The Beauty of Living Twice by Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone is a world-renowned actress and activist. Intelligent, emotional, and forthright, she focuses mainly on her personal life before and after fame, and the debilitating brain hemorrhage that derailed her life. In 2001, an artery rupture resulted in a brain bleed and stroke, leaving her with a 1% chance of survival. Bleeding into her brain, face, and spine, she underwent exploratory brain surgery and afterward had to regain her speech and ability to walk.

Stone was signed at 17 to model with Eileen Ford New York after literally walking in the door. Cast in a memorable cameo in Woody Allen's Stardust Memories, she began acting in films at only 20. Studying with famed coach Roy London, she tackled all the female parts, then began on the male roles. This served her well when she was cast to spar with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall, and then her breakthrough role in (her 18th film) Basic Instinct shot her into superstardom. Her look of sexual menace and now infamous interrogation scene changed the genre forever. She followed this with the western The Quick and the Dead (with newcomer Leonardo DiCaprio), and the role of a career in Martin Scorsese's Casino, winning the Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination.

She has been honored for her philanthropy work for causes like amfAR and HIV/AIDS. She has been awarded many humanitarian wards including the Nobel Peace Summit Award for the promotion of peace.

This memoir centers on the woman, not the career. Intimate as a conversation, it includes growing up in a disruptive family with abuse and sexual abuse, perhaps empowering a persona of inner strength in films. Her signature look of intensity on the poster (sometimes just her eyes) was enough star-power to sell the film. She has gone on to successful shows of her original paintings, modeling, and continued acting roles, her star undiminished.

Well worth the read, but if you are reading this, you are already a fan.

2012 / Hardcover / 256 pages