The Star Trek franchise has hours of tell-all television and internet specials that offer us fans behind-the-scenes glimpses of our favorite series. Interviews, blooper reels, and other media let us imagine what it was like to be there on set during the filming of the original series and Star Trek: The Next Generation as well. However, nothing spills the Trek tea like an autobiography, so let's rank a few written by some of the most famous actors in the franchise.
5. Beam Me Up, Scotty, by James Doohan, with Peter David
This book is what an appetizer is to a large meal. At 244 pages, this often-jocular memoir is an easy read. From his military service and experiences at Normandy to landing the role as Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on Star Trek's original series, there's plenty of nostalgia here. Published a decade before Doohan's death in 2005, Peter David's assistance wraps Doohan's memories and anecdotes into a brief but interesting autobiography.
4. Star Trek Memories, by William Shatner
Published in 1993, Star Trek Memories is filled with the recollections of possibly the most iconic Star Trek actor who ever lived. William Shatner, the Canadian-born actor is practically synonymous with the franchise, and the memories he shares in this 320-page book are both amusing and arresting in turn. Especially interesting are the interviews Shatner gave to his fellow Star Trek actors and the response it caused.
3. To the Stars, by George Takei
Is there anyone more likable in the Star Trek franchise than George Takei? His role of Hikaru Sulu and how he took that character from a confident lieutenant to captain of the USS Excelsior is only one tale in this engaging and thoughtful autobiography.
Published in 1994, readers get a deep look into Takei's culture, background, and the painful reality of living in a War Relocation Center. Takei's memories of living in not one but two of these camps as a child are sobering but have the same feel of his speaking voice--thoughtful, calm, and reassuring. There are also plenty of Star Trek memories here, including the truth behind his shaky relationship with William Shatner.
2. I Am Spock, by Leonard Nimoy
There are beloved characters, and then there are characters who change people's lives with their acting. Leonard Nimoy, whose name will forever be linked with Spock, the Vulcan science officer and often the face of the Star Trek original series, wrote several autobiographical books. I Am Spock, published in 1995, is a follow-up to his previous novel, I Am Not Spock, which he'd penned 20 years earlier.
I Am Spock is not so much an apology as it is a realization for Nimoy. The previous book gave readers a bitter-sounding Nimoy, which took many fans aback. I Am Spock soothes those fandom hackles. Not only does Nimoy admit that Spock has always been with him, but made peace with the Vulcan as well. Its 382 pages have a sweet, calm tone that makes for pleasant reading.
#1 Making It So, by Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart is, without a doubt, one of the most talented and charismatic actors in the Star Trek franchise. From humble beginnings, which included living under the tyranny of an abusive father, to discovering his talent for drama, readers will find themselves both shocked and intrigued by this 492-page autobiography. This is the most recent pick on our list, published in 2023.
Despite the breadth of Stewart's career, there isn't one trace of ego in this man. From speaking about his time as Captain Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation to voice roles in animated adult comedies like American Dad, Stewart gives us plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments. It's a highly entertaining read or listen, if you prefer audiobooks.