What is the best book about Serling?
The best book is a video. See if your library (or Netflix or eBay) has the 1997 PBS American Masters special “Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval,” which presents his life in the video format that was his own life’s work, and mostly in his own words. It’s an excellent and entertaining 90 minutes. Two disappointing print biographies came out during the 90s; they included the usual biographical information but seemed fascinated with the tabloid aspects of Hollywood and Rod’s life. Both attempted to present the material in a you-are-there dramatic style, which wound up proving the authors far less gifted than their subject. But there is hope! A new book, “Requiem for a Heavyweight: The Words of Rod Serling,” is due out in early 2009. This one promises to be a nonjudgmental study of his work with insight into the events of his life that influenced that work.
