ups and downs. It is a moving and funny story of a boy growing into a man who then realizes he has only just begun to grow. It is the story of turning points in Aldas life, events that would make him what he isif only he could survive them. From the moment as a boy when his dead dog is returned from the taxidermists shop with a hideous expression on his face, and he learns that death cant be undone, to the decades-long effort to find compassion for the mother he lived with but never knew, to his acceptance of his father, both personally and professionally, Alda learns the hard way that change, uncertainty, and transformation are what life is made of, and true happiness is found in embracing them. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, filled with curiosity about nature, good humor, and honesty, is the crowning achievement of an actor, author, and director, but surprisingly, it is the story of a life more filled with turbulence and laughter than any Alda has ever played on the stage or screen. From the Hardcover edition.
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review
shortsarahrose
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Pickpick

A very pleasant #audiobook. I was telling my mom that it felt like listening to my grandpa telling stories, though my grandpa didn‘t grow up backstage at burlesque shows! Not at all gossipy or salacious. He‘s honest about difficult things, especially his mom‘s mental illness and his struggle with their relationship. I found the first half (growing up, falling in love, trying to make it as an actor) more engaging than the second. Still, a pleasure.

mandarchy I loved this book, but I grew up sitting on my dad's lap watching MASH. I loved the part where he worked every job he could get, especially the clown at the car dealership. It made me realize how hard he worked even though he had a leg-in. 13mo
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shortsarahrose
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Another day off because of weather (ice storm warning!). I‘m glad, too, because I‘m really struggling with Crohn‘s related fatigue right now.

April and I are snuggling up and listening to Alan Alda. My mom got me a CD player/radio for my birthday last week, so perfect excuse to listen to this library sale find rather than waiting for a road trip to use my car‘s CD player.

#catsoflitsy

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you feel better ❤️‍🩹 14mo
AmyG Feel better! 14mo
RaeLovesToRead Feel better soon. Give April a snuggle from me 💕 14mo
See All 7 Comments
Leftcoastzen Feel better , kitties are good nurses or at least, snuggle buddies. 14mo
Ruthiella Hope you feel better soon! ❤️ 14mo
dabbe I love that there are cds being used in the world! April looks like the best feel-better mate! Adorable! Hope you're on the mend soon! ❣️🐾❣️ 14mo
rabbitprincess Hope you‘re feeling better soon! Alan is a good choice to listen to 😊 14mo
37 likes7 comments
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eeclayton
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#manicmonday #letterN @CBee

📖 Never Have Your Dog Stuffed
✍️ Vladimir Nabokov
🎞️ North by Northwest 📺 The Night Manager
🎤 Nirvana
🎵 Name by The Goo Goo Dolls

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eeclayton
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#Alphabetgame #LetterN @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

A delightful memoir by one of my favourite famous people 😊

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚👌🏻 2y
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shortsarahrose
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Thanks for the tag @SauerPatch
#ISpy some books with stars (of stage and screen 😆) on them.

@Linsy @Kalalalatja @Scochrane26 I challenge you to find a book with a building on it.

rabbitprincess I loved Alan Alda‘s memoir 😍 4y
shortsarahrose @rabbitprincess I haven‘t read it yet, but I‘m looking forward to it! 4y
14 likes2 comments
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Ash.on.the.line
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Reading while waiting in the car has its own little peace to it!
Busy weekend but hoping to end it with a good book! ✌🏼😊

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TK-421
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The difference between listening and pretending to listen, I discovered, is enormous. One is fluid, the other is rigid. One is alive, the other is stuffed. Eventually, I found a #radical way of thinking about listening. Real listening is a willingness to let the other person change you. When I‘m willing to let them change me, something happens between us that‘s more interesting than a pair of dueling monologues.” #QuotsySept19

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mandarchy
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Real listening is a willingness to let the other person change you.

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mandarchy
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What in the burlesque were the talking ladies?

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SleepyDragon
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1.He gave life to the iconic Hawkeye, has been a lifelong activist, and he's a writer!
2.We have both a swamp cooler and an ac, the latter we only use when it is too humid (or hot) for the swamp to work effectively, which has been the last 2.5 weeks.
3.Watching Colbert/tv with my husband.
4.I live life always waiting for the other shoe to drop. 🤪
5.Hardly ever remember them; haven't had a recurring one since my mid 20s.
#humpdaypost @MinDea

Sharpeipup Love Alan Alda! 6y
MommyOfTwo Great actor! 6y
11 likes2 comments
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eeclayton
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Pickpick

Delightful. Honest, insightful, funny, and incredibly humble all along. I've always loved Alan Alda, now I love him even more. #popsugar2018 #animalinthetitle

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eeclayton
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<3

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Ash.on.the.line
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TBR pile question: latest book mail?
I accidentally bought his second one so I ordered this.
I can‘t wait to read it!

Reecaspieces I read this...it‘s pretty cute. I love that his dad was a “tit” singer...just wait. I never knew that was a real job! 😜 6y
Ash.on.the.line @Reecaspieces oh now I‘m even more excited to read! 😂 6y
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GoneFishing

During the first day, curious at having outsiders among them, a long stream of inmates came over and talked with me. Remarkably, according to what they told me, nearly every inmate in the prison didn't do it. Several thousand people had been locked up unjustly and, by an incredible coincidence, all in the same prison.

On the other hand, they knew an awful lot about how to knife somebody.

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TheBookDream
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Pickpick

I love how autobiography lets you learn from people with wildly different life experiences. This one was excellent. Can't wait to read the second autobiography he wrote!

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TheBookDream
Pickpick

I love how autobiography lets you learn from people with wildly different life experiences. This one was excellent. Can't wait to read the second autobiography he wrote!

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TheBookDream
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Rude Pokemon interrupted my reading lunch.

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TheBookDream
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Some pre-work reading!

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TheBookDream
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Pfffft. The way I play there IS no difference between tuning up and playing 😂

13 likes1 comment
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TheBookDream
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Today's work place options.