Below I’ll give you my selections for the best Method Acting books by a few categories. I will cover these and other great books more in depth later.
- On Method Acting: The Classic Actor’s Guide to the Stanislavsky Technique as Practiced at the Actors Studio (1989)
- Sanford Meisner on Acting (1987)
- The Stanislavski System: The Professional Training of an Actor; Second Revised Edition (Penguin Handbooks) (1984)
- A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method (1988)
- The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods (Career Development Series) (Career Development Book) (1996)
- The Method Acting Exercises Handbook (2017)
- Acting: A Handbook of the Stanislavski Method (2014)
- Acting: The Gister Method (2015)
- Acting: Onstage and Off (2015)
- Black Acting Methods (2016)
- Method Acting For Writers: Learn Deep Point Of View Using Emotional Layers (2018)
- On Method Acting (1989)
On Method Acting: The Classic Actor’s Guide to the Stanislavsky Technique as Practiced at the Actors Studio (1989)
Practiced by such actors of stature as Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Julie Harris, Dustin Hoffman, and Ellen Burstyn (not to mention the late James Dean) the Method offers a practical application of the renowned Stanislavsky technique.On Method Acting demystifies the "mysteries" of Method acting — breaking down the various steps into clear and simple terms, including chapters on:Sense Memory — the most…
Sanford Meisner on Acting (1987)
Sanford Meisner was one of the best known and beloved teachers of acting in the country. This book follows one of his acting classes for fifteen months, beginning with the most rudimentary exercises and ending with affecting and polished scenes from contemporary American plays.
The Stanislavski System: The Professional Training of an Actor; Second Revised Edition (Penguin Handbooks) (1984)
This clearly written guide to the Stanislavski method has long been a favorite among students and teachers of acting. Now, in light of books and articles recently published in the Soviet Union, Sonia Moore has made revisions that include a new section on the subtext of a role. She provides detailed explanations of all the methods that actors in training have found indispensable for more than twenty years.
A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method (1988)
“The definitive source book on acting.”— Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Hopper, Robert DeNiro, Marilyn Monroe, and Joanne Woodward—these are only a few of the many actors training in “Method” acting by the great and legendary Lee Strasberg.
The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods (Career Development Series) (Career Development Book) (1996)
With clarity and insight, Richard Brestoff introduces the great acting teachers, explaining their techniques and how ther are applied today. Beginning with Quintilian and Delsarre he guides us to the present with an inside look at what is currently being taught in the major acting schools and private acting studios; The Actor’s Studio, Yale University, NYU, Juillard and many more are visited.
The Method Acting Exercises Handbook (2017)
The Method Acting Exercises Handbook is a concise and practical guide to the acting exercises originally devised by Lee Strasberg, one of the Method’s foremost practitioners. The Method trains the imagination, concentration, senses and emotions to ‘re-create’ – not ‘imitate’ – logical, believable and truthful behavior on stage and in film.
Acting: A Handbook of the Stanislavski Method (2014)
2014 Reprint of 1947 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. “A wealth of material on the theory and practice of acting
Acting: The Gister Method (2015)
The long-awaited acting manual by Earle Gister, one America’s most respected master teachers of Acting. Gister’s students are among the most beloved and celebrated actors of our age. Joe Alberti recounts the Method of his teacher with insight and clarity. This book is the result of years of studio work and hundreds of hours of recordings. A must-have for the actors’ bookshelf.
Acting: Onstage and Off (2015)
Demonstrating how offstage performance can be effectively adapted for the theatre, as well as how onstage training can be applied toward leading a full life outside the theatre, ACTING: ONSTAGE AND OFF, 7e is a humorous yet informative book that discusses the interplay between life on and off the stage. It teaches you all phases of actor training, including scene study, auditioning, observation, and mind, voice and body relaxation techniques.
Black Acting Methods (2016)
Black Acting Methods seeks to offer alternatives to the Euro-American performance styles that many actors find themselves working with. A wealth of contributions from directors, scholars and actor trainers address afrocentric processes and aesthetics, and interviews with key figures in Black American theatre illuminate their methods.
Method Acting For Writers: Learn Deep Point Of View Using Emotional Layers (2018)
Are you struggling with writing characters readers care about? Critique partners, editors or agents saying you need to write vivid emotions? Do you want to write deep scenes emotional arcs into your stories to keep readers engaged and turning the pages? Writing deep point of view is like handing your reader a virtual reality headset. This fiction writing technique is dynamic, visceral, and immediate.
On Method Acting (1989)
Mass Market Paperback Publisher: Ivy Books (1989) ASIN: B0029PLLBQ Package Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 2.5 inches Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: Be the first to review this item Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,508,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2098 in Public Speaking Reference #3375 in Acting & Auditioning Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
Best Method Acting Books: The Ultimate List
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some method acting books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Method Acting For Writers
Author(s): Lisa Hall-Wilson
ID: 3462528, Publisher: Lisa Hall-Wilson, Year: 2018, Size: 1011 Kb, Format: epub
The Method Acting Exercises Handbook
Author(s): Lola Cohen
ID: 2236402, Publisher: Routledge, Year: 2017, Size: 5 Mb, Format: pdf
Black Acting Methods: Critical Approaches
Author(s): Sharrell Luckett (editor), Tia M. Shaffer (editor)
ID: 3024632, Publisher: Routledge, Year: 2016, Size: 11 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not errorless. Some books are absolutely hot items according to Chicago Tribune, others are composed by unknown writers. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant links you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.