Just got my hands on William Goldman's Four Screenplays with Essays and wow – this book is pure gold for anyone who loves movies or dreams of writing them. Goldman’s wit and wisdom leap off every page.

The included scripts (Butch Cassidy, The Princess Bride, etc.) read like watching the films themselves, but the real treasure? His brutally honest essays about Hollywood’s chaos. Who knew getting Paul Newman cast required near-bribery?

As someone who’s read a dozen screenwriting books, this stands apart. Goldman doesn’t just teach – he tells war stories. That bit about how test audiences nearly ruined Marathon Man? Chilling.

Pro tip: Skip if you already own Which Lie Did I Tell (essays overlap), but for newbies? Worth every penny. The hardcover feels luxurious – like holding a piece of cinema history.

PS: My film student nephew stole my copy after reading three pages. Guess I’m ordering another!