Life Is a Gift: The Zen of Bennett
*Starred Review* At 86, iconic singer Bennett looks back on 60 years as a performer still beloved and loving what he does. Bennett has sung for presidents and royalty as well as adoring fans, carefully singing only well-crafted songs from  the Great American Songbook    . Bennett attributes his style to the techniques he learned in method-acting school as a young man on the GI Bill as well as from the lessons he learned from others during his long career, from Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer to Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Among his memories: a tired and aging Fred Astaire bemoaning the fact that when he went to parties all the women wanted to dance with him, yet spontaneously breaking into a dance; Judy Garland’s practical jokes; appearing with Rosemary Clooney on                   Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, a forerunner of  American Idol; collaborating and touring with k.d. lang. Bennett ends each chapter with the Zen of Bennett—the personal beliefs that shaped his success as an artist and a human being. Among them are improve yourself every day, create things of lasting quality, and when you choose friends, you’re choosing teachers. Bennett offers inspiring observations from a joyful life fully lived.        HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Bennett is revered by many generations, and promotion for this generous, upbeat memoir will be prominent and lavish. --Vanessa Bush