Sonny Boy
A Memoir
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Sonny Boy
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Narrated by:
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Al Pacino
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By:
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Al Pacino
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
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.
‘A 5 ft 7in Hollywood giant … Al Pacino’s eccentric memoir really preserves his Bronx-reared turn of phrase’ The Times
'Surprising, introspective … His youth was grim, his money troubles serious, his fame unlikely. Al Pacino’s friends all died in poverty. How did he survive?’ Telegraph
‘This book is a beautiful trip … (from) one of the world’s greatest, most influential actors for more than 50 years. He’s audacious. He’s outrageous. He’s Al Pacino’ The New York Times
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What listeners say about Sonny Boy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-10-24
The authenticity and voice of the narrator.
Authentic and engaging narrative. Love that Al Pacino himself is the narrator. He describes his childhood and youth so vividly that it feels as if you are a spectator standing on the corner.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr G
- 30-12-24
Thanks Al
Thanks for inviting me to spend time together with you and for explaining so eloquently what motivated you to give such great performances.
It really feels like you know the author a little. Read with honesty and humour. I real treat.
Thanks Al.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Abstract Reader
- 11-01-25
Profoundly beautiful
A book you never knew you needed to read. A life story of a person you thought you admired until you listened to the said life story through his voice, in the best kind of storytelling way.
I’m in awe. Profoundly moved. And deeply touched. I’m inspired and I’ve never come across a biography quite like this one. I can only thank Mr. Pacino for sharing it, it was as unforgettable, honest and heartwarming.
Loved every minute. Highly recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dane
- 30-11-24
From the Bronx to Hollywood
It was a real pleasure to hear Al Pacino's life story. From the heartbreak of losing his mother and childhood friends to drugs at a young age, to working odd jobs to scrape a living and then to becoming one of the most famous and renowned actors in the world is truly inspiring. The ending to the audiobook had me in tears. God bless you Mr Pacino.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Luna Zsigo
- 21-11-24
what a guy!
I am really enjoying this audiobook, what a guy! A brilliantly read audiobiography by the legend himself. Beautifully reflective, such tender descriptions of his mother and the people he loves, contrasting the laugh out loud stories. it makes a pleasant change to listen to an autobiography/ memoir that is hilariously honest, touchingly reflective and written and read by a man I consider a true artist. No ego, intelligent, insightful and full of the emotion and learning.
Highly recommended - incredibly inspirational.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nicholas Hanbury
- 07-12-24
authenticity
the guy observes his success through the lens of his modest upbringing in the Bronx, New York.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 08-12-24
What a delivery!!
Even great books can seem boring when read by a monotone narrator. However the fact that Al Pacino is the narrator of his own story, makes this a great listen! Turns out he’s different guy to who I perceived he was but a great guy all the same. Bravo Al 👏 you’re a writer and an actor
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Robert
- 16-01-25
Beautifully performed and written!
Really enjoyed this. Just had to keep listening. It wasn’t the story itself, although it is a lovely selection of life experiences. It was the performance, the way he tells it. Just lovely.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr Emmett Smyth
- 18-10-24
Fabulous.
Brilliantly read and so interesting with lots of insight to great films and a great life with so many interesting people.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mohammed S.
- 13-02-25
One of the greatest of all time
A story of a man who defied all odds to become one of the most decorated artists ever
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