There is a reason why this book, previously released in the U.K., is the first full-blown biography of Hanks to be published in the United States: the superstar ferociously guards his privacy. Journalist Gardner gives us a balanced look into the life of Hollywood's "Mr. Nice Guy." It is easy to think that life has always been good to Hanks, but there is a private pain that he acknowledges and draws from as an actor, namely, his parents' divorce and their frequent moves.

Hanks got the "acting bug" in high school and after several hits and misses in New York landed a role in TV's Bosom Buddies, which led to film roles, most notably Splash. The rest is film history. New revelations come from Hanks's father's unpublished memoirs and many interviews published only in the U.K. Gardner's compelling analysis of Hanks's life and fascinating discussions of each film compete with some rather improbable dialog and a tone that can be too dramatic for the insightful treatment he provides. Still, this is highly recommended for all libraries.