A Practical Handbook for the Actor

A Practical Handbook for the Actor was written by six founding members of the Atlantic Theater Company — Melissa Bruder, Lee Michael Cohn, Madeleine Olnek, Nathaniel Pollack, Robert Previto, and Scott Zigler — with an introduction by David Mamet. Published in 1986, the book distills the Practical Aesthetics acting technique that Mamet and William H. Macy developed and taught to these students at New York University. The approach is rooted in a no-nonsense, action-based philosophy that emphasizes doing over feeling. It has become one of the most widely assigned acting texts in university and conservatory programs across the United States.

The core of the book is its emphasis on identifying and playing a concrete, physically doable action in every moment of a scene. Rather than asking actors to summon emotions or delve into elaborate backstory, the Practical Aesthetics approach asks actors to determine what their character is literally doing to the other person — persuading, challenging, comforting, provoking. This shift from internal psychology to external action gives actors a reliable, repeatable craft that does not depend on mood or inspiration. The technique is particularly valued for its clarity and its ability to cut through the mystification that often surrounds acting training.

The book is organized into concise chapters covering the analysis of a scene, the concept of the action, the difference between living truthfully and performing emotion, and the importance of working moment to moment. Each chapter is written in plain, direct language that avoids jargon and academic abstraction. The authors draw on their own experiences as students and working actors to illustrate the principles with practical examples. The brevity of the book — roughly 80 pages — is one of its greatest strengths, as it forces the ideas to be expressed with maximum clarity and minimum padding.

David Mamet's introduction sets the philosophical tone for the entire work, arguing that acting is a craft like any other and that talent is developed through disciplined practice rather than mystical inspiration. Mamet's influence is evident throughout the book in its no-excuses, workmanlike approach to the profession. The introduction alone is frequently excerpted and assigned as a standalone reading in acting classes. Mamet's reputation as a playwright and director gives the book additional authority and draws readers who might not otherwise pick up an acting manual.

The Practical Aesthetics technique as presented in this handbook has proven especially effective for actors working in film and television, where the demand for naturalistic, moment-to-moment truthfulness is paramount. The action-based approach translates seamlessly to the camera, where subtle, grounded behavior reads more effectively than projected theatrical emotion. Many actors trained in this method report that it gives them a reliable process for approaching cold readings, auditions, and quick-turnaround production schedules where there is no time for extensive emotional preparation. The technique's emphasis on simplicity and directness aligns well with the demands of contemporary screen acting.

A Practical Handbook for the Actor is available in paperback from Vintage Books, typically priced between $10 and $16 for a new copy. Used copies are widely available for under $5, as the book has been in continuous print for nearly four decades and has been assigned in countless acting programs. Digital editions are available for Kindle and other e-readers at approximately $8 to $12. The book's slim format makes it one of the most affordable and least time-intensive acting texts available, offering an exceptionally high ratio of practical value to page count. At this price point, it is accessible to virtually any actor regardless of budget.

Every actor should read A Practical Handbook for the Actor — its brevity means it can be completed in a single sitting, and its ideas will immediately influence how you approach script analysis and scene work. It is particularly valuable for actors who feel overwhelmed by emotionally-based techniques or who struggle with consistency in their performances, as the action-based approach provides a reliable, repeatable process. Actors preparing for film and television work will find the technique especially applicable to the demands of naturalistic screen acting. If the approach resonates with you, consider studying at the Atlantic Theater Company's acting school in New York City, which offers the most comprehensive training in Practical Aesthetics available.

Read the book with a specific scene or monologue in mind so you can immediately apply the script analysis technique to material you are actively working on. Practice identifying the action in every scene you watch — in films, television shows, and plays — to train yourself to see behavior through the lens of doing rather than feeling. Work through the analysis process with a scene partner, comparing your action choices and testing them in rehearsal to see which produce the most dynamic, truthful interaction. Return to the book periodically throughout your career, as your growing experience will allow you to extract new insights from its deceptively simple framework. Pair this book with Mamet's True and False for a deeper understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of the Practical Aesthetics approach.