Something Like an Autobiography

Akira Kurosawa

Recommended By

Book Reviews

One of 10 biographies Jason Calacanis recommends reading.

Book Synopsis

"Something Like an Autobiography" by Akira Kurosawa is a compelling memoir that delves into the iconic filmmaker's life and creative journey. Kurosawa takes readers on a captivating expedition through his childhood, his turbulent youth, and his rise to becoming one of Japan's most celebrated directors.

In the book, Kurosawa reflects on his early struggles as an aspiring painter and his eventual transition to the world of cinema. With candidness and introspection, he shares the personal experiences and encounters that shaped his artistic vision and approach to storytelling. Drawing inspiration from both Western and Japanese influences, Kurosawa presents a unique perspective on the world of filmmaking.

Throughout the pages, Kurosawa shares anecdotes about the making of his most renowned films, such as "Rashomon," "Seven Samurai," and "Yojimbo." He discusses his collaborations with actors and renowned cinematographers, while providing valuable insights into his creative process and the challenges he faced along the way.

Beyond his cinematic journey, Kurosawa delves into Japan's cultural and historical context, offering a nuanced exploration of the nation's identity and the role of cinema within it. Through his narrative, Kurosawa highlights the importance of storytelling as a means of understanding and bridging cultural divides.

"Something Like an Autobiography" is not only a memoir of a master filmmaker but also a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and the transformative nature of art. Kurosawa's honest and captivating storytelling offers readers a profound glimpse into his world, one that continues to inspire filmmakers and cinephiles alike.

Explore More Books

See All
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
How Will You Measure Your Life?
In-N-Out Burger
The Hot Hand
The American Story
A Peace to End All Peace
The Infidel and the Professor
The British Are Coming
How to Read a Book
Happy Money
Beat the Wealth Management Hustle
Search Inside Yourself
More Than You Know
A Hall of Mirrors
The Great Book of Amber
Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero
Talent
Believe Me
Superforecasting
100 Deadly Skills
Billion Dollar Whale
A History of Rome
The Art of Possibility
The Neverending Story
The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All
The Aspirational Investor
101 Things I Learned in Engineering School
The Net & The Butterfly
Endure
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Louis XIV
The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis
Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens
Oranges
The Constitutional Convention
Trillion Dollar Triage
The Book of Why
The Skeptical Environmentalist
Scaling People
The Little Book of Bull Moves
The Box
Einstein
Prof. Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System
The Surrender Experiment
The Best We Could Do
Double your Profits
The Clash of the Cultures
Hidden Repression
Blue Ocean Strategy
Tales of the Unexpected
Mohandas K. Ghandi
Making The Modern World
Power Failure
Homo Deus
The Fear Book
Viral
Technopoly
Q.E.D.
The Airbnb Story
Army Of None
Natural Capitalism
The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross
No Bullshit Guide to Math and Physics
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Barbarians At The Gate
Paradigms
Matthew Barney & Elizabeth Peyton
An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope
The True Believer
Modern Man in Search of a Soul
Rubicon
Nonviolent Communication
The Hate U Give
The Science of Success
A Mathematician's Apology
Chasing Hillary
Maps of Meaning
Golden Gates
A History of the Mind
Not The End of the World
The Talent Code
Margin of Safety
Stretching the School Dollar
My Forty Years with Ford
The Inner Lives of Markets
Confidence Game
A Year with Rumi
Dream Big
Originals
Endurance
The Man Who Fed The World
You Can Be a Stock Market Genius
Freakonomics
The Story of Civilization: The Reformation
Every Life Is On Fire
Measure What Matters
Black Edge
Traction
The Happiness Hypothesis
The Weather Makers
Night Sky with Exit Wounds