I recently finished Shatner Rules: Your Guide to Understanding the Shatnerverse and the World at Large by William Shatner, and I have to say — I’ve really grown to respect the man, not just as Captain Kirk or the Priceline guy, but as an author and a human being who’s lived boldly and unapologetically.

His stories are genuinely interesting. There’s an energy to the way he tells them — a momentum that carries you along as he jumps from his days on Star Trek to bizarre career pivots, to his take on social media, fame, and even horse breeding. And through it all, he communicates one thing clearly: passion. For life. For doing. For always being in motion. It’s inspiring.

Yes, he comes across as somewhat egomaniacal and self important in the book, but it doesn’t feel unearned. That confidence is built on decades of work, risk-taking, reinvention, and a refusal to coast on past success. It’s the kind of self-assurance forged through persistence.

I also appreciated how candid he was about the issues he had with some of his Star Trek coworkers. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. And when he talks about his negotiation tactics — which some might read as “money grabbing” — I didn’t find it off-putting. I read it as a man who values his time, recognizes opportunity, and isn’t afraid to ask for what he’s worth.

That’s a lesson right there.

What I took away most from Shatner Rules isn’t just a collection of anecdotes — it’s a philosophy. A way of living with forward motion. Trying new things. Not being afraid to look a little ridiculous from time to time. In essence: betting on yourself.

I’d like to find my inner Shatner.

Not as the celebrity. Not as the icon.
But as the guy who wakes up curious.
Who sees his time as precious.
Who treats opportunity like it’s the point of the game — not an interruption.
Who isn’t paralyzed by reinvention, but energized by it.

Notes

Why say “yes”? “Yes” means opportunity. “Yes” makes the dots in your life appear. And if you’re willing and open, you can connect these dots. You don’t know where these dots are going to lead, and if you don’t invest yourself fully, the dots won’t connect. The lives you make with those dots always lead to interesting places. “No” closes doors. “Yes” kicks them wide open…..As long as you’re able to say “yes”, the opportunities keep coming, and with them, the adventures. Say “no” to fear and complacency. Keep saying “yes” and the journey will continue.

There exists nowhere on Earth a “soulful place” — everywhere you are, is the soulful place. The entire world is filled with mystical qualities, including your little slice of the world. Paradise and enlightenment are always within your reach. It’s joy. And you should work on filling all your years with as much joy as possible.

Don’t be afraid of taking chances, of striking out along paths that are untrod. Don’t be afraid of failing. Don’t be afraid of making an ass of yourself. I do it all the time—and look what I got.

Star Trek never really caught on with audiences, ran for three seasons, and was canceled. I wish I had taken notes at the time, because you people sure do have a lot of questions about it.