Letters to a Young Artist: Straight-Up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts--For Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind

From "the most exciting individual in American theater" (News-week), here is Anna Deavere Smith's inspiring yet brass-tacks advice to all aspiring artists. "I have agreed to mentor you for a period of five years. Somebody you know made the highest bid on me as an item at a charity fundraiser. My deal was that I would mentor whomever 'won' me at the auction in some way for the next five years." In the manner of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, Anna Deavere Smith advises her young artist on everything from how to stay healthy to tips for building a diverse network of friends and professional alliances. Inspiring and deeply moving, this book has life-changing potential.