Michael Musto
Michael Musto, columnist for The Village Voice and Out, author of Downtown and Manhattan on the Rocks (both out of print), and frequent commentator for E!, selects his favorite books on show business.
All About “All About Eve” by Sam Staggs (St. Martin’s Press, $19.96). The best book ever about the best movie ever. A fascinating glimpse behind this legendary Bette Davis film’s woolly wit, swiveling hips, and tossed cigarettes. Fasten your seat belts.
The Studio by John Gregory Dunne (Bantam Books, $11.20). In the late ’60s, Twentieth Century Fox almost destroyed the movie musical—and itself—with two colossal bombs, Star! and Dr. Dolittle. Dunne was there and remembers every lousy memo and dumbheaded decision—brilliantly.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Not Since Carrie by Ken Mandelbaum (St. Martin’s Press, $13.56). A clearheaded, compelling journey through Broadway’s biggest floperettas—from Ankles Aweigh to Zenda—and what made them horrible. The misbegotten musical version of Carrie is rightfully held up (down?) as the most fascinating of the worst of the rottenest.
You Can’t Do That on Broadway! by Philip Rose (Limelight Editions, $20). Rose produced A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking 1959 play about the black struggle, against all odds. Today it’s a classic, and this inspiring behind-the-scenes remembrance deserves similar status.
My Story by Marilyn Monroe (Cooper Square Press, $18.36). Ditzy blond Marilyn hereby reveals herself to be a smart, sensitive cookie who knew exactly what buttons she was pushing. You want to hug her and make the big, bad world go away.
We’re Going to Make You a Star by Sally Quinn (Simon and Schuster, out of print). In the ’70s, Washington Post reporter Quinn was plucked to co-host The CBS Morning News and nothing good came out of it except for this shrewdly written tell-all. It saucily skewers TV as an empty, disposable medium (which I still want to be on).
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Selfies ban in art galleries: a sign of the times?
Talking Point Priceless art has been damaged by visitors desperate to take a snap with star attractions, leading some galleries and museums to start fighting back
-
Quiz of The Week: 21 – 27 June
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: How do you turn plastics into paracetamol?
Podcast Plus, what is the Wagner Group doing now? And why is it so hard to find a job after university?
-
Anne Hillerman's 6 favorite books with Native characters
Feature The author recommends works by Ramona Emerson, Craig Johnson, and more
-
John Kenney's 6 favorite books that will break your heart softly
Feature The novelist recommends works by John le Carré, John Kennedy Toole, and more
-
Andrea Long Chu's 6 favorite books for people who crave new ideas
Feature The book critic recommends works by Rachel Cusk, Sigmund Freud, and more
-
Bryan Burrough's 6 favorite books about Old West gunfighters
Feature The Texas-raised author recommends works by T.J. Stiles, John Boessenecker, and more
-
Tash Aw's 6 favorite books about forbidden love
Feature The Malaysian novelist recommends works by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and more
-
Richard Bausch's 6 favorite books that are worth rereading
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and more
-
Marya E. Gates' 6 favorite books about women filmmakers
Feature The film writer recommends works by Julie Dash, Sofia Coppola, and more
-
Laurence Leamer's 6 favorite books that took courage to write
Feature The author recommends works by George Orwell, Truman Capote and more