When John Lithgow gives an interview, I am never sure whether to laugh uproariously or write down what he says to mull over later. Regardless, Lithgow’s passion is evident and finely honed in whatever he does, and his memoir, Drama: An Actor’s Education (HarperCollins, $26.99), is no exception. In his youth a hybrid of the drop-out and the genius, Lithgow joined the family business and became an actor; he was by turns confused and horrified by outshining his father in their shared trade. Best known for his comedic turn in Third Rock from the Sun and for his bone-chilling role as a serial killer on Dexter, Lithgow has won several Emmys, Golden Globes, Tonys, and much acclaim from critics in and out of the industry. But what drives the book is not Lithgow’s quiet, steady success, but the decades of romance, self-doubt, and education that lie behind his performances. Lithgow reminds us why acting is an art form, why humor is so deeply important, and why family is irresistible. Enjoy Drama for its honesty and its ingenuity, its ability to make you care—and because Lithgow is a hoot.