Putting the Rabbit Back in the Hat - Book 1 Post 2
Putting the Rabbit Back in the Hat, by Brian Cox, is an autobiography of Brian Cox's life. It covers all aspects of his life, starting from his birth and going through his childhood, getting into acting, starting his career, meeting A-list actors, and both his highs and lows of life. He does not leave any stone unturned, and openly admits both his successes and failures. He touches on how happy he was when his kids were born, but how the relationship turned sour. He is very open yet intelligent about his feelings and how he is constantly growing as a person.
When I first heard about the book, I was a little cautious about reading a book about the life of a famous actor. I thought it might just be a book about some rich guy who has an amazing life. I was happily surprised that Cox writes with a theme of humility throughout. He achieves this by opening the book from the point of view of him as a baby, and builds from that. You can tell when he gets cocky, like when he describes people like Johnny Depp and Edward Norton as, "overrated." He then goes back to his humility vibe when describing things like his failed marriage or relationship with his kids. It gives the reader a deep insight into his life and shows that he has made mistakes, but also learned from them.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about Brian Cox's life very much. It is a story of the American Dream. He starts in humble beginnings in Scotland, and begins to discover his passions. Those passions lead him through life and into success, which is incredibly inspiring. He also highlights that even when you achieve your dreams, there can be failures that shape your successes. For example, he is a very successful person but opens about how he could never stay faithful, or how alcoholism thrives in the entertainment industry. I personally enjoyed this insight because I have a few friends in the entertainment industry, and they confirmed these facts. These are problems that everyone suffers through, rich or poor, which just brings more awareness to them and the dangers that can come with success. I would love to learn more about different actors' journeys through the entertainment industry, and compare them to Cox's.
Hi Dante,
ReplyDeleteThis seems like such an interesting book! I think if I first picked this up, I would've also thought it would just be about a rich guy and he problems (which isn't really interesting). I'm glad to see it was much more than that. I don't think I've ever heard someone call Johnny Depp "overrated," but I guess there's a first time for everything. Hopefully, I can read this when I have more time too!
Angelica
Hi Dante,
ReplyDeleteThis is the third post on this book I am commenting on and I get more information in each post. I really like how you described Cox leading with humility throughout but sometimes shows the cockiness that we think actors typically have. I also found it very interesting that he said he could never be faithful and seems to bring up some very personal themes in his life. I'm curious to why his marriage went sour... Thank you for your post!
Zoë
Thanks for sharing Dante. I read the same book that you selected and had a similar first impression that it might be some vain story about a Hollywood actor's fabulous life. Like you, I was genuinely and happily surprised by how it actually turned out. I like how you described the text as having a sense of humility because I had not thought of describing it like that but it is definitely true. I think it's ironic how you described Brian Cox living the American dream when he is from Scotland, but I have to agree that his life does seem to fit in that storyline-- with a couple twists along the way.
ReplyDeleteHey Dante,
ReplyDeleteI also thought about reading this book, but chose Beautiful Country instead. After reading your analysis, I think this book would have been equally as good because of the author's humility (that you described). It would be cool to get behind the scenes information on the entertainment industry because it's a life everyone wants until they have it. Good job on your post, I think you gave us the main takeaways of the book without spoiling the plot!
- Ellie
Hey Dante,
ReplyDeleteI also read Putting the Rabbit in the Hat. I found it super interesting to read your perspective. I think we had similar thoughts on the book. He definitely had a bit of a cocky tone, but also it was fun to read someone be so open. I think he's rightfully cocky at some points considering his background. Great post!
Best,
Brooke
Hello Dante,
ReplyDeletePutting the Rabbit Back in the Hat sounds like a really insightful look into the entertainment industry from perspectives most people don't think about -- the effect on personal relationships, the failures and the vices of those in the industry. Also, the idea of starting the book from the perspective of him as a baby is really interesting and unique. Overall, sounds like a memoir that has a good balance of humor and seriousness.
Ethan
Hi Dante,
ReplyDeleteI think you summarized Brian Cox's book perfectly. It's cool that you have friends in the industry that are able to relate to some of the experiences of Brian. Im not talking about the bad stuff being cool, but just that it's cool that Brain was telling the truth. I love how Brain talks about his shortcomings and is transparent about it. I think that is one aspect that makes this book a great read.
-Angel Perez
Hi Dante,
ReplyDeletePutting the Rabbit Back in the Hat was one of the books I was initially choosing between since I'm interested in the entertainment industry and thought the suggested exposé nature of the book would be fun to read. I also worried about the book just focusing on Cox's successes as an actor, but it definitely seems like he's had some tough experiences and tries to stay humble. It's always cool having personal connections to topics you're reading about, like with your friends in the industry, and drawing comparison between them. Thanks for sharing!
- Francesca