I would often hesitate to read, let alone recommend, books by celebrities, but I do recommend this one.

Alan Alda is a write as well as an actor, and his book is not written “with” anyone. He appeared in the television hit M*A*S*H for 11 years, and has acted in, written, and directed many feature films, in addition to the stage. Currently he is acting in the role of a presidential candidate in West Wing.

His sense of humor is indicated in the title of this book. I won’t spoil it by telling too much, but it is a story from his childhood and a theme of the book. That childhood was unusual, a life backstage while his father was in burlesque and vaudeville before moving to Hollywood.

He tells wonderful anecdotes about those days and the comics and show girls who were his friends. The day finally came, of course, when he had to move on from “home schooling” and tutors to public schools, even military academies. Those experiences were rough, but his sense of humor prevailed – usually.

His father was successful much of the time, though not as well-known as his son would become. His mother’s story is a sad one; she suffered from mental illness in a time when families did not want to reveal or deal with it.

Like many famous actors, his career in show business developed slowly, but he does not dwell on the hard times, instead giving credit to his wife for often keeping the family afloat while he tried to become established as an actor.

The years as Hawkeye made him famous, with the detraction of being recognized when he preferred not to be, but with financial security and professional success. He reports that he found it hard to adjust to fame, not understanding why people would care about his personal life.

He began to write and direct in addition to acting, and many opportunities enriched his career. “I notice I haven’t mentioned many famous people in t his book yet. . . . A book of t his kind is expected to have something hot in it, so I’ve tried to recall some of the famous women I have kissed.” He adds a long lists, including some stories about the circumstances.

Experiences on Scientific American Frontiers and his own brush with death are covered in the closing chapters. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is available in the Mary Willis Library.