William Hoffman

One of the best books on philosophy, in particular the philosophy of esthetics, I've ever read. Like Tarkovsky's films, it's profound, philosophical, insightful, and poetic. Parts of the book has Tarkovsky talking about his films, and their meaning to him. Parts are a very detailed examination of the role of art and the artist in society. Art is seen as a type of spiritual teacher. Some Parts are an examination of the craft of cinema. Other parts explain how various artists influenced the director. Also worth noting, are the stills from his movies, and a nice selection of Tarkovsky's fathers poetry, that figures in mirror ND Stalker to such an extent. I would recommend seeing most his films, before you dive into the book.