With author Jon Winokur’s help, Burt Reynolds, one of Hollywood’s leading men for the past six decades, tells us his life story. He employs an unusual format to do so. Rather than present a chronological narrative of his life, or simply an anecdotal one, Reynolds talks about himself in relation to people he has met along his life’s journey.

As Reynolds puts it, “This book is about the people who’ve shaped me, for better or worse…. I pay homage to those I love and respect.” In the process, he provides mini biographies of many notable people, including Frank Sinatra, Helen Gurley Brown, Spencer Tracy and Clint Eastwood. He also talks about his relationship with former lovers Dinah Shore and Sally Field, as well as his brief marriage to Loni Anderson.

"Hardcore fans undoubtedly will appreciate BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME, but those who are simply curious about Burt Reynolds will enjoy it as well."

This is a no-holds-barred type of book, with Reynolds speaking from the heart. Some parts are laugh-out-loud funny, while others are emotionally touching. He seems to offer a candid account of his life, giving some credit to others for his successes and taking blame himself for most of his failures.

I enjoyed BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME, as I’ve been a fan of Reynolds for years. My infatuation started with the Smokey and the Bandit movies. I didn’t realize he had done any serious acting until I read this book, and I learned a number of interesting tidbits about him. For instance, he had a promising career in football until a terrible car accident put an end to those aspirations, and he also has appeared on Broadway.

Hardcore fans undoubtedly will appreciate BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME, but those who are simply curious about Burt Reynolds will enjoy it as well. This is a well-written and enlightening book that’s definitely worth the read.