The Sanford Meisner Approach: Workbook Three, Tackling the Text (Career Development Series)

This is is the worst book I have bought on amazon.com. Generally, I have had very good experiences in purchases, as I have gotten what I paid for, and, most importantly, paid for what a book was advertised for. "The Sanford Meisner Approach: Workbook Three - Tackling the Text" is a very misleading title, as it suggests Meisner techniques application to working with a text (any text). Instead, what you have, are very traditional approaches with basic techniques taught in high school drama class, which has nothing to do with Meisner, but, in fact, can be easily found in works of other great American directors such as Stella Adler or Uta Hagen. You might as well go ahead and purchase Hagen's "Respect for Actings", and basic exercises related to scene work will be both the same, plus, you will find even more useful information. Silverberg might be a good practitioner, but, unfortunately, this book is not a good reflection of his work. What you have here is: an analysis of a scene and a single application of Meisner repetition technique to a scene, which one could figure out on his/her own if you watch Meisner Master Class DVDs. In short: This book is a rip-off; save yourselves money.

Nice explanations as to why you learn the words in the way that you do and all books in this series include notebook client pages for you to take notes or practice the exercises. I liked the fact that he included questions of the class and his answers to those questions.

It is so difficult to fully grasp the Meisner Technique if not in a classroom setting. But, if being in class is impossible, Larry Silverberg's books provide the next best thing.

Larry Silverberg is a marvellous teacher.

excellent product and service!

I have been a professional actor for 30 years. About fifteen years ago I was verylucky. I picked up Larry Siverberg's first book on the Sanford Meisner approach. It changed my life as an actor, and as a teacher. I know of no finer book on acting, and I have read a lot of them. It is the clearest, the most step by step, and the most inspirational book on true acting that has ever been written. This also holds for the other three books in his series. Did reading his book make me a better actor over night? Of course not. And Larry Silverberg never said that it would. Let me repeat that - he never said that it would! So what did it do? It opened a path that I could begin to follow - a long and very difficult path, but a wonderous and life changing journey. It showed me where my training was lacking, and what real actor training could be. It inspired me and gave me a map to use to begin exploring with fellow actors the craft of acting. And it lead me to seek out new teachers. I am a better actor because of this book.I have used Larry Silverber's books in many university acting and directing classes. When I started using his first volume, teaching became fun and exciting again. I have seen his approach work with so many students, and it is miraculous. I can not recomend his books highly enough as either an introduction to what true acting can be, or as the beginning of a wonderful journey.

As both a professional actor and an acting instructor I cannot recommend Larry's "The Sanford Meisner Approach Workbook" series highly enough. Having studied and applied the Meisner technique as an actor for 14 years and having taught it now for 4 I find Larry's series to be the most straightforward and accessible breakdown of Sandy's technique. I teach acting in the BFA program at Central Washington University in Ellensburg WA and we currently offer a total of 50 weeks of Meisner training over a two year period. Larry's "Workbook One" is one of the required texts in the first year and the remaining three books in the series are required in the second year. I, and my students, have found that their experience is enhanced by reading the chapters, or sessions, in the book that correspond to the work we are doing in class. I have seen their connection to their others, their art, their community and themselves strengthen and deepen as we work on this technique and the exercises together. As an actor and/or an acting teacher you cannot go wrong with The Meisner Technique and you cannot go wrong with Larry Silverberg's "The Sanford Meisner Approach" series. I highly recommend it!

I have a MFA in acting from the University of Central Florida, and I teach acting at Christian Brothers University in Memphis Tennessee. I studied with Larry Silverberg for two summers. He is as remarkable a teacher as he is a writer. Even though one might think it is extremely difficult to explain the Meisner technique in a book, Larry has accomplished that. Like many, I believe you need to study acting in a class to learn the craft, but these series of books are a rare exception. Not only do they teach the technique using a step by step process which allows the actor to really understand what s/he is doing, but they reveal the essence of the Meisner approach which is to specify a role until it has ULTIMATE MEANING for YOU!Also, if you didn't know by now from reading the other reviews,"Meisner gave Larry and Smith & Kraus" written permission to publish these books.

A really useful workshop manual

...for practitioners or students of acting. One of the most famous drama practitioners in the USA. Give it a go.

As described

Larry Silverberg wrote severan books on Meisner. He organizez the work in several rigorous lesson plans. It is very helpfull.