Sonny Boy: A Memoir

Written by Al Pacino

Narrated by 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Oct 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9780593914298

Reviews for Sonny Boy

[wendy1hughes-320431 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If I got a hard copy of the book and there were actual words in it I’d be shocked because at no point, and I mean NO point, does it sound like Pacino is reading. It sounds like your grandpa or great uncle is sitting across the table from you telling stories about their life. It’s fantastic! Of course, as one can imagine, he’s had a fascinating life, but really it’s the intimacy that he tells it with that makes it magical.

[alans_430515 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great,very interesting.

[bdartnall_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

His memoir surprised me with his candor, and his occasional sarcastic self deprecation. Not only does he provide interesting anecdotes to what would otherwise be just another South Bronx/NY City poor Italian-American kid upbringing, he intersperses his biographical journey with some thoughtful reflections & lots of deepfelt respect & love for the craft of acting, the theater, his fellow actors, and his own performances. Enjoyed it almost all the way to the end...felt like it lagged, turned a bit philosophical - but hey, he's an older guy now. And kudos to him - looks like (I read the acknowlegements and afterword) he wrote this himself, albeit with lots of editorial help. Not all celebrity/movie stars can do that.

[thanesh_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My first audiobook on Amazon music now that Prime Members are allowed one Audible Audiobook a month which is about as much as can manage at times. Sonny boy by Al Pacino is a pure delight to listen to as it is read by the man himself. It covers his experiences in life including his distinguished acting career, his boyhood experiences growing up in the South Bronx and his relationship with other actors, directors and producers in the movie business. He talks a bit about the business of making movies and how while it is lucrative endeavor and brings many benefits to society, there is a cost to the Indvidual's involved in terms of their loss of privacy, loneliness and depression. Interestingly he covers how he is so engrossed in his work, his acting, the roles he portrays that he does not put much effort in managing his finances and pays other professional to do this for him which make sense, except if those professionals take advantage of the situation. Can only imagine how much the losses are from artists in the same situation. Overall, this is a must read for fans of Al as well as anyone who wants to read about a life well lived! Thanks, Al for all the efforts you put into compiling these memoirs which will be a source of inspiration for many aspiring artists,

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An extraordinary memoir by one of the Hollywood elite, Sonny Boy is an enthralling biography from octogenarian, Al Pacino as he reflects on his life and his award-winning career. From the streets of the South Bronx to the Godfather and Scarface, Pacino's life story is enthralling. It's a peak behind the curtain behind his long and storied career. Sonny Boy covers growing up with a single mother, childhood friendships, collaborations, romances, films, and theater; it is an endearingly honest and open recounting of a life lived to the fullest. He is open about his struggles with alcohol, disappointments in his life and career, bad performances on the stage and the screen, and the sheer good luck he was blessed with. Pacino gives an impassioned and enthusiastic narration filled with singing, laughter, and so much emotion. He is a gifted storyteller and orator; this biography makes the listener feel as if they are sitting down with an old friend. His intelligence, wit, compassion, and self-deprecation shine throughout. A life well lived, with an absolutely beautiful ending. Pacino still seems stunned and humbled at all he’s accomplished in his life and career. Verdict - a must listen and not just for movie fans. – Erin Cataldi