Recommended Booklist

🎬 Top 10 Books for Kids and Parents in the TV & Film Industry

1. Auditionology: A Guide for Young Actors by Harriet Greenspan Buy Here

   A must-read for audition prep and confidence
   Written by a top casting director for youth television and film, this book is packed with practical tips, real scripts,
   audition strategies, and insider knowledge from someone who has cast hundreds of young actors. Perfect for both kids and parents.

2. Mom…I Want to Be a Star! by Irene Dreayer Buy Here

    A helpful parent roadmap
    From a producer of Disney and WB hits, this book helps parents navigate the emotional, financial, and professional
    aspects of raising a child actor—while keeping the family grounded.

3. Acting in Young Hollywood: A Guide for Kids, Teens, and Adults Who Play Young Too by Frederick Levy Buy Here

    For families just getting started
    Covers everything from headshots to agents, set etiquette to auditions, in an easy-to-understand format for all ages.

4. The Ultimate Acting Handbook by Scott Broussard Buy Here

    Perfect for kids who are curious about acting but don’t know where to start.
    dance, and fun exercises that make learning enjoyable. Encourages creativity, teamwork, and self-confidence—skills that go far beyond acting.
    Whether you’re preparing for your first audition, joining a school play, or dreaming of becoming a star,
    The Ultimate Acting Handbook for Kids is here to guide you every step of the way.
    Acting is an adventure, and this book will help you shine every time you step into the spotlight.

5. Raising a Star by Nancy Carson Buy Here

    From a top children’s agent
    This guide helps parents understand how to support their child in building a sustainable and
    healthy acting career, with focus on auditions, training, and industry red flags.

6. The Young Actor's Handbook by Jeremy Kruse Buy Here

    A craft-focused book for tweens and teens
    Includes exercises, techniques, and reflections that encourage growth as both a performer and person.

7. Auditioning for Film and TV: A post #MeToo Guide for Kids and Their Grown-Ups by Lisa London Buy Here

    Focused on professionalism and safety
    A modern take on auditioning that emphasizes empowerment, preparation, and setting boundaries.

8. Monologues for Kids and Tweens: 100 Original Comedy and Drama Monologues for Young Actors by Mike Kimmel Buy Here

    Great for class, self-tapes, and auditions
    Age-appropriate, emotionally grounded monologues that help young actors shine.

9. Confessions of a Casting Director by Jen Rudin Buy Here

    What casting directors really look for
    A behind-the-scenes look at how auditions work, with tips from a former Disney casting exec.

10. Breaking Into Acting for Dummies by Larry Garrison and Wallace Wang Buy Here

      Beginner-friendly and full of practical tips
      Despite the title, this book is smart, well-structured, and covers everything from agents to unions to marketing.

🎭 Top 40 Books Every Adult Actor Should Read

🎬 CRAFT & TECHNIQUE

• • An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski Buy Here
    The foundation of modern acting—teaches inner truth, objectives, and building character.


• • Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen
      A hands-on, accessible, and emotional dive into transformation and truth.
  Buy Here


• • A Challenge for the Actor by Uta Hagen
      Goes deeper into craft, personalization, and technical execution.
  Buy Here


• • Sanford Meisner on Acting by Sanford Meisner & Dennis Longwell
      Step-by-step training in moment-to-moment work, listening, and emotional truth.
  Buy Here


• • The Intent to Live by Larry Moss
      A masterclass in emotional depth and script analysis. Essential for serious actors.
  Buy Here


• • The Actor and the Target by Declan Donnellan
      Practical, clear, and actor-focused. Helps break free from self-consciousness.
  Buy Here


• • How to Stop Acting by Harold Guskin
      Encourages spontaneity, presence, and intuition in scene work.
  Buy Here


• • Actions: The Actors’ Thesaurus by Marina Caldarone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams
      A must-have for rehearsals and script breakdown—over 300 active verbs for playable objectives.
  Buy Here


• • The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck
      A favorite in LA—turns emotional pain into purpose. A practical, emotionally rigorous 12-step method.
  Buy Here


• • No Acting Please by Eric Morris & Joan Hotchkis
      Radical and experiential—focuses on emotional truth and getting out of your own way.
  Buy Here


• • Being and Doing by Eric Morris
      A deeper journey into freeing your instrument and stripping away performance habits.
  Buy Here


• • Acting Lions by Penny Templeton
      Blends classic acting training with modern expectations for film/TV actors. Great exercises and camera notes.
  Buy Here


• • The Lucid Body by Fay Simpson
      Connects psychology to physicality for grounded, body-based acting.
  Buy Here


• • Screen Acting Trade Secrets by Peter Skagen
      Practical tips for navigating the film set and nailing on-camera performance. Fun, direct, and actor-friendly.
  Buy Here

🎥 AUDITIONING & ON-CAMERA TECHNIQUE

• • Audition by Michael Shurtleff
      A timeless guide that breaks auditions down into 12 guideposts. Funny, clear, and essential.
  Buy Here


• Auditioning for the Camera by Joseph Hacker
      Teaches the craft of acting specifically for the lens—eye lines, subtlety, frame awareness.
  Buy Here


• • The Art of Auditioning by Rob Decina
      Candid advice from a casting director. A must for anyone auditioning for TV/film.
  Buy Here


• • Auditionology by Harriet Greenspan
      Tactical advice for preparing and booking, especially for co-star/guest star roles.
  Buy Here


• • Self-Management for Actors by Bonnie Gillespie
      How to work smarter in the business—branding, type, strategy, and marketing.
  Buy Here


• • Michael Caine: Acting in Film by Michael Caine
      Legendary and practical advice for acting on camera, delivered with warmth and humor.
  Buy Here

🧠 VOICE, BODY & MINDSET

• • Freeing the Natural Voice by Kristin Linklater
      Essential for vocal freedom, resonance, and emotional connection through voice.
  Buy Here


• • The Actor Speaks by Patsy Rodenburg
      A comprehensive guide to breath, speech, and voice work.
  Buy Here


• • I Don't Need An Acting Class by Milton Justice
      I Don't Need an Acting Class explores critical aspects of the technique of acting,
      utilizing conversations via email with countless actors.
  Buy Here


• • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
      A motivational classic for any artist. Helps defeat resistance and stay focused.
  Buy Here


• • The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
      A 12-week creative recovery program that’s transformed thousands of artists’ lives.
      Journaling, reflection, and rediscovering joy in the craft.
  Buy Here

💼 BUSINESS & CAREER STRATEGY

• • The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer
      Candid, hilarious, and practical. One of the most relatable acting books out there.
  Buy Here


• • Acting as a Business by Brian O’Neil
      Covers agents, resumes, headshots, and how to network professionally.
  Buy Here


• • Excellence for Actors by Alexa Ispas
      Discover how to apply “deliberate practice” — a type of practice used by top performers around the world
      to turn your weaknesses into strengths.
  Buy Here


• • Screenplay by Syd Field
      Not just for writers—actors benefit greatly from understanding structure, pacing, and screenwriting beats.
  Buy Here


• • Making It on Broadway by David Wienir & Jodie Langel
      Real interviews with working actors about the truth behind surviving and thriving on stage.
  Buy Here

📚 POPULAR ACTOR BIOGRAPHIES & MEMOIRS

• • Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
      Philosophical, bold, and wildly entertaining. A look into McConaughey’s life and career path.
  Buy Here


• • In Pieces by Sally Field
      An incredibly honest and powerful memoir from a master actress. Heartfelt, dark, and inspiring.
  Buy Here


• • Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson
      A gorgeous, soulful story from a true icon of screen and stage. A legacy book.
  Buy Here


• • Will by Will Smith
      Equal parts memoir and life coaching. Will’s rise, reinventions, and missteps make for a riveting read.
  Buy Here


• • Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
      Though not a traditional actor memoir, it’s a masterclass in storytelling and character through personal experience.
  Buy Here


• • The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson
      For actors interested in transformation and performance personas—this one is provocative and raw.
  Buy Here


• • My Life So Far by Jane Fonda
      A rich account of activism, film, failure, and resilience across decades in the public eye.
  Buy Here


• • Bossypants by Tina Fey
      Sharp, funny, and full of industry lessons for comedic performers.
  Buy Here


• • Storyteller by Dave Grohl
      For those who understand performance beyond acting—this memoir connects creativity, discipline, and risk-taking.
  Buy Here


• • Act One by Moss Hart
      A legendary theatrical autobiography. Poetic, passionate, and deeply inspiring for stage actors.
  Buy Here