NOVEMBER 9, 2023 - Like many fans of Sir Patrick Stewart, I thought I knew the man. for 35 years I’ve watched his on-screen alter ego, Jean-Luc Picard, battle the Borg, trade insults with Q (John de Lancie), lead science and diplomatic missions, and face the specters of his past and future.

I’ve also seen Stewart in other roles, including, on Broadway, his masterful one-man adaptation of A Christmas Carol and his seven appearances in the X-Man films as Professor Charles Xavier, a portrayal that transcends the original material; I hear his stentorian voice every time I pick up an X-Men comic. Plus, even though I’ve never seen him in a Shakespearean production live on stage (something I’ve always wanted to do), hearing him quote the Bard, as in the series of videos he created during the 2020 pandemic, is beautiful and inspiring.

But a series of roles onstage and screen does not make for a complete picture of the man. I daresay his Walter Blunt (Blunt Talk) was a completely different person from his Vladimir (Waiting For Godot). True, as with many great actors, some of Stewart inhabits every role he takes on. But, as I learned from his recently released memoir, so do a lot of other people.

That memoir, Making It So, is a pretty big little book. At 469 pages, it runs a little over a quarter of the length of War and Peace. That’s not a bad thing, though, as it’s a lot easier to read than most people find the Russian epic.

Part of what leads to the book’s page count is its thoroughness. Stewart begins, very naturally, at the beginning, with his humble origins in Mirfield, a town in West Yorkshire, England. The earliest chapters describe his upbringing, including his father’s heavy drinking, which led to the abuse of his mother. It’s not a subject that Stewart dwells upon for too long, but it does come up occasionally throughout the narrative.

Other childhood memories include a moment that, in retrospect, feels far more consequential than it probably did in the moment: that day when his teacher, Cecil Dormand, to whom we all owe a great debt of gratitude, introduced young Patrick to William Shakespeare. From there we follow Stewart through his early theater training, experiencing his (many) schoolboy crushes and girlfriends along the way.

It may be surprising to those who have watched Captain Jean-Luc Picard confidently face down the Romulans to learn that Sir Patrick Stewart the man has never been all that confident. Throughout the narrative, he reveals just how unsure of himself he’s been at times, especially when it comes to his career. That’s only natural; an actor’s life is one of struggle and uncertainty, never knowing when going into an audition if you have what the director’s looking for or are lacking some crucial quality that the guy sitting next to you has in spades.

Stewart’s book makes for engaging reading, and I was surprised at the suspense I felt at moments like when he went to audition for Star Trek: The Next Generation, even though I already knew the outcome. I was familiar with many of the stories, too, especially when, eleven chapters from the end of the book, he got a call from Gene Roddenberry. But in general, Star Trek fans love to hear the behind-the-scenes stories from their favorite television show over and over again, so even the oft-told stories of Stewart’s audition wearing a wig and his “rather pompous” speech to his cast mates about discipline are welcome additions to the book.

“Rather pompous” are Stewart’s words, not mine, and that highlights something refreshing about the book: its candor. Stewart doesn’t hold back, and while he perhaps is too critical of himself at times, he has no problem telling a story against himself and admitting that he got it wrong. From the occasional career misfire to his failed relationships, Stewart bares all, looking at his life until now retrospectively, understanding that his past mistakes were just as important in fashioning the man he is now as his successes.

Such contemplation might, in some circles, be called naval-gazing, but in this case, it helps create a complete picture of the man. It’s true, there’s some of Sir Pat Stew in every role he takes on. But it’s the people he’s met and the choices he’s made that have shaped who he is, as is true with us all.

Whether you’re a Trekkie or an X-Men fan, an anglophile or a bardolator, have an interest in theater or a fascination with celebrity, this book is for you. It’s surprisingly relatable, full of poignancy and humor, and you can pick it up wherever you get your favorite books. Sir Patrick Stewart is also in the midst of a book tour, and you can find out where he’s appearing next here.