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Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era by Saul Austerlitz
yedidah72's review against another edition
5.0
Discovered things about the show I still didnt know. Well written and researched. Loved learning the science and psychology about why this show matters.
cgmtmama04's review against another edition
3.0
This is the second book in the last year that I have read about Friends. I enjoyed reading this one much more. If felt less political and more about the actual show and actors/actresses.
ashction's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who has loved Friends for a decade of my life, despite the ways it doesn't hold up as our society evolves, this book was a surprising gem. Definitely a treat for younger friends fans or fans who didn't know much about the behind the scenes ways Friends came to life before it got a pilot order and for the ten years that followed. I learned so much about the show, the writers, the creators, the actors, and even the audience of its time! Nonfiction isn't something I delve into often via book form, but this one was special. Austerlitz also has a wonderful writing voice and really eased me into the world without being dense or pretentious about. The show is imperfect, and that's absolutely acknowledged here - maybe a bit less than the modern Friends fan may prefer, but all in all there's a great balance and analysis here that I truly did enjoy reading about!
vickiroberts082457's review against another edition
5.0
If you are a Friends fan this is the book for you. You will recognize lines from the show and appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at the creation and making of the show. Potential plot lines that never made it will make you appreciate the show as it was performed in the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The writing is superb.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The writing is superb.
jenhow621's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
jmbibliolater's review against another edition
4.0
Special thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Saul Austerlitz for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If I had to title this book as an episode with Friends, I would name it - The One With All the Memories. As a HUGE fan of Friends - I own all ten season on DVD and have even pre-ordered some items from the Pottery Barn 25th anniversary collection but not that apothecary table - I found myself reminiscing about the show a lot. The memories brought a smile to my face and provided a few surprises as well.
Generation Friends take the time to not only captivate the essence of the show and review each season's biggest episodes including the ballad of Ross and Rachel, it also discusses what it was like to be behind the scenes from the writers to the producers to the design teams (both set and wardrobe) to the auditions to contract negotiations, etc. I never realized how many big name actors and actresses auditioned for a part. It is fun imagining how the dynamic and the show's success could have all been different with one simple change in cast.
My biggest love regarding Generation Friends and what Saul Austerlitz really seems to get is that Friends worked and still works because it is an escape from reality. To this day, I still watch the reruns on TBS. It is still my go to show. I know all the episodes and most the lines. Friends has the wonderful ability to bring a sense of nostalgia to its viewers. I watched it religiously with my friends in high school and then in college. Times were simpler and so was Friends. Saul Austerlitz captures the sentiment perfectly.
If I had to title this book as an episode with Friends, I would name it - The One With All the Memories. As a HUGE fan of Friends - I own all ten season on DVD and have even pre-ordered some items from the Pottery Barn 25th anniversary collection but not that apothecary table - I found myself reminiscing about the show a lot. The memories brought a smile to my face and provided a few surprises as well.
Generation Friends take the time to not only captivate the essence of the show and review each season's biggest episodes including the ballad of Ross and Rachel, it also discusses what it was like to be behind the scenes from the writers to the producers to the design teams (both set and wardrobe) to the auditions to contract negotiations, etc. I never realized how many big name actors and actresses auditioned for a part. It is fun imagining how the dynamic and the show's success could have all been different with one simple change in cast.
My biggest love regarding Generation Friends and what Saul Austerlitz really seems to get is that Friends worked and still works because it is an escape from reality. To this day, I still watch the reruns on TBS. It is still my go to show. I know all the episodes and most the lines. Friends has the wonderful ability to bring a sense of nostalgia to its viewers. I watched it religiously with my friends in high school and then in college. Times were simpler and so was Friends. Saul Austerlitz captures the sentiment perfectly.
littlelady_28's review against another edition
2.0
This was overall a really good read, one that I think any fan of the show, Friends, would enjoy. The author had clearly done his research, interviewing several producers, crew members, and writers for behind-the-scenes information and anecdotes from the set throughout the book. He provides the backstory of how the creators got the idea for the show, describes the casting, and even does a good job of setting the stage for the television climate at the time of the 1994 premiere.
Austerlitz then goes through the show, highlighting the big plot points such as the Ross and Rachel and the Monica and Chandler romances, while including more behind-the-scenes trivia. I'm not sure that anyone who has not already seen the show would be interested in this book, but it does cover the entire series, so don't read this book if it would be a spoiler for the show's ending.
I had two issues with the book that are causing me to lower the overall rating. 1) There was a basic chronological order that Austerlitz followed, but there was also a lot of information that seemed to be randomly thrown in. Like, I understand the need to include Matthew Perry's drug addiction in the book, but (if I recall correctly) it was included in one of the section's discussing the Chandler/Monica plotline. It didn't really make sense to include it there, and those types of tidbits were frequently scattered throughout the narrative.
My main issue with the book, however, was the obvious inclusion of the author's political views (see note below if you care to read my thoughts; not including them here since if you're reading this you want to know my thoughts on the book, not politics). I certainly did not read this book to hear the author's biased views and reading them left me with a negative view of the entire book. It was unnecessary and left an unsavory taste in my mouth for what should have otherwise been a fun and enjoyable read. I give it a C-.
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My thoughts: In 2016 Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States. As Austerlitz is apparently unaware, the United States government is based on democracy, basically meaning that the candidate who receives the majority of the votes is elected President. Yes, I understand the electoral college, but that's the gist of it. Therefore, Austerlitz's generalization that the nation was "horrified" is ignorant, since it is safe to assume that the "majority" of Americans were happy that the candidate they voted for won. Austerlitz's remark about Donald Trump being "reptilian" was completely unnecessary. And finally, his implied assertion that President Trump was completely to blame for the nation's divide is simply untrue and also ignorant to boil an extremely complicated situation down to one single factor. Let Friends be my happy place sir, and keep your negativity in the op-ed pieces.
Austerlitz then goes through the show, highlighting the big plot points such as the Ross and Rachel and the Monica and Chandler romances, while including more behind-the-scenes trivia. I'm not sure that anyone who has not already seen the show would be interested in this book, but it does cover the entire series, so don't read this book if it would be a spoiler for the show's ending.
I had two issues with the book that are causing me to lower the overall rating. 1) There was a basic chronological order that Austerlitz followed, but there was also a lot of information that seemed to be randomly thrown in. Like, I understand the need to include Matthew Perry's drug addiction in the book, but (if I recall correctly) it was included in one of the section's discussing the Chandler/Monica plotline. It didn't really make sense to include it there, and those types of tidbits were frequently scattered throughout the narrative.
My main issue with the book, however, was the obvious inclusion of the author's political views (see note below if you care to read my thoughts; not including them here since if you're reading this you want to know my thoughts on the book, not politics). I certainly did not read this book to hear the author's biased views and reading them left me with a negative view of the entire book. It was unnecessary and left an unsavory taste in my mouth for what should have otherwise been a fun and enjoyable read. I give it a C-.
************************************************************************
My thoughts: In 2016 Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States. As Austerlitz is apparently unaware, the United States government is based on democracy, basically meaning that the candidate who receives the majority of the votes is elected President. Yes, I understand the electoral college, but that's the gist of it. Therefore, Austerlitz's generalization that the nation was "horrified" is ignorant, since it is safe to assume that the "majority" of Americans were happy that the candidate they voted for won. Austerlitz's remark about Donald Trump being "reptilian" was completely unnecessary. And finally, his implied assertion that President Trump was completely to blame for the nation's divide is simply untrue and also ignorant to boil an extremely complicated situation down to one single factor. Let Friends be my happy place sir, and keep your negativity in the op-ed pieces.