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Don't Tell Dad: A Memoir
In a rip-roaring ride through the '60s and up to the present day, Peter Fonda, son of Henry, brother of Jane, father of Bridget, boldly recalls his turbulent life, sharing with readers for the first time the true stories behind the legends, famous and infamous, surrounding himself and his family.
498 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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121 people want to read
About the author
Peter Fonda
7 books2 followersPeter Fonda was a uniquely influential figure in American cinema whose career spanned more than five decades. As the son of legendary actor Henry Fonda and the brother of Jane Fonda, Peter was born into one of Hollywood’s most prominent acting dynasties, yet he carved a path that was defiantly his own. He became a symbol of 1960s counterculture, a New Hollywood pioneer, and an enduring icon of independence and rebellion. Fonda is perhaps best remembered for co-writing, producing, and starring in the landmark film Easy Rider (1969), which not only earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay but also helped define a generation disillusioned by mainstream society. His role as Wyatt, the soft-spoken biker in an American flag jacket, became emblematic of the era’s yearning for freedom and self-discovery.
Born in New York City in 1940, Peter faced personal tragedies early in life, including the suicide of his mother and a near-fatal gun accident before his eleventh birthday. These formative experiences helped shape the introspective and rebellious persona that would come to define his most iconic roles. He began his acting journey in theater, earning critical acclaim for his performance in Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole. His early film work in the 1960s gradually gave way to more provocative roles that reflected his growing involvement in the counterculture. He became closely associated with filmmaker Roger Corman, starring in cult favorites like The Wild Angels and The Trip, the latter penned by Jack Nicholson.
Fonda’s post-Easy Rider career was marked by his directorial debut with The Hired Hand (1971), a revisionist Western that found greater appreciation decades later. During the 1970s, he embraced the action genre, starring in hits like Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry and Race with the Devil. Though the 1980s saw a quieter period in his career, he continued to work steadily across genres and countries. His critical resurgence came in 1997 with Ulee’s Gold, for which he earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win, portraying a stoic Florida beekeeper grappling with family turmoil. He followed this with another Golden Globe-winning performance in The Passion of Ayn Rand.
In his later years, Fonda remained active in film, television, and even video games, voicing a character in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He returned to the big screen in prominent roles such as in 3:10 to Yuma and Ghost Rider (both 2007), demonstrating his ability to adapt to new cinematic landscapes while still channeling the raw energy of his early career. He also penned an autobiography, Don’t Tell Dad, offering insight into the personal and professional complexities behind his often enigmatic public image.
Peter Fonda’s legacy is one of artistic defiance and creative exploration. He challenged the boundaries of American filmmaking and helped usher in a new era of independent cinema. Whether riding a motorcycle across the desert or quietly embodying the emotional weight of a troubled father, Fonda left behind a body of work that continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike.
Born in New York City in 1940, Peter faced personal tragedies early in life, including the suicide of his mother and a near-fatal gun accident before his eleventh birthday. These formative experiences helped shape the introspective and rebellious persona that would come to define his most iconic roles. He began his acting journey in theater, earning critical acclaim for his performance in Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole. His early film work in the 1960s gradually gave way to more provocative roles that reflected his growing involvement in the counterculture. He became closely associated with filmmaker Roger Corman, starring in cult favorites like The Wild Angels and The Trip, the latter penned by Jack Nicholson.
Fonda’s post-Easy Rider career was marked by his directorial debut with The Hired Hand (1971), a revisionist Western that found greater appreciation decades later. During the 1970s, he embraced the action genre, starring in hits like Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry and Race with the Devil. Though the 1980s saw a quieter period in his career, he continued to work steadily across genres and countries. His critical resurgence came in 1997 with Ulee’s Gold, for which he earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win, portraying a stoic Florida beekeeper grappling with family turmoil. He followed this with another Golden Globe-winning performance in The Passion of Ayn Rand.
In his later years, Fonda remained active in film, television, and even video games, voicing a character in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He returned to the big screen in prominent roles such as in 3:10 to Yuma and Ghost Rider (both 2007), demonstrating his ability to adapt to new cinematic landscapes while still channeling the raw energy of his early career. He also penned an autobiography, Don’t Tell Dad, offering insight into the personal and professional complexities behind his often enigmatic public image.
Peter Fonda’s legacy is one of artistic defiance and creative exploration. He challenged the boundaries of American filmmaking and helped usher in a new era of independent cinema. Whether riding a motorcycle across the desert or quietly embodying the emotional weight of a troubled father, Fonda left behind a body of work that continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 28, 2023
In a candid, honest autobiography, one of Hollywood's most notorious actors shares his turbulent life, including his relationship with his distant father, his mother's suicide, his activist sister, his own film career, and his wild escapades with Marlon Brando, the Beatles, Dennis Hopper, Warren Oates.
I expected a lot better story, a lot more interesting story, but what you get is a book full of bitterness, lefty political opinions, swearing, drugs, parties of a sad man, yes honest, but not very interesting or exciting.
Not much conversations on many co-stars, most of his films were very low budget, more of his party/drug life, travels on his bike, travels on his boat, maybe a quick mention of a film and co-star.
Bitter, sad man who childhood was not great, a tough father, the great Henry Fonda, his mothers suicide, yes a tough life, but never really found happiness.
Known for his work in low budget biker films in the 60's with Roger Corman, and often co-stars like Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Warren Oates. In later years found success in the film Ulee's Gold.
Broke his back twice in motorcycle accidents.
Died of lung cancer in 2019 age 79 years old.
I expected a lot better story, a lot more interesting story, but what you get is a book full of bitterness, lefty political opinions, swearing, drugs, parties of a sad man, yes honest, but not very interesting or exciting.
Not much conversations on many co-stars, most of his films were very low budget, more of his party/drug life, travels on his bike, travels on his boat, maybe a quick mention of a film and co-star.
Bitter, sad man who childhood was not great, a tough father, the great Henry Fonda, his mothers suicide, yes a tough life, but never really found happiness.
Known for his work in low budget biker films in the 60's with Roger Corman, and often co-stars like Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Warren Oates. In later years found success in the film Ulee's Gold.
Broke his back twice in motorcycle accidents.
Died of lung cancer in 2019 age 79 years old.
October 24, 2025
I started reading this book because I was also reading another book about Henry Fonda, the father of Peter. While Papa Fonda was famous and a classic film actor, the younger Fonda was known to me as being from the Hippie Era and yet another Nepo Baby, so not someone who ever engaged me on the screen. In fact, his most famous movie, Easy Rider, was a film I saw only because it was shown at a big screen festival a few years ago (and looks very, very dated). Having established the fact that I am not a fan of Peter Fonda, it was nevertheless an interesting read, if not for the right reasons.
This is a big book, about 500 pages long. That means one big ego, to say the least. It’s written as though Peter Fonda just sat in front of a microphone and went off speaking about himself…over and over and over again. There is quite a bit to digest. His father was obsessed with perfectionism, which meant his family took second place. Peter’s mother killed herself and Henry Fonda married several times, so there wasn’t much stability. However, money was never an issue, and Henry Fonda had a family member take care of his children while he worked. In fact, Peter’s early life with his parents and his schooling is probably the high point of this tome. Because after that, Peter decides to be an actor (of course) and from his very first jaunt on stage, brags about his prowess as a thespian. Ugh.
Then it’s on to the Sixties, where he gallivants all over because he had inherited money, which went to drugs and cars and sailboats. But worse, he comes off as a very spoiled brat (I guess that was Henry Fonda’s fault, too) who goes into full anger rages whenever something doesn’t go his way. Obey the law? Not for Baby Fonda! Report for the draft? Not for Baby Fonda! It’s almost unbelievable that as he writes, he just couldn’t understand that he was only able to get away with all these incidents because of his famous father. For all his wagging on about equal rights and spiritual drugs, it never seems to occur to him that lesser mortals would have been serving jail time for his “larks”.
Eventually, he makes his famous movie, which changed Hollywood, and he lived off that forever, while still intoning about how cool he was as an actor. Just nauseating. Oh, and there’s a WHOLE section on him and his passion for sailing. And then repeating the very thing he constantly blames his father for, which was leaving his so-called beloved children while he went and partied all over the globe. Okay, dude. You’re so hip, or groovy or whatever they said back then.
If you’re a Boomer, you may like this book. Quite obviously, I did not. To be honest, when he starts his blah-blah about his “talent”, I really thought he was setting the reader up for a joke. His career sputtered away into B and C movies which he writes about as if they were Shakespeare. I find it ironic that his father remains well known and a cinematic deity while Peter “Son Of God” Fonda is now mostly forgotten. I mean, didn’t the publisher have any kind of editor working with him or did he threaten them also (so many lawsuits)?
When I start a book, I finish it, but this wasn’t my cuppa tea. Untrammeled egos always turn me off, particularly those who blindly overlook their good fortune based on birth. I would award this book one whole star, except the beginning section was quite interesting, so two stars, but it goes into the local donation bin.
Book Season = Summer (splattered quicksilver)
This is a big book, about 500 pages long. That means one big ego, to say the least. It’s written as though Peter Fonda just sat in front of a microphone and went off speaking about himself…over and over and over again. There is quite a bit to digest. His father was obsessed with perfectionism, which meant his family took second place. Peter’s mother killed herself and Henry Fonda married several times, so there wasn’t much stability. However, money was never an issue, and Henry Fonda had a family member take care of his children while he worked. In fact, Peter’s early life with his parents and his schooling is probably the high point of this tome. Because after that, Peter decides to be an actor (of course) and from his very first jaunt on stage, brags about his prowess as a thespian. Ugh.
Then it’s on to the Sixties, where he gallivants all over because he had inherited money, which went to drugs and cars and sailboats. But worse, he comes off as a very spoiled brat (I guess that was Henry Fonda’s fault, too) who goes into full anger rages whenever something doesn’t go his way. Obey the law? Not for Baby Fonda! Report for the draft? Not for Baby Fonda! It’s almost unbelievable that as he writes, he just couldn’t understand that he was only able to get away with all these incidents because of his famous father. For all his wagging on about equal rights and spiritual drugs, it never seems to occur to him that lesser mortals would have been serving jail time for his “larks”.
Eventually, he makes his famous movie, which changed Hollywood, and he lived off that forever, while still intoning about how cool he was as an actor. Just nauseating. Oh, and there’s a WHOLE section on him and his passion for sailing. And then repeating the very thing he constantly blames his father for, which was leaving his so-called beloved children while he went and partied all over the globe. Okay, dude. You’re so hip, or groovy or whatever they said back then.
If you’re a Boomer, you may like this book. Quite obviously, I did not. To be honest, when he starts his blah-blah about his “talent”, I really thought he was setting the reader up for a joke. His career sputtered away into B and C movies which he writes about as if they were Shakespeare. I find it ironic that his father remains well known and a cinematic deity while Peter “Son Of God” Fonda is now mostly forgotten. I mean, didn’t the publisher have any kind of editor working with him or did he threaten them also (so many lawsuits)?
When I start a book, I finish it, but this wasn’t my cuppa tea. Untrammeled egos always turn me off, particularly those who blindly overlook their good fortune based on birth. I would award this book one whole star, except the beginning section was quite interesting, so two stars, but it goes into the local donation bin.
Book Season = Summer (splattered quicksilver)
May 20, 2016
Before beginning this review, I looked up the definition of "memoir," since that is what the writer has said he's written. I found that a memoir is an historical account, or an essay on a learned subject. Neither of those definitions fits this work. It is a journey, and the reader is along for the ride.
Some years ago, I bid for and won an autographed copy of the book. To be honest, I didn't follow Peter Fonda much at all. I had a passing notion of his films, but Easy Rider did not seem particularly appealing. So, why did I bid on the book? My guess is that it was my contribution to a charity in which I believed.
And the book sat on my shelf from 1999 until about a month ago.
I can't say what caused me to pick it up. Since most of what I read is on the Kindle, I've been trying to clear my physical bookshelves. When I opened the book, there was a note from Mr. Fonda ... "Hand corrected by the author. Best Wishes, Peter Fonda '99." ... Okay, I'll admit that was intriguing!
The corrections consisted of amending the name of a motion picture, adding an extra "n" to an actor's name, and adding the last two omitted words to a poem. Wow! (Responding to the challenge, I also found an "or" that should have been corrected to "our" and a "wuld" that should have been "would.")
The fact that he took the time to hand write those corrections should have told me something about him. This is a writer who values the details when his name is involved.
I was also not prepared for the stunning breadth of detail. The writer's memory is amazing. He adds such precise details, including exactly what he was feeling at a given time many, many years ago, that I felt this was a living narrative and not the standard recounting of facts. His writing was so clear and compelling that I strongly looked forward to each reading session.
This is not to say that I was in sync with him. Several things he mentioned greatly troubled me. His propensity to explode with vile language when he thought there was an injustice or that he wasn't being treated fairly would cause me to keep my distance if we ever met.
Still, I've never read an autobiography that gave me such tremendous insight into the writer. There is no sugar-coating to be found here, although he is less unforgiving of others than he is toward himself. He has three strong areas of interest that draw his attention: relationships, traveling (with sailing and motoring being preferred) and independent filmmaking. The details provided in these areas are free-wheeling and extensive.
This will be very frustrating to the reader harboring a "tell all" agenda. For instance, I'd like to know more about Susan George, but his only mention of her is that she was in the cast of Dirty Mary Crazy Larry. He was also with Lara Parker in Race With The Devil, but he doesn't even mention her name. Then there is the unnamed girlfriend who drove the "cast and crew" of his yacht crazy ... her name is omitted, also. My guess is that he didn't get along well with them, as people whose company he enjoyed always seem to be featured.
Of course, much has been made of his father's unloving attitude toward pretty much everyone, but it would be an overstatement to say that he didn't care. Life wasn't a bed of roses, yet the writer does balance the perception. His sister, Jane, can do no wrong in his eyes. And his current family (as of the writing) are the center of his universe.
Jane suggested the title, and I suppose it fits. There is so much more, though, than the story of family life with his famous father. This is a journey of personal discovery and learning what is truly important to him. Perhaps "Dancing In The Dark" would have been more apt. Yet even that title would suggest that his entire life was harrowing and, despite a recurring nightmare of rape, there are so many stories that are filled with hope and lessons.
Hands down, this is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. I highly recommend it ... and shame on me for taking so long to discover it.
Some years ago, I bid for and won an autographed copy of the book. To be honest, I didn't follow Peter Fonda much at all. I had a passing notion of his films, but Easy Rider did not seem particularly appealing. So, why did I bid on the book? My guess is that it was my contribution to a charity in which I believed.
And the book sat on my shelf from 1999 until about a month ago.
I can't say what caused me to pick it up. Since most of what I read is on the Kindle, I've been trying to clear my physical bookshelves. When I opened the book, there was a note from Mr. Fonda ... "Hand corrected by the author. Best Wishes, Peter Fonda '99." ... Okay, I'll admit that was intriguing!
The corrections consisted of amending the name of a motion picture, adding an extra "n" to an actor's name, and adding the last two omitted words to a poem. Wow! (Responding to the challenge, I also found an "or" that should have been corrected to "our" and a "wuld" that should have been "would.")
The fact that he took the time to hand write those corrections should have told me something about him. This is a writer who values the details when his name is involved.
I was also not prepared for the stunning breadth of detail. The writer's memory is amazing. He adds such precise details, including exactly what he was feeling at a given time many, many years ago, that I felt this was a living narrative and not the standard recounting of facts. His writing was so clear and compelling that I strongly looked forward to each reading session.
This is not to say that I was in sync with him. Several things he mentioned greatly troubled me. His propensity to explode with vile language when he thought there was an injustice or that he wasn't being treated fairly would cause me to keep my distance if we ever met.
Still, I've never read an autobiography that gave me such tremendous insight into the writer. There is no sugar-coating to be found here, although he is less unforgiving of others than he is toward himself. He has three strong areas of interest that draw his attention: relationships, traveling (with sailing and motoring being preferred) and independent filmmaking. The details provided in these areas are free-wheeling and extensive.
This will be very frustrating to the reader harboring a "tell all" agenda. For instance, I'd like to know more about Susan George, but his only mention of her is that she was in the cast of Dirty Mary Crazy Larry. He was also with Lara Parker in Race With The Devil, but he doesn't even mention her name. Then there is the unnamed girlfriend who drove the "cast and crew" of his yacht crazy ... her name is omitted, also. My guess is that he didn't get along well with them, as people whose company he enjoyed always seem to be featured.
Of course, much has been made of his father's unloving attitude toward pretty much everyone, but it would be an overstatement to say that he didn't care. Life wasn't a bed of roses, yet the writer does balance the perception. His sister, Jane, can do no wrong in his eyes. And his current family (as of the writing) are the center of his universe.
Jane suggested the title, and I suppose it fits. There is so much more, though, than the story of family life with his famous father. This is a journey of personal discovery and learning what is truly important to him. Perhaps "Dancing In The Dark" would have been more apt. Yet even that title would suggest that his entire life was harrowing and, despite a recurring nightmare of rape, there are so many stories that are filled with hope and lessons.
Hands down, this is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. I highly recommend it ... and shame on me for taking so long to discover it.
April 3, 2008
One of the better movie star bios I’ve read because Peter Fonda is the hardest of hardcore hipsters from the Sixties. He demonstrated at the Sunset Strip riots, dropped acid with the Beatles (which inspired the song “He Said She Said”), Jane Fonda was his spoiled brat sister, starred in legendary drugspolitation classic “The Trip”, and that’s just within the span of two years!
Fonda also goes in-depth about the making of “Easy Rider” and co-star Dennis Hopper’s rampant paranoia. He also gives you a pretty good view on what it’s like growing up as a movie star brat in Beverly Hills when it was a big deal. Unfortunately his dad was Henry Fonda, a colder fish than Bing Crosby in the pop department.
Peter Fonda has made some great movies, lived some wild times, and sired a hot daughter so there’s no shortage of great stuff to read here.
Fonda also goes in-depth about the making of “Easy Rider” and co-star Dennis Hopper’s rampant paranoia. He also gives you a pretty good view on what it’s like growing up as a movie star brat in Beverly Hills when it was a big deal. Unfortunately his dad was Henry Fonda, a colder fish than Bing Crosby in the pop department.
Peter Fonda has made some great movies, lived some wild times, and sired a hot daughter so there’s no shortage of great stuff to read here.
May 18, 2019
As a long time fan of the film Easy Rider, and the bikes built for the movie by Cliff Vaughs and Ben Hardy, I was glad to find that a good chunk of this book covers the pre-production, making, and promotion of the film, and this was of great interest to me; I learned a lot I hadn't read or heard elsewhere. Apart from this, the rest of the book is engagingly written, and the character of Peter Fonda leaps off the pages, for good or bad. My abiding feeling, though, is this: if he was consuming so many illicit substances, in such quantities, for so long, how the hell did he remember all this?
June 7, 2020
Peter Fonda's 1998 memoir, which he dedicated to his sister, Jane Fonda, covers in detail his traumatic childhood with his often absent and emotionally distant father, Henry Fonda, Peter's mother's suicide, and even Peter's struggles with mental health issues growing up.
Perhaps the best part of this memoir are Peter's reminiscences of the 1969 film "Easy Rider," which he wrote, produced, and starred in, along with a very manic director and co-star, Dennis Hopper. "This is MY movie!" Fonda quotes Hopper as saying every day on the set. Also, during filming, Fonda and Hopper were cracking up off-camera during Jack Nicholson's monologue about aliens.
The only thing I didn't get much out of the memoir was when Fonda, who had a sailboat, used nautical terms that he didn't take the time to explain. I would like to have known what he was talking about.
Fonda is also very open about smoking weed, engaging in free love, and openly participating in a countercultural lifestyle, with law enforcement -- at home and abroad -- often on his tail. One may also be amazed to see what celebrities sip some weed with ol' Pete.
Overall, I enjoy this memoir. It's well written, and it covers a lot of Fonda's life -- traumatic yet exhilarating as it was. One wonders what Peter would have become had he had a present and attentive father and a mother who was scared of razors. One will never know. But the Peter in "Don't Tell Dad" is an intriguing person, and his memoir is well worth the read.
(As an added suggestion, if you'd really like to see Fonda talking about the 1960s, check out the 1999 Steven Soderbergh film "The Limey." The film is well worth it.)
Perhaps the best part of this memoir are Peter's reminiscences of the 1969 film "Easy Rider," which he wrote, produced, and starred in, along with a very manic director and co-star, Dennis Hopper. "This is MY movie!" Fonda quotes Hopper as saying every day on the set. Also, during filming, Fonda and Hopper were cracking up off-camera during Jack Nicholson's monologue about aliens.
The only thing I didn't get much out of the memoir was when Fonda, who had a sailboat, used nautical terms that he didn't take the time to explain. I would like to have known what he was talking about.
Fonda is also very open about smoking weed, engaging in free love, and openly participating in a countercultural lifestyle, with law enforcement -- at home and abroad -- often on his tail. One may also be amazed to see what celebrities sip some weed with ol' Pete.
Overall, I enjoy this memoir. It's well written, and it covers a lot of Fonda's life -- traumatic yet exhilarating as it was. One wonders what Peter would have become had he had a present and attentive father and a mother who was scared of razors. One will never know. But the Peter in "Don't Tell Dad" is an intriguing person, and his memoir is well worth the read.
(As an added suggestion, if you'd really like to see Fonda talking about the 1960s, check out the 1999 Steven Soderbergh film "The Limey." The film is well worth it.)
July 9, 2017
This was a memoir in three parts, only one of which I liked. The childhood section was an excellent read, traumatic though it was for the author to live it. Raised by his very dysfunctional parents (cold absent father and warm but crazy mother) in Hollywood in the 1950s, left at times on his own with his sisters or older relatives, then out of the blue clapped into various (some terrible) boarding schools. The writing here is emotional yet incisive, and very honest. The reader feels his confusion and suffering after his mother's suicide. And PF's memory for the small telling details that make up a young child's life is impressive.
Once he grows up & takes charge of his own life, I found this book much less riveting. Early success and (perhaps) substance abuse clouds the adult years with self-indulgence. More movies, motorcycles, a giant boat, lots of travel, a couple of wives & the girlfriends in between.... It all gets a bit boring. The only reason to keep reading is to find out if his expressed desire to give his own kids a "real" father, and "real" love, succeeds in spite of divorce & the peripatetic life of a screen actor.....
Once he grows up & takes charge of his own life, I found this book much less riveting. Early success and (perhaps) substance abuse clouds the adult years with self-indulgence. More movies, motorcycles, a giant boat, lots of travel, a couple of wives & the girlfriends in between.... It all gets a bit boring. The only reason to keep reading is to find out if his expressed desire to give his own kids a "real" father, and "real" love, succeeds in spite of divorce & the peripatetic life of a screen actor.....
Read
August 29, 2019The actor's recent demise spurred my interest. Although I am not a diehard fan of any particular family member, I have seen some of their movies and TV projects all my life to some extent. Some aspects of Peter's life I was aware of, but was educated and surprised as well. His account of his random cheating on his first wife Susan had me rolling my eyes. He definitely was a "chip off the old block" in that area. Overall, the book was a decent read. It was cool to learn about his multitude of celebrity buddies. He once had a fling with Nancy Sinatra.
August 4, 2023
The first half was gripping, well written and well thought out. Once we got to the years of drugs and more drugs and fame, the story deteriorated quickly. Not sure if he lost the train of his thoughts or if the drugs literally took over.
I struggled to get through the highly repetitious second half. Love, sex, drugs, money, experience—never enough!
A huge talent shown early and late in his life!! Hard to accept some of his rationalizations.
One constant was his devotion to Jane and their close relationship.
I struggled to get through the highly repetitious second half. Love, sex, drugs, money, experience—never enough!
A huge talent shown early and late in his life!! Hard to accept some of his rationalizations.
One constant was his devotion to Jane and their close relationship.
April 29, 2025
3 and a half stars. The book was well written but I didn't like the adult Peter Fonda much as a person. I was furious and saddened by his experiences as a child, and the person he eventually became seemed much nicer when he was in his fifties - he published it in his mid-to-late fifties. Because of my early anger and later dislike I found it hard to push through to the end, but I'm glad I finished it.
March 11, 2020
#22 of 130 books pledged to read during 2020
March 31, 2020
Started out interesting. Then further on it was just one story after the other about partying, smoking dope, hanging out in Hawaii and other scenic vistas. Got boring halfway thru-couldn't finish.
May 10, 2021
A charmed life , love tatoish
June 11, 2018
Very much loved this book!
Peter's childhood stories were terribly tragic. However, when it comes to his stories as an adult, some are sad and others are funny! Based on everything he'd been through, Peter is a VERY lucky guy to still be as active as he is today.
Here's a friendly word of warning to whoever decides to read this book: It is NOT for the kind of people who shock easily!
Peter's childhood stories were terribly tragic. However, when it comes to his stories as an adult, some are sad and others are funny! Based on everything he'd been through, Peter is a VERY lucky guy to still be as active as he is today.
Here's a friendly word of warning to whoever decides to read this book: It is NOT for the kind of people who shock easily!
December 27, 2016
I started reading this book to see if my current opinion of Mr. Fonda would change. I knew that my opinion of him was formed by the characters he'd played so maybe reading about him (while I was reading his sister's biography,) I'd get a better informed opinion. So far it hasn't improved. I'm not halfway through the book yet so I still may change it. I don't think I will really but you never know.
I finished the book about two weeks ago. I was pretty angry and about to write a review on how I felt cheated of my time for reading it but I won't. I finished Jane Fonda's book today. I had put off reading her book as it became apparent to me that this book was really annoying me. I needed something to take the taste of this bland bunch of pages out of my head.
My conclusions: Peter Fonda really is self centered BUT he does love his relatives. If you want to read about anyone else in his life go find their biography and read it. I mean he spent so much time with Dennis Hopper yet he says so little about him. This guy wrote this book all about himself. Oh yeah and his sailing and boat. Are you a fan of soliloquies about yacht sailing or ego inflated actors? This is your book.
I finished the book about two weeks ago. I was pretty angry and about to write a review on how I felt cheated of my time for reading it but I won't. I finished Jane Fonda's book today. I had put off reading her book as it became apparent to me that this book was really annoying me. I needed something to take the taste of this bland bunch of pages out of my head.
My conclusions: Peter Fonda really is self centered BUT he does love his relatives. If you want to read about anyone else in his life go find their biography and read it. I mean he spent so much time with Dennis Hopper yet he says so little about him. This guy wrote this book all about himself. Oh yeah and his sailing and boat. Are you a fan of soliloquies about yacht sailing or ego inflated actors? This is your book.
March 31, 2018
I was watching Peter Fonda in a movie and I said to myself: " This guy is supposed to be a good actor? I sure don't think so. His acting seems dead, not expressive at all. He recited his lines in a lifeless way And he comes off as an unlikable person, and I imagine he is unlikable in real life." So I wanted to see if my impressions were correct. His autobiography is interesting. He sure spent a lot of time running around making movies in Europe, and was constantly sailing with a crew of friends on his 90-foot yacht, mostly around Hawaii and the South Seas. Drug and partying stories abound, and he covers all of his family stuff, and gives a thorough account of the making of "Easy Rider." It goes from childhood up to the date he wrote it, including plenty on his early years. Each of his movies is covered and all of the behind-the-scenes stuff is written about. Did I like him better as a person after reading the autobiography? Only a little.
October 10, 2014
A pretty good read all in all. Peter has always been one of my favorite actors - ever since I saw "Easy Rider". The only criticism of his auto-biography I do have is that the part of the book describing the background and making of "Easy Rider" was too lengthy and what Mr. Fonda has done recently was too short. Other than that, well worth the read.
February 6, 2008
The beginning and the end were good - the middle part was tedious. One of those books you read through - fast - hoping it would get better. Peter's a has-been, making $$ off his Easy Rider days (1969) his dad, Henry Fonda, and his sister Jane's notoriety.
July 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this glimpse into Peter Fonda's life ,and the lives of his so talented family. I would recommend this to Henry ,Peter,or Jane Fonda fans everywhere ! A lot of insight into the struggles and triumphs of the original badass Easyrider himself .
June 9, 2009
I read this as it was partially attributed to Terry Southern (I hope not!) Great collection of self-centeredness I have read since On the Road!
August 7, 2011
this was a very good book
January 18, 2013
Ok but rather tedious after the childhood
July 14, 2013
There is more to his life than Easy Rider! Not a bad read.
July 26, 2015
I find it interesting to read about famous entertainers lives. I thought this one was very believable.
November 1, 2012
After the last few books I've read I needed something light and easy.
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