Melissa Manchester, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein

On this episode of Books That Changed My Life, Chris is joined by actress, singer, and industry legend Melissa Manchester. Melissa’s book, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, is not, in fact, the autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. Instead, it’s really Gertrude Stein’s autobiography, told through the imagined eyes of her friend, confidant, and lover. The Autobiography catalogues Gertrude and Alice’s time spent with members of the Paris avant-garde. From Pablo Picasso to Ernest Hemingway, and Juan Gris to Henri Matisse, the book is jam-packed with enough superstardom to inspire anyone to pursue the “artist’s life.” That was certainly the effect it had on a young Melissa, prompting her to devote her life to the creation of boundary-pushing work. Check this episode out for musings on contemporary art, the creative process, and a real, raw history lesson on the art legends that built our culture.