Reddit reviews The Actor's Art and Craft: William Esper Teaches the Meisner Technique

I'm a playwright, not an actor, but I've been studying acting to better understand the actor. All I've been doing is reading books on acting and thinking about their role as creative artists. The Actor's Art and Craft: William Esper Teaches the Meisner Technique is a particularly impressive book which increases my respect for actors.

Actors seem to be much more focused on revealing their true emotions and making contact with the audience than in assuming different identities. William Esper emphasizes that the actor lives in his or her imagination.

Well sense memory and all that isn't necessarily any older. But that's a different story.

Nothing can really compare to actually being in a class and doing it. But reading in general is good. I will suggest William Esper's The Actor's Art and Craft as a good place to start. Also based on its name you'll be tempted to buy the other book too, but don't, it'll just confuse you.