Sonny Boy

A Memoir

De: Al Pacino

Narrado por: Al Pacino

The Instant New York Times Bestseller • One of People Magazine's Top 10 Books of the Year

"The rare celebrity memoir that's also a literary read. As funny as it is reflective, it shares stories behind Pacino's hardscrabble upbringing, classic films and journey to icon status."—People Magazine

From one of the most iconic actors in the history of film, an astonishingly revelatory account of a creative life in full

To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies—The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon—that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became legendary and changed his life forever. Not since Marlon Brando and James Dean in the late 1950s had an actor landed in the culture with such force.

But Pacino was in his midthirties by then, and had already lived several lives. A fixture of avant-garde theater in New York, he had led a bohemian existence, working odd jobs to support his craft. He was raised by a fiercely loving but mentally unwell mother and her parents after his father left them when he was young, but in a real sense he was raised by the streets of the South Bronx, and by the troop of buccaneering young friends he ran with, whose spirits never left him. After a teacher recognized his acting promise and pushed him toward New York’s fabled High School of Performing Arts, the die was cast. In good times and bad, in poverty and in wealth and in poverty again, through pain and joy, acting was his lifeline, its community his tribe.

Sonny Boy is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide. All the great roles, the essential collaborations, and the important relationships are given their full due, as is the vexed marriage between creativity and commerce at the highest levels. The book’s golden thread, however, is the spirit of love and purpose. Love can fail you, and you can be defeated in your ambitions—the same lights that shine bright can also dim. But Al Pacino was lucky enough to fall deeply in love with a craft before he had the foggiest idea of any of its earthly rewards, and he never fell out of love. That has made all the difference.

©2024 Al Pacino (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Pacino’s high energy proves to be as mesmerizing in print as it is onscreen. Sonny Boy is a page-turner that allows the reader to experience the struggles, inspirations, tragedies, and triumphs of an artist from humble beginnings who becomes infatuated with ‘the power of expression’ at a very young age . . . So touchingly reflective that [it] left me in tears.”—The Washington Examiner

“A movie superstar of rare stature . . . In Sonny Boy, Mr. Pacino still sounds like the actor who dazzled in his heyday. The book, written with Dave Itzkoff, preserves Mr. Pacino’s personality, with all his intelligence, his wit and his eagerness to talk about the theater history he loves.”—Farran Smith Nehme, Wall Street Journal

“Very revealing of an artist’s soul . . . a beautiful, heartfelt piece of work.”—San Francisco Chronicle

Wanting more

I definitely could have listened to more about one of my all time favorite actors. Definitely different than my perception but, I loved the transparency and the humbleness. Sounds like a very down to earth and nice man. It helped me to distract my mind as I just lost both my parents (2 days apart). I miss them so much but, they were tired and ready after 80 years of marriage. Thank you Mr. Pacino!! 🙏🙏

draws you in

once i started listening it was very hard to stop. such a good performance from al 🔥

cool listen

Read by the man himself, this felt like a heartfelt story, told by the one who knows the story best.

Pacino in his own voice..always outstanding!

Wish I could sit down and have a cup of Chock Full of Nuts with him and just talk about life.

What a great listen!

I totally enjoyed the walk down memory lane with Al. He is just so real and transparent…a really fascinating life.

My favorite Audible listen ever!

I just finished listening to the last page and find myself in tears. It has been incredible to listen to Al Pacino share his life story. It truly feels as if he is with you, spontaneously sharing. I laughed, I cried, I learned so much. Most of all, I felt the immensity of his love for his mom, his family, his childhood, and his art. Truly unforgettable. I intend to listen to it again.

Very genuine

I am a voracious reader, but I've never been much on autobiographies. I'm not even a very star struck type person. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but I noticed it was rated highly.
I'm not sure I would have believed it all in print. Hearing it narrated by Al sure made me believe it was very raw, honest and genuine. Seems he gained a lot of insight writing it. Sorta glad to hear some actors have hard times and struggles like most of us. Many aren't just stars because of the rampant nepotism in Hollyweird.
Love his voice, acting and this book. Love the Godfather trilogies. Highly recommended.

Amazing American Dream story

I loved learning about Al pacino one of my favorite actors. his journey is a trip down history and a very intertwined industry of entertainment.

Al Pacino is an extraordinary writer & tells an incredible and remarkable story.

The best parts are the vivid stories and rich retelling of his rough childhood on the streets of the south Bronx. He had little schooling and no breaks. No father. He had to drop out of school. Crazy that he somehow found acting and was driven by his passion throughout his life. So little education yet he inhaled Shakespeare and Chekhov and understood them on the deepest level as he scrambled to find enough to eat and a place to sleep well into his 20’s. The theater stories and Hollywood tales are page turning. The best is getting to know a deep and insightful human being.

love the storytelling !!!

excellent insight into a famous actor’s rise to fame told by the man himself. Awesome listen!