The lives of the stars can make fascinating reading. Hollywood is where art, celebrity, beauty, music, and popular culture collide. Actors and even films have  been the subject of some recent books, and it is always quite a story that is revealed within.

The life of an actor or artist is never easy, and many seem to be filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. There are so many books about actors and Hollywood, but here is a short list of some of the best.

Since it is almost impossible to make it in the movies, reading books about those who have offers most of us our only chance to experience it. Try some of these recommended Hollywood biographies, and from what I've read, it is safer on the outside looking in.