True and False
David Mamet's provocative and contrarian take on acting and performance
Overview
True and False by David Mamet is a deliberately provocative book that challenges many sacred cows of traditional acting training. Mamet argues against emotional memory, sense memory, and much of what is taught in conventional acting schools.
The book advocates for a practical, no-nonsense approach to acting focused on pursuing objectives, saying the words, and trusting the script. Mamet's writing is characteristically blunt, witty, and designed to provoke debate.
How It Works
Best for actors who have already studied traditional techniques and are ready to question their assumptions. While not everyone will agree with Mamet, the challenge to conventional thinking is intellectually stimulating.
Available in paperback and digital formats, typically priced between $12-15. A quick read that often sparks passionate discussion among actors and teachers.
Who Uses It
Recommended as a thought-provoking counterpoint to method-based texts. Even if you disagree with Mamet, engaging with his arguments will clarify your own beliefs about what acting is and how it works. The book has become a staple in acting school curricula precisely because it forces students to articulate why they believe what they believe about their craft. Many working professionals credit True and False with helping them cut through the noise of conflicting acting theories and find a clearer, more personal approach to their work. Mamet's insistence on simplicity and action has influenced an entire generation of actors who prioritize doing over feeling.
Pricing & Plans
True and False is available in paperback from Vintage Books, typically priced between $12 and $15, and can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and most independent bookstores. The Kindle and other digital editions are usually priced between $9 and $12, making it one of the more affordable acting books on the market. Used copies are widely available through online resellers for as little as $5 to $7, given the book's long publication history. There is no audiobook version currently available, which some readers find disappointing given Mamet's distinctive writing voice. The book is relatively short at around 127 pages, which means the cost-per-insight ratio is exceptionally favorable for such an influential text.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The greatest strength of True and False is Mamet's fearless willingness to challenge the orthodoxy of American acting training, forcing readers to examine assumptions they may never have questioned. His writing is sharp, witty, and provocative, making the book a genuinely enjoyable read even when you find yourself arguing with the page. The emphasis on practical action over emotional indulgence resonates strongly with actors who have felt overwhelmed or paralyzed by overly psychological approaches to the craft. Mamet's perspective as a playwright and director gives the book a unique angle that most acting technique books, written by acting teachers, cannot provide. The brevity of the text is itself a strength, as every sentence carries weight and the book can be read and re-read quickly, yielding new insights each time.
What Could Be Better
The most significant weakness of True and False is that Mamet's arguments can feel reductive, dismissing entire traditions of actor training without fully engaging with their nuances or the genuine value they provide to many performers. His categorical rejection of emotional memory and affective techniques may frustrate actors who have found these approaches genuinely transformative in their own work. The book's polemical tone, while entertaining, occasionally sacrifices depth for rhetorical impact, leaving readers wanting more detailed alternatives to the methods Mamet criticizes. Some of Mamet's prescriptions feel more suited to the kind of text-driven, language-based theater he writes than to the broader range of performance styles actors encounter in their careers. The lack of practical exercises or step-by-step techniques means the book works better as a philosophical provocation than as a hands-on training manual.
Our Recommendation
True and False is best approached not as a definitive guide to acting but as an intellectual sparring partner that will sharpen your thinking about your craft regardless of where you land on Mamet's specific arguments. Actors who have completed at least some formal training will get the most out of this book, as the provocations are most meaningful when you have existing beliefs and experiences to test them against. If you are a beginning actor, read this after studying at least one traditional technique so you can fully appreciate what Mamet is arguing against and why. Pair this book with a more technique-oriented text like Uta Hagen's Respect for Acting or Sanford Meisner's On Acting to get both the practical tools and the philosophical framework for a complete acting education. True and False is essential reading for anyone who wants to think seriously about what acting is and what it is not.
Pro Tips
Read True and False with a pen in hand and mark every passage that provokes a strong reaction, whether agreement or disagreement, as these moments reveal your deepest assumptions about acting and performance. After finishing the book, write a one-page response articulating which of Mamet's arguments you accept and which you reject, and why — this exercise alone is worth the price of the book. Discuss True and False with fellow actors and teachers, as the debates it sparks are often more valuable than the text itself and can lead to breakthroughs in understanding your own artistic values. Revisit the book at different stages of your career, as your relationship to Mamet's arguments will evolve as your experience deepens and your perspective broadens. Use Mamet's emphasis on action and objective as a practical test when you find yourself getting lost in overly psychological preparation — ask yourself what the character is doing rather than what the character is feeling, and see if that simplification unlocks something useful.