There's no need to make a lifetime's study of theatrical autobiographies to realise that acting isn't always a warmly supportive profession packed with friendly souls who just love to see their colleagues succeed. Ron Moody's eccentric memoir about his path from would-be academic to established actor – culminating with his most famous role as Fagin in Lionel Bart's Oliver! – takes the warts-and-all approach one step further. Unabashedly candid about the excrescences of ego that can deform the acting profession, he draws on his diaries to provide a lovingly charted analysis of the rivalries, resentments and insecurities that have stalked his working life. One diary entry, recording his feud with his Oliver! co-star Georgia Brown, is annotated with the comment "Moody! Be nice!", but he's enough of a pro to know nasty is much more fun. It would be even more enjoyable, however, if Moody didn't insist on such a florid prose style, quasi-scientific theorising and self-analytical showing-off. As a lifelong entertainer, he could afford to please the crowd a little more.