Beware any book featuring an outright lie on its cover!John Cassavetes did NOT invent the American Independent Film -- nor did he ever claim to. He was open about being influenced by predecessors such as Ruth Orkin and Morris Engel, among others. "Accidental Genius" is full of many other questionable interpretations of events, along with plenty of unnecessary gossip. Yet another lame attempt at rewriting cinema history (a la the 'books' of Sharon Waxman and Peter Biskind).John Cassavetes deserves better: I'd recommend reading "Cassavetes on Cassavetes" over this hogwash.