David Rensin is a prolific author and collaborator best known for his work on memoirs and biographies, particularly those centered on extraordinary lives. He has written or coauthored sixteen books, five of which became "New York Times" bestsellers. Among his notable works are "Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life," coauthored with Louis Zamperini, and "All For a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora." Rensin also collaborated with show business legend Bernie Brillstein on the memoir "Where Did I Go Right?" and contributed to Tim Allen’s bestselling books "Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man" and "I’m Not Really Here."
Rensin’s writing often explores themes of resilience, rebellion, and the human spirit, as seen in his collaborations with figures like Zamperini, whose World War II survival story is chronicled in "Devil At My Heels." His ability to capture the essence of his subjects has made him a sought-after collaborator for celebrities and public figures, including Chris Rock, Jeff Foxworthy, and Garry Shandling. Rensin’s narrative style blends oral history with meticulous research, as demonstrated in "The Mailroom: Hollywood History from the Bottom Up," which delves into the inner workings of the entertainment industry. A Los Angeles resident, he continues to document compelling lives and untold stories.
Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Bob Book
1991
2
Confessions of a Late Night Talk Show Host: The Autobiography of Larry Sanders (With: Garry Shandling)
1998
3
Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead (With: Bernie Brillstein)
1999
4
Devil at My Heels (With: Louis Zamperini)
2003
5
The Mailroom: Hollywood History from the Bottom Up
2003
6
Yanni in Words (With: Yanni)
2003
7
It's All Lies and That's the Truth: And 49 More Rules from 50 Years of Trying to Make a Living in Hollywood (With: Bernie Brillstein)
2004
8
All for a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora
2007
9
Promises I Made My Mother (With: Sam Haskell)
2009
10
The Men on My Couch: True Stories of Sex, Love and Psychotherapy (With: Brandy Engler)
2012
11
Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life (With: Louis Zamperini)