WORKS OF NON-FICTION, unlike choosing favorite fiction, is a much tougher category for yours truly. Being an avid reader, I’ve chosen to read more non-fiction throughout my life than fiction, making the effort to choose a favorite as difficult as choosing a favorite offspring.

Granted, the specific realm of choice for me leans more towards works involving film and film history, rather than other subjects of non-fiction. For instance, I’ve never been much of fan of ‘true-crime’ or some other such tawdry genres but I do have an affinity for biography beyond film, such as politics and the like. But, since I made the rule for myself, I stuck (pretty much) to a singular subject, for better or for worse. Besides, even if I included other subject matter, it would be just as difficult for me to choose or narrow down. Maybe I should have just titled this work of movie non-fiction? Nah, I like this the way it is, with some of the exceptions I included.
So, below is my list of top ten favorite works of non-fiction in no particular order of preference. See any you might agree with?

• Dwayne Epstein
  

  10. LEE MARVIN POINT BLANK by Dwayne Epstein….Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

   

  

  9. THE SIXTIES massive trade paperback (11×15) published by Rolling Stone with various authors.

  

  8. PAPILLON by Henri Charriere. Yeah, my well-read copy scanned above.

  

  7. HOW TO TALK DIRTY AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE by Lenny Bruce.

  

  6. CLOSE-UPS: THE MOVIE STAR BOOK edited by Danny Peary.

  

  5. MCQUEEN: PORTRAIT OF AN AMERICAN REBEL by Marshall Terrill.

  

  4. MY WICKED, WICKED WAYS by Errol Flynn.

  

  3. DINO: LIVING HIGH IN THE DIRTY BUSINESS OF DREAMS by Nick Tosches. Despite the subject, this remains the single best bio I’ve ever read.

  

  2. SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE by Abbie Hoffman.

  

  CAGNEY BY CAGNEY….nuff said.