Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos

This was hyped as an exclusive on stories we had never heard before but it's basically a transcript of the podcast - many actors I guess Steve and Michael can't get along with didn't make the book, either.

Wow, just received my copy of the book Woke Up This Morning, the Definitive History of The Sopranos. And it did not disappoint ! Amazing behind the scenes stories of how the show came into being and a lot of great juicy details. I learned a lot about the actors having been a huge fan of the show from the beginning.If you’ve ever wanted to look behind the curtain of how one of the most iconic shows in history was made this book is it!The back and forth banter between Steve Schirripa and Michael Imperoili is hilarious!Not to mention the beautiful the intimate behind the scenes photos which are great!I’d definitely recommend it and give it 5 Stars! I’ll be ordering additional copies as Christmas gifts to give out to my friends who are big fans of the show as well!

I have absolutely loved the Sopranos from the opening episode all the way through to the most disappointing finale of a large scale series in history… but that having been said… I feel like I was totally bamboozled in the purchase of this… NOT A BOOK… NOT A BOOK…A book of beauty or power… has an author that captivates you… or at least tries to display some type of literary artistry… or if such talents are beyond the writer’s grasp… he or she… tries to entertain you in some unique way. A writer like an actor or performer… lives and dreams about “touching” their audience. The writer wants to grasp your thoughts… imagination… touch the beat of your heart… lift your spirits… or force tears to your eyes…No such attempts are evident within the covers of this “TRANSCRIPT”! This is nothing but the transcription of interviews/discussions from prior podcasts. I have reviewed over seven-hundred-books on Amazon alone… and I have never before come across something so poorly disguised as a book. (Perhaps… one other book that incorporated many interviews.) To me a book is a sacred thing. From the time I was a child and punished for bad behavior and had to stay in my room with nothing but books… I found that without leaving my room… I could travel around the world… or go to outer space… or go back in time to watch a game at Ebbets Field… fueled simply by the creativity and hooking my imagination with that of the author’s.There is nothing at all like that in this publication. If you’ve ever been in a court trial and you had to read the transcripts… that’s what this is… have you ever interned as a law clerk… and had to review transcripts… that’s what this is. If that was all made to clear to me and potential purchasers… in the pre-release blurbs… that would be a totally different situation. I feel totally mislead! If I knew this ahead of time I would have waited for the paperback to be released.I hope I have helped some potential buyers so they know what they’re deciding on. By the way… if you haven’t seen the Soprano’s Prequel yet… I’d suggest you find a good book instead!

The book is filled with backstory and information relating to the creation and filming of The Sopranos.I loved it for 3 reasons:1. It adds a new dimension because the reader gains a new insight into the show by sharing the perspective of how the show was made, how it developed.2. Complexities of the storyline and flashes of detail easily missed are highlighted and, let's face it, the narrative is very busy - even after watching the show 3 times I am finding things that I missed.3. It isn't a summary of each episode - the book explores the development of the show from season to season, sure, but focuses on the themes and characters.A definite winner for anyone who likes, let alone loves, The Sopranos.

I would have never purchased this if I knew it was just verbatim conversations from the podcast - which I love - and a few new photos. I have grown rather fond of Mike and Steve through their excellent podcast and their charming banter, but this book has soured me a bit. If you’ve listened to the podcast there is literally no reason to buy this book.

This is not written, it is transcribed interviews from Talking Sopranos.Completely misleading. You’re buying some candid photos and an introduction.Listen to the podcast and save your money. Really disappointed in Schirippa and Imperioli who sold this as a book they wrote, never mentioning that it’s just a transcription of Talking Sopranos.

As a couple reviewers already stated, this is a transcript of podcasts. It’s okay, but not what I thought it would be. I’ve found more interesting Sopranos-related material from a book called “Off the Back of a Truck” (REALLY good, check it out) and a Sopranos magazine recently out that ties in to the prequel movie but also gives a nice rundown of the entire TV series. I gave this “book” 3 stars, only because anything Sopranos is worth a look, but if you’d rather save your money for something better try one of the other two sources I mentioned.

What not to like about this book? Easy read, it brings me back to those nights waiting on HBO to release the next episode. Better yet, these guys (the authors) were there.Great book and shhh.....inside secrets on one of the top shows ever made.A+++