hes one of americas most recognizable and acclaimed actorsa star on broadway an oscar nominee for the aviator and the only person to ever win emmys for acting writing and directing during his eleven years on mash now alan alda has written a memoir as elegant funny and affecting as his greatest performancesmy mother didnt try to stab my father until i was six begins aldas irresistible story the son of a popular actor and a loving but mentally ill mother he spent his early childhood backstage in the erotic and comic world of burlesque and went on after early struggles to achieve extraordinary success in his professionyet never have your dog stuffed is not a memoir of showbusiness ups and downs it is a moving and funny story of a boy growing into a man who then realizes he has only just begun to growit is the story of turning points in aldas life events that would make him what he isif only he could survive themfrom the moment as a boy when his dead dog is returned from the taxidermists shop with a hideous expression on his face and he learns that death cant be undone to the decadeslong effort to find compassion for the mother he lived with but never knew to his acceptance of his father both personally and professionally alda learns the hard way that change uncertainty and transformation are what life is made of and true happiness is found in embracing themnever have your dog stuffed filled with curiosity about nature good humor and honesty is the crowning achievement of an actor author and director but surprisingly it is the story of a life more filled with turbulence and laughter than any alda has ever played on the stage or screen