Steps in Time: An Autobiography Paperback – Illustrated, August 5, 2008

A wonderful peek into the brain and humor of Fred!

Fred's way with words, his breezy light soaring style, reminds one of his dancing. This book is Fred-direct: the importance of his personal life, even over career, is paramount. As a read, it's a must for all interested a private man's life in filmed dance. It's completely enjoyable...if not particularly revealing about his art.At the end of the book, Fred mildly mocks the idea of over intellectualizing dance. Other than "maintaining the basic principles of balance and grace", he even questions a commitment to a particular style. He ends his story simply: "I just dance.".That's Fred...but all the intensity, work, and preparation, and in his case, worry, that went into the creation of some of the greatest dance of the century...is sublimated in this wonderful book. Fred hardly even notes all the sweat that went into his art. That's Fred too.In the revealing introduction by the lovable, ever feisty, Ginger Rogers, he acknowledges her special, and highly reciprocal role in his career...and he in hers. And, in fact, as in her autobiography, neither of them were ever highly articulate about their art. Who cares?Today we know them from their films...and their artistry will be available to all the generations ahead. In this, their eternal realm, they were, and are, highly articulate...to say the least. "Steps in Time" and "Ginger: My Story", just whet the appetite to see the films...and in their chosen milieu...which for both of them...and especially for the solo-Fred...in spite of their considerable acting talents, meant one word...PERFORMANCE.

I bought this book for my mother as a birthday present since she loves reading autobiographies and biographies on celebrates. She said she enjoyed reading this one.

Book was in fine shape, including dust jacket.Shipping was prompt.

I'm not a super fan of autobiographies. Most seem to me to be a list of " I did this and then I did this" rather than a story of someone's life. I kind of thought that Fred Astaire would have a more entertaining and warm way with telling his story. And he does. Reading this book, "Steps in Time", is like sitting with a friend and recalling all the interesting happenings in his life. Very real and unpretentious, but also a wonderful picture of the life of this very talented man. I've always been a Fred Astaire fan so for me this book was pure enjoyment from beginning to end.

This was an interesting view into the life of Fred Astaire but perhaps a bit white washed. I have to start with the fact that I really enjoyed the book. The only problem I see is that it appears to be more surface information. While he does speak of the heartbreak of losing his wife it is in tones that do not convey feeling. Every single person he mentions working with were a delight and they always had a lot of laughs. If this was really his 'history' I wish I'd been born Fred Astaire! Fred writes like he is sitting by a fire having a conversation with you which is fun but I wish he'd been a little more forthright with his hardships.

I will admit you had to be past middle-age or so to feel in touch with "Steps"--I'm barely there at 77--but oh, this book Is a dandy. I'm a sports fan, so I love "play by play" in sports books. That is to say, highlights. Well, you get that here! Fred Astaire describes in detail his dozens and dozens of moments on stage with very-talented sister, Adele, and in the movies with fellow superstar, Ginger Rodgers. One problem: the book only went through 1959--Fred lived much longer! If you like show business at all, you'll be dancing on air with this book.

It was just OK. I am a huge Astaire fan, and I knew he would not be inclined to dish any dirt. However, he only goes so far with a story, and then moves on. It is as if there is no reason or end to the story, in some places. He talks a lot about members of the Royal Family from his visits to England, but he does not flesh them out. He offers no insight to their personalities, and that applies to everyone he speaks of, throughout the book. It is only a "he-said-she-said-I-said" report of sorts. I wanted to know about how he devised certain dance numbers, but all he says is that it was hard work. Everybody he ever met was "nice," and everything always worked out. Fred, I love ya, man, but you are boring when you write! For instance, he talks about a date he had with Ginger Rogers in years prior to their working relationship. He said he picked her up in his car, they went to a club and danced, she was a nice girl, and he took her home. In Ginger's autobiography, she details that he picked her up in his Rolls Royce, they danced and partied like crazy, and he gave her such a hot, steamy kiss at the end of the night that it would not have passed the censors, if it had been filmed! All in all, the book is pretty much just a timeline of his career, no details, and everything is just "swell."

Hat alles sehr gut geklappt!

Really enjoyed this book written by Fred Astaire about his life! very in formative found out so much about him I didn't know.

Slightly disappointing as Fred Astaire chose to give a polite but sketchy account of his life and work however it was his chosen way and deserves respect. In this case I prefer biography to autobiography

in this autobiography u can read into all the pages the real personality of this wonderful dancer and man....it was written with intelligence and humour.....wonderful book

Having grown up watching Fred Astaire films from the 1930s on TV as a child I was keen to find out more about his background. This autobiography was written before the 1970s. Fred Astaire lived until the late 1980s so this feels like part 1 of his life story. Over half of the book is dedicated to his rise through vaudeville performances with his sister, demonstrating that there was so much more to him than the dozen or so films he made with Ginger Rogers. An interesting read - I'm now looking for a later version to read about his later years.