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Sonny Boy
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.
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.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2024
2192 people are currently reading
18533 people want to read
About the author
Al Pacino
10 books215 followersAlfredo James Pacino is an Academy Award-, Golden Globe-, Tony-, BAFTA-, Emmy- and SAG award-winning American film and stage actor and director, widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential actors of all time.
He is well-known for his roles as Michael Corleone in the The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, Frank Serpico in Serpico, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman, and Roy Cohn in Angels in America. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1992 for his role in Scent of a Woman after being nominated 7 times beforehand for various roles.
He is well-known for his roles as Michael Corleone in the The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, Frank Serpico in Serpico, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman, and Roy Cohn in Angels in America. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1992 for his role in Scent of a Woman after being nominated 7 times beforehand for various roles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,767 reviews
November 21, 2024
AL PACINO MEMOIR I REPEAT AL PACINO MEMOIR!!!!
This was such a great book to listen to, not only because Pacino narrates it himself, but because of the way he does it, the things he emphasises, it feels like you're in the room with him as he's telling you his life story.
He covers everything from his childhood to his acting adventures, his friendships and family, some health issues that come with age and his struggles with alcoholism, all with a dose of humour.
After finishing this, I now think the perfect age to write a memoir is when you're in your 80s. The way Pacino reflects on his life would be different if he was younger, but now it's "just right". I can't really explain, you'll get it when you read it though.
I also want to go rewatch all of his movies that I have seen, and watch the ones I haven't for the first time.
I truly feel like I got to know Al Pacino while listening to this, and I'd love to read it again and again, so I'll be getting a physical copy ASAP. If this is your first time reading it, definitely get the audiobook, and thank me later.
This was such a great book to listen to, not only because Pacino narrates it himself, but because of the way he does it, the things he emphasises, it feels like you're in the room with him as he's telling you his life story.
He covers everything from his childhood to his acting adventures, his friendships and family, some health issues that come with age and his struggles with alcoholism, all with a dose of humour.
After finishing this, I now think the perfect age to write a memoir is when you're in your 80s. The way Pacino reflects on his life would be different if he was younger, but now it's "just right". I can't really explain, you'll get it when you read it though.
I also want to go rewatch all of his movies that I have seen, and watch the ones I haven't for the first time.
I truly feel like I got to know Al Pacino while listening to this, and I'd love to read it again and again, so I'll be getting a physical copy ASAP. If this is your first time reading it, definitely get the audiobook, and thank me later.
Currently reading
March 12, 2024another octogenarian word class actor who in recent years had nothing but misses releasing a memoir that will be little but self-centred and vain? no thanks (i pre-ordered immediately)
January 3, 2025
If you have seen his movies (really seen them) and can appreciate the choices he made as an actor, this will be a worthy memoir. Pacino is too much of a gentleman to say sensational things, but he is honest, and you can see that he reflected deeply on his life and career for this book. I think he gives his audience exactly what they expect: memories that he wouldn’t be embarrassed to share face-to-face with a friend.
November 15, 2024
Pacino confesses he is not a writer and this feels more like a conversation, or a talk, as Al takes us on a whistle-stop journey through his life. More time is spent on his early career when he had a string of outstanding films, less time is spent on the numerous more recent films, some good, some bad. Most touching are his memories of growing up in the Bronx and the world that has disappeared now, and there is a poignant sense of a man who feels he has much more to give and do, but realises time is running out and age is finally catching up with him. Some funny stories from theatre and film, and honest reflections on drug and alcohol use. A must for any fan and a fitting if uncontroversial autobiography for one of the greats.
October 21, 2024
The Boy from the Bronx Who Became an Acting Legend
In the pantheon of great American actors, few names shine as brightly as Al Pacino. For over five decades, he has captivated audiences with his intense, nuanced performances on stage and screen. Now, at age 83, the notoriously private star opens up about his remarkable life and career in his long-awaited memoir, "Sonny Boy".
With raw honesty and hard-earned wisdom, Pacino takes us on an intimate journey from his hardscrabble youth in the South Bronx to the dizzying heights of Hollywood stardom. Along the way, he shares profound insights on acting, fame, family, and finding one's purpose in life. The result is a deeply moving and revelatory portrait of an artist who has nothing left to prove and nothing left to hide.
A Streetwise Start
Pacino's story begins in the working-class Italian-American neighborhoods of the South Bronx in the 1940s and 50s. Born to teenage parents who soon divorced, young Alfredo was raised primarily by his mother Rose and her parents. Money was perpetually tight, but what the family lacked in material wealth they made up for in love and determination.
Some of the book's most vivid passages recount Pacino's childhood adventures with his scrappy gang of neighborhood friends. With cinematic detail, he brings to life their mischievous exploits - scaling tenement rooftops, outrunning the cops, dreaming of escape from their insular world. Even as a boy, Pacino possessed a magnetic charisma and flair for the dramatic. As he puts it: "I was like a cat with many more than nine lives."
Yet beneath the streetwise bravado, Pacino harbored a sensitive soul and artistic temperament. He found refuge in the local movie theaters, where he and his mother would spend hours watching everything from gritty noir to glitzy musicals. These early cinematic experiences, he writes, "supplied me with a future" - igniting a passion that would shape the course of his life.
Finding His Calling
The turning point came when a perceptive teacher recognized Pacino's nascent talent and urged him to audition for the prestigious High School of Performing Arts. Though wildly out of his element among the sophisticated Manhattan kids, Pacino found he had an innate gift for acting. For the first time, he felt a sense of purpose and belonging.
After graduation, Pacino plunged headlong into New York's gritty off-off-Broadway theater scene. He vividly describes the heady atmosphere of creative ferment in 1960s Greenwich Village, where he honed his craft alongside other hungry young actors. To make ends meet, Pacino worked a string of odd jobs - messenger, movie usher, building superintendent. But his true home was on stage, where he could lose himself in the work he loved.
Some of the book's most poignant passages recount Pacino's long-standing friendship with acting coach Charlie Laughton. More than just a mentor, Charlie became a surrogate father figure to the fatherless young actor. Their bond would sustain Pacino through years of struggle and self-doubt on his path to stardom.
The Breakthrough
Pacino's big break finally came in 1971 with his first starring film role in "The Panic in Needle Park." But it was his iconic turn as Michael Corleone in "The Godfather" the following year that catapulted him to international fame at age 32. Practically overnight, Pacino went from scrappy stage actor to one of the most in-demand stars in Hollywood.
With refreshing candor, Pacino reflects on the disorienting experience of sudden stardom. While grateful for the opportunities, he struggled to reconcile his new public persona with his private self. Fame, he discovered, was a double-edged sword - opening doors while also creating distance from the real world that had nourished his art.
The Price of Success
As his star rose ever higher throughout the 1970s with classic films like "Serpico," "Dog Day Afternoon," and "The Godfather Part II," Pacino found himself increasingly isolated. To cope with the pressures of fame, he turned to alcohol and drugs - a dependency that would plague him for years.
Some of the memoir's most gripping sections detail Pacino's struggles with substance abuse and mental health in the 1980s. With brutal honesty, he recounts hitting rock bottom and finally getting sober. Though painful to relive, Pacino views these experiences as crucial to his growth as an artist and human being.
Finding Balance
In the latter part of his career, Pacino has found a measure of peace and perspective. He writes movingly about the joys of fatherhood and his evolving relationship to his craft. Now in his ninth decade, he approaches acting with the enthusiasm of a novice coupled with the hard-won wisdom of a master.
Throughout the book, Pacino's passion for acting shines through. More than just a profession, he sees it as a calling - a means of exploring the human condition and connecting with others on a profound level. Even after all these years, he still gets a thrill from inhabiting a character and bringing a story to life.
A Life in Full
"Sonny Boy" is far more than just another celebrity tell-all. With insight and eloquence, Pacino grapples with life's big questions - the nature of art, the price of fame, the search for meaning and belonging. He emerges as a complex, deeply thoughtful man still striving to understand himself and his place in the world.
Pacino's voice on the page is warm, wise, and startlingly candid. He's an astute observer of human nature with a knack for vividly evoking people and places. The prose crackles with streetwise energy while also achieving moments of lyrical beauty.
Longtime fans will delight in Pacino's behind-the-scenes stories from his most famous films. But you don't need to be a cinephile to appreciate this remarkable life story. At its heart, this is a quintessentially American tale of reinvention and self-discovery.
Final Thoughts
"Sonny Boy" stands as one of the most revealing and insightful showbiz memoirs in recent memory. With hard-won wisdom and disarming vulnerability, Pacino offers a master class in finding one's authentic voice as an artist and human being. This is essential reading not just for film buffs, but for anyone who has ever struggled to stay true to themselves while pursuing their dreams.
More than just recounting his triumphs, Pacino uses his life story as a lens to explore universal themes of identity, purpose, and the creative spirit. The result is a rich, multifaceted portrait of a complex man still hungry to learn and grow even in his ninth decade.
Ultimately, what shines through most is Pacino's enduring love affair with acting. It was his lifeline in troubled times, his north star guiding him forward. As he poignantly reflects: "I knew that I was going to get there. That was my blessing. Maybe I learned it when my grandma fed me baby food and made me the star of all the stories she told me. Maybe it was my friends in the street. Maybe it was Marty Sheen, or my great friend Charlie Laughton. When did it happen? Who was this kid, with this fierce energy that could light a schoolyard at night? Something was driving me. I had to make it, because that was the only way I would survive this world."
In sharing his remarkable journey from street kid to screen legend, Pacino has crafted a memoir as dramatic and compelling as any of his iconic roles. "Sonny Boy" is a fitting capstone to an unparalleled career - and a testament to the enduring power of following one's passion against all odds.
Key Takeaways:
- Pacino's humble beginnings in the South Bronx shaped his gritty, authentic approach to acting
- Early exposure to movies and theater ignited his lifelong passion for performance
- Mentor Charlie Laughton played a crucial role in nurturing Pacino's talent and confidence
- Sudden fame after "The Godfather" led to a period of personal struggle and substance abuse
- Pacino views acting as more than just a career, but a calling and way of understanding humanity
- Even at 83, he approaches his craft with childlike enthusiasm and a desire to keep learning
In the pantheon of great American actors, few names shine as brightly as Al Pacino. For over five decades, he has captivated audiences with his intense, nuanced performances on stage and screen. Now, at age 83, the notoriously private star opens up about his remarkable life and career in his long-awaited memoir, "Sonny Boy".
With raw honesty and hard-earned wisdom, Pacino takes us on an intimate journey from his hardscrabble youth in the South Bronx to the dizzying heights of Hollywood stardom. Along the way, he shares profound insights on acting, fame, family, and finding one's purpose in life. The result is a deeply moving and revelatory portrait of an artist who has nothing left to prove and nothing left to hide.
A Streetwise Start
Pacino's story begins in the working-class Italian-American neighborhoods of the South Bronx in the 1940s and 50s. Born to teenage parents who soon divorced, young Alfredo was raised primarily by his mother Rose and her parents. Money was perpetually tight, but what the family lacked in material wealth they made up for in love and determination.
Some of the book's most vivid passages recount Pacino's childhood adventures with his scrappy gang of neighborhood friends. With cinematic detail, he brings to life their mischievous exploits - scaling tenement rooftops, outrunning the cops, dreaming of escape from their insular world. Even as a boy, Pacino possessed a magnetic charisma and flair for the dramatic. As he puts it: "I was like a cat with many more than nine lives."
Yet beneath the streetwise bravado, Pacino harbored a sensitive soul and artistic temperament. He found refuge in the local movie theaters, where he and his mother would spend hours watching everything from gritty noir to glitzy musicals. These early cinematic experiences, he writes, "supplied me with a future" - igniting a passion that would shape the course of his life.
Finding His Calling
The turning point came when a perceptive teacher recognized Pacino's nascent talent and urged him to audition for the prestigious High School of Performing Arts. Though wildly out of his element among the sophisticated Manhattan kids, Pacino found he had an innate gift for acting. For the first time, he felt a sense of purpose and belonging.
After graduation, Pacino plunged headlong into New York's gritty off-off-Broadway theater scene. He vividly describes the heady atmosphere of creative ferment in 1960s Greenwich Village, where he honed his craft alongside other hungry young actors. To make ends meet, Pacino worked a string of odd jobs - messenger, movie usher, building superintendent. But his true home was on stage, where he could lose himself in the work he loved.
Some of the book's most poignant passages recount Pacino's long-standing friendship with acting coach Charlie Laughton. More than just a mentor, Charlie became a surrogate father figure to the fatherless young actor. Their bond would sustain Pacino through years of struggle and self-doubt on his path to stardom.
The Breakthrough
Pacino's big break finally came in 1971 with his first starring film role in "The Panic in Needle Park." But it was his iconic turn as Michael Corleone in "The Godfather" the following year that catapulted him to international fame at age 32. Practically overnight, Pacino went from scrappy stage actor to one of the most in-demand stars in Hollywood.
With refreshing candor, Pacino reflects on the disorienting experience of sudden stardom. While grateful for the opportunities, he struggled to reconcile his new public persona with his private self. Fame, he discovered, was a double-edged sword - opening doors while also creating distance from the real world that had nourished his art.
The Price of Success
As his star rose ever higher throughout the 1970s with classic films like "Serpico," "Dog Day Afternoon," and "The Godfather Part II," Pacino found himself increasingly isolated. To cope with the pressures of fame, he turned to alcohol and drugs - a dependency that would plague him for years.
Some of the memoir's most gripping sections detail Pacino's struggles with substance abuse and mental health in the 1980s. With brutal honesty, he recounts hitting rock bottom and finally getting sober. Though painful to relive, Pacino views these experiences as crucial to his growth as an artist and human being.
Finding Balance
In the latter part of his career, Pacino has found a measure of peace and perspective. He writes movingly about the joys of fatherhood and his evolving relationship to his craft. Now in his ninth decade, he approaches acting with the enthusiasm of a novice coupled with the hard-won wisdom of a master.
Throughout the book, Pacino's passion for acting shines through. More than just a profession, he sees it as a calling - a means of exploring the human condition and connecting with others on a profound level. Even after all these years, he still gets a thrill from inhabiting a character and bringing a story to life.
A Life in Full
"Sonny Boy" is far more than just another celebrity tell-all. With insight and eloquence, Pacino grapples with life's big questions - the nature of art, the price of fame, the search for meaning and belonging. He emerges as a complex, deeply thoughtful man still striving to understand himself and his place in the world.
Pacino's voice on the page is warm, wise, and startlingly candid. He's an astute observer of human nature with a knack for vividly evoking people and places. The prose crackles with streetwise energy while also achieving moments of lyrical beauty.
Longtime fans will delight in Pacino's behind-the-scenes stories from his most famous films. But you don't need to be a cinephile to appreciate this remarkable life story. At its heart, this is a quintessentially American tale of reinvention and self-discovery.
Final Thoughts
"Sonny Boy" stands as one of the most revealing and insightful showbiz memoirs in recent memory. With hard-won wisdom and disarming vulnerability, Pacino offers a master class in finding one's authentic voice as an artist and human being. This is essential reading not just for film buffs, but for anyone who has ever struggled to stay true to themselves while pursuing their dreams.
More than just recounting his triumphs, Pacino uses his life story as a lens to explore universal themes of identity, purpose, and the creative spirit. The result is a rich, multifaceted portrait of a complex man still hungry to learn and grow even in his ninth decade.
Ultimately, what shines through most is Pacino's enduring love affair with acting. It was his lifeline in troubled times, his north star guiding him forward. As he poignantly reflects: "I knew that I was going to get there. That was my blessing. Maybe I learned it when my grandma fed me baby food and made me the star of all the stories she told me. Maybe it was my friends in the street. Maybe it was Marty Sheen, or my great friend Charlie Laughton. When did it happen? Who was this kid, with this fierce energy that could light a schoolyard at night? Something was driving me. I had to make it, because that was the only way I would survive this world."
In sharing his remarkable journey from street kid to screen legend, Pacino has crafted a memoir as dramatic and compelling as any of his iconic roles. "Sonny Boy" is a fitting capstone to an unparalleled career - and a testament to the enduring power of following one's passion against all odds.
Key Takeaways:
- Pacino's humble beginnings in the South Bronx shaped his gritty, authentic approach to acting
- Early exposure to movies and theater ignited his lifelong passion for performance
- Mentor Charlie Laughton played a crucial role in nurturing Pacino's talent and confidence
- Sudden fame after "The Godfather" led to a period of personal struggle and substance abuse
- Pacino views acting as more than just a career, but a calling and way of understanding humanity
- Even at 83, he approaches his craft with childlike enthusiasm and a desire to keep learning
October 29, 2024
Every now and then a memoir comes along that changes my opinion of the writer. Such is the case here. Hearing Al Pacino read his book in his own voice, sometimes with emotional charge, has elevated him from what I had come to feel was that of a self important blowhard into a human being, flawed yes, but humane and caring nonetheless. So much of what he says is so relatable, and his early love of the theater, his voracious reading, his close family ties, his memories of growing up in the Bronx and the road he could have gone down had it not been for show business -- all make him so much more a real person.
October 23, 2024
If you are able to get the audiobook version, get the audiobook. It’s as if you are sitting down with Al Pacino while he is telling you about his extraordinary life. He is a master storyteller.
From growing up poor on the streets of the South Bronx to standing on the stage at the Oscars, Pacino worked for every ounce of success he achieved. His genuine love for books, theater, and storytelling helped catapult him into one of the most famous actors of all time.
In “Sonny Boy,” he goes into great detail about his childhood, growing up with a single mom, the odd jobs he worked just to eat, his start in the world of theater and the shock of worldwide fame after “The Godfather.” He gives behind the scenes stories about each film and play he appeared in; not only Pacino fans, but theater and film buffs will love this!
I left this book feeling as if I truly met Al Pacino, as if we spent an afternoon together over coffee. His intelligence, wisdom, sense of humor, compassion, and especially his self-deprecation shine through; even at 84 years of age, Pacino still appears shocked and humbled at all he’s achieved.
Saying this is a “five star read” isn’t enough; it’s the best autobiography I’ve ever read and listening to Pacino himself narrate put it over the edge. Pacino fans will treasure this, and those not familiar with his work will have the opportunity to meet an extraordinary person.
December 14, 2024
I took the advice of many reviewers here and opted for the audiobook. Let me tell you, it was an experience like no other. While I can't vouch for the literary merits of the printed words, Al Pacino's narration is nothing short of masterful—though, should we really be surprised? The script itself is engaging and entertaining, but Pacino's delivery elevates it to another level entirely.
Imagine having Al Pacino whisper, laugh, and speak directly into your ear about Scarface, The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, and Donnie Brasco. He also discusses his less successful ventures, his battles with alcohol dependency, and shares anecdotes about family, friends, money, and the wisdom he's gathered over his long and eventful life. It's like having a private audience with the man himself, and it's absolutely priceless.
Pacino's voice brings a unique charm and gravitas to the stories, making you feel as if you're right there with him, experiencing the highs and lows of his illustrious career. Whether he's recounting a triumphant moment or a personal struggle, his narration is captivating and deeply personal. If you're a fan of Al Pacino or simply enjoy a well-told story, this audiobook is a must-listen.
Imagine having Al Pacino whisper, laugh, and speak directly into your ear about Scarface, The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, and Donnie Brasco. He also discusses his less successful ventures, his battles with alcohol dependency, and shares anecdotes about family, friends, money, and the wisdom he's gathered over his long and eventful life. It's like having a private audience with the man himself, and it's absolutely priceless.
Pacino's voice brings a unique charm and gravitas to the stories, making you feel as if you're right there with him, experiencing the highs and lows of his illustrious career. Whether he's recounting a triumphant moment or a personal struggle, his narration is captivating and deeply personal. If you're a fan of Al Pacino or simply enjoy a well-told story, this audiobook is a must-listen.
March 3, 2025
i felt like al pacino was my grandfather and he was telling me stories before bed about his life
November 2, 2024
I adore Al Pacino as an actor and a man. I accept all the ups and downs of his life and career, holding some of that work with a greater deal of nostalgic reverence than I do for other actors, other films. And I certainly respect his choice to retell that experience. But this is a horribly written book, meandering as it does through cliches and background details that most of us--the fans, at least--already know. I don't doubt that Al Pacino's life would read well as a great narrative, if someone else penned it with a sense of the bigger picture, giving it an American vibrance that feels current and timeless. But Pacino isn't a writer, and he admits that, which is pretty foolish. So this one comes off like a 350+ page ramble, often self-indulgent, contradictory, and hard to follow.
His memoir is also frustrating for its lack of serious insight. He writes himself like he's just hopping from one thing to the next, no original or in-depth reflections about the place he just hopped from. So we end up hopping with him, sort of, confused more than we want be. For example, Pacino has kids, but you almost never see them until the end, and only then, barely. He has friends that he acts with in this or that movie, but he uses them here like a name-drop, as if we didn't already know he worked with famous people, like we didn't already know these actors were amazing, so he has to remind us that they were good. He has several friends from childhood, most of them gone, but you almost forget about them until the final two chapters, because he keeps wandering in and out of trite stories that don't really mean anything, nothing new at least.
I just wish Pacino had asked someone else to write his story. In a picture perfect world, this brilliant actor would simply tell a hired, yet skilled author all the details of his life, much as he could remember, then this author would interview others, look at old clippings, do the research, and craft a fuller, more intriguing portrait. But alas, we have only this, for now.
His memoir is also frustrating for its lack of serious insight. He writes himself like he's just hopping from one thing to the next, no original or in-depth reflections about the place he just hopped from. So we end up hopping with him, sort of, confused more than we want be. For example, Pacino has kids, but you almost never see them until the end, and only then, barely. He has friends that he acts with in this or that movie, but he uses them here like a name-drop, as if we didn't already know he worked with famous people, like we didn't already know these actors were amazing, so he has to remind us that they were good. He has several friends from childhood, most of them gone, but you almost forget about them until the final two chapters, because he keeps wandering in and out of trite stories that don't really mean anything, nothing new at least.
I just wish Pacino had asked someone else to write his story. In a picture perfect world, this brilliant actor would simply tell a hired, yet skilled author all the details of his life, much as he could remember, then this author would interview others, look at old clippings, do the research, and craft a fuller, more intriguing portrait. But alas, we have only this, for now.
February 23, 2025
Well, I finally finished it. It started out wonderful but somewhere after about page 200 I got bored and had to quit for awhile. I am glad I was able to start back as I got a few laughs which surprised me. Al is super sad about his childhood friends who died too young of drugs. He is very fortunate that he escaped that terrible fate. I have only seen one of his movies but if you have seen more of them you might enjoy this book a lot.
September 9, 2025
4.5 Stars!
Top 5 Pacino Films
1. The Godfather
2. The Godfather Part II
3. Dick Tracy
4. Donnie Brasco
5. Scarface
Outside Looking In
1. Heat
2. Any Given Sunday
3. Carlito's Way
Al Pacino is one of our greatest living actors. He's been acting almost as long as my father has been alive. He's known for his intensity. In his older years, he's kinda become known for shall we say overacting.
I mean have you ever seen Two for the Money?
That man was chewing the scenery.
I live Al Pacino as an actor but I didn't know all that much about him as a person. What I did know I learned from reading Diane Keaton's memoir...and I gotta say he came across as a bit of a fuckboy. I also knew that he in the last couple of years welcomed a baby with a woman who is close to my age but younger than me...Pacino is 85.
After reading this book I understand why he has a way with women because I was charmed beyond belief. I'd date him...I'd prefer to get in a time machine and date him in the 1970s when he was hot and I wasn't born yet...but I'll take old crusty Pacino. 6 not a doctor but I think Pacino might be Autistic. He doesn't think the way neurotypical people do. He's a weirdo and I mean that as a compliment. Pacino takes his work seriously but not himself. He's funny and very self-deprecating. We learn about his mother who raised him by herself and her mental health struggles in the 1940s and 1950s. We learn about his alcoholism and his many many money troubles (hence he's appearance in Jack & Jill).
Al Pacino is a smooth operator. I knew I was intentionally being charmed and I was all for it. I highly recommend this book. It's funny, sad, and surprising both truthful while still keeping some things private.
P.S. The very first movie I saw Pacino in was Dick Tracy... that's why it's so high. I've loved that movie since I was like 8 years old. It's underrated.
Top 5 Pacino Films
1. The Godfather
2. The Godfather Part II
3. Dick Tracy
4. Donnie Brasco
5. Scarface
Outside Looking In
1. Heat
2. Any Given Sunday
3. Carlito's Way
Al Pacino is one of our greatest living actors. He's been acting almost as long as my father has been alive. He's known for his intensity. In his older years, he's kinda become known for shall we say overacting.
I mean have you ever seen Two for the Money?
That man was chewing the scenery.
I live Al Pacino as an actor but I didn't know all that much about him as a person. What I did know I learned from reading Diane Keaton's memoir...and I gotta say he came across as a bit of a fuckboy. I also knew that he in the last couple of years welcomed a baby with a woman who is close to my age but younger than me...Pacino is 85.
After reading this book I understand why he has a way with women because I was charmed beyond belief. I'd date him...I'd prefer to get in a time machine and date him in the 1970s when he was hot and I wasn't born yet...but I'll take old crusty Pacino. 6 not a doctor but I think Pacino might be Autistic. He doesn't think the way neurotypical people do. He's a weirdo and I mean that as a compliment. Pacino takes his work seriously but not himself. He's funny and very self-deprecating. We learn about his mother who raised him by herself and her mental health struggles in the 1940s and 1950s. We learn about his alcoholism and his many many money troubles (hence he's appearance in Jack & Jill).
Al Pacino is a smooth operator. I knew I was intentionally being charmed and I was all for it. I highly recommend this book. It's funny, sad, and surprising both truthful while still keeping some things private.
P.S. The very first movie I saw Pacino in was Dick Tracy... that's why it's so high. I've loved that movie since I was like 8 years old. It's underrated.
October 29, 2024
Grandpa Al has some stories. There are a handful of interesting ones, particularly from his childhood. He does a good job opening up about less flattering things, mistakes he has made, and regrets from the past. I just don’t know if there’s anything particularly compelling here though. He’s a talented guy who worked hard, got some lucky breaks and overcame similar adversities as those faced by many of his peers. If you’re a casual Pacino fan, you can probably skip the book and hear some of the more interesting material in the hour or so of interviews he did on the GQ youtube channel a few years ago.
November 28, 2024
My favorite actor of all time!! I found this book a very interesting read. A lot of behind the scene and background information. Thank heaven he took the right road and became an actor, director etc. I think a fan will really enjoy this book!
October 25, 2024
Minhas amigas mais antigas podem comprovar que meu crush cinematográfico pelo Al Pacino dura já uns 30 anos e ler a autobiografia dele só fez meu amor aumentar.
Não sei se foi ele mesmo quem escreveu ou usou ghost writer, mas seu livro é tão carismático quanto sua persona que vemos mas telas e seus silêncios nele dizem muito mais que ele gostaria, além de dizer algumas coisas que parecem não ser tão perceptíveis pra ele, enquanto para o leitor é claro (ele não parece notar o quanto é parecido com o pai tanto fisicamente quanto na vida amorosa), nem parece que sua apaixonada defesa da análise o ensinou a ver a si mesmo com profundidade.
Leia e tente não se apaixonar por ele, se já não o é.
Não sei se foi ele mesmo quem escreveu ou usou ghost writer, mas seu livro é tão carismático quanto sua persona que vemos mas telas e seus silêncios nele dizem muito mais que ele gostaria, além de dizer algumas coisas que parecem não ser tão perceptíveis pra ele, enquanto para o leitor é claro (ele não parece notar o quanto é parecido com o pai tanto fisicamente quanto na vida amorosa), nem parece que sua apaixonada defesa da análise o ensinou a ver a si mesmo com profundidade.
Leia e tente não se apaixonar por ele, se já não o é.
December 25, 2024
I rarely rate books I dislike. But Pacino’s meandering, stream-of-consciousness memoir lacks focus or structure and drifts from one dull anecdote to the next. This reads like an unedited transcription.
Pacino’s work means a lot to me. This was a huge letdown.
Pacino’s work means a lot to me. This was a huge letdown.
October 19, 2024
A great book, I listened to the audio and Pacino did so great narrating it, learned alot I didn't know about him, loved it!
October 25, 2024
Ah - my heart. I just heard the last of this audiobook and it ended beautifully. A life well lived with its ups and downs and the magic of life, the potency of loss, the struggles and growth. Bravo.
I had seen this was released out of the blue on Audible and picked it up immediately without question. I've always been a huge Al Pacino fan, growing up loving the movie Scarface and Carlito's Way, appreciating The Godfather and other works as an adult. Always a bit private in comparison to some of the Hollywood crowd, Pacino has never been one until the past few years for interviews, so that he decided to do a memoir was a treat. I gambled on the narration but needn't have worried, as his voice carries strong and enthusiastic from page one to finis.
He spends as much time talking about his works with plays, broadway, and Shakespeare as he does the movies. It's clear where his enthusiasm can lay. This is not a memoir that dishes dirt on others or talks of controversy with other stars - but it is very honest. He talks of mistakes, good performances and bads, feeling discomfort and out of place, his struggles with the bottle, his mistakes with relationships, and tons of money management issues. It is self-reflective and not at all egotistical. What's funny in a way is so many actors struggle for years to make it with endless auditions and rejections but his big initial roles fell into his lap without him even trying, and he was hesitant to enter the movie business at times, and other times he strayed from it.
Really lovely stuff.
I had seen this was released out of the blue on Audible and picked it up immediately without question. I've always been a huge Al Pacino fan, growing up loving the movie Scarface and Carlito's Way, appreciating The Godfather and other works as an adult. Always a bit private in comparison to some of the Hollywood crowd, Pacino has never been one until the past few years for interviews, so that he decided to do a memoir was a treat. I gambled on the narration but needn't have worried, as his voice carries strong and enthusiastic from page one to finis.
He spends as much time talking about his works with plays, broadway, and Shakespeare as he does the movies. It's clear where his enthusiasm can lay. This is not a memoir that dishes dirt on others or talks of controversy with other stars - but it is very honest. He talks of mistakes, good performances and bads, feeling discomfort and out of place, his struggles with the bottle, his mistakes with relationships, and tons of money management issues. It is self-reflective and not at all egotistical. What's funny in a way is so many actors struggle for years to make it with endless auditions and rejections but his big initial roles fell into his lap without him even trying, and he was hesitant to enter the movie business at times, and other times he strayed from it.
Really lovely stuff.
December 12, 2024
Oh! Oh this was good!!
It was like sitting with an old friend and just listening to him talk. I felt like Al was with me!
His life story of growing up in the Bronx and working his way through the maze of film making. He is an awesome actor and embodies his roll.
I watched the Godfather 1 and 2 when I saw this book was waiting for pickup at my library. It’s a lot of hours of watching the movies, but flew by in minutes to me.
This book is a lot like that. So many great stories to hear. Quips, ideas, hopes dashed at times and the climb back up. He was hard on himself. He is a brilliant actor and now a brilliant storyteller.
He makes you laugh, breaks your heart a little and is as real as real can get.
He left out his political views which was a plus for me because I just don’t care about that stuff. I watch movies and read books to get away from all that!! It’s my escape from reality and thank you Al for not going there.
This is one of those autobiographies that I will want to get a copy of to call my own. I can put it on a shelf and know it’s there and when I want some company I can always invite Al and know I’ll have a good day.
It was like sitting with an old friend and just listening to him talk. I felt like Al was with me!
His life story of growing up in the Bronx and working his way through the maze of film making. He is an awesome actor and embodies his roll.
I watched the Godfather 1 and 2 when I saw this book was waiting for pickup at my library. It’s a lot of hours of watching the movies, but flew by in minutes to me.
This book is a lot like that. So many great stories to hear. Quips, ideas, hopes dashed at times and the climb back up. He was hard on himself. He is a brilliant actor and now a brilliant storyteller.
He makes you laugh, breaks your heart a little and is as real as real can get.
He left out his political views which was a plus for me because I just don’t care about that stuff. I watch movies and read books to get away from all that!! It’s my escape from reality and thank you Al for not going there.
This is one of those autobiographies that I will want to get a copy of to call my own. I can put it on a shelf and know it’s there and when I want some company I can always invite Al and know I’ll have a good day.
November 21, 2024
Oh gosh I loved this book. I've always enjoyed his movie acting but never realized he had such a successful and enduring Broadway and stage career as well. And now after reading this, I understand appreciate him so much more for how he came into his craft, his upbringing, life influences, and his character. He writes with authenticity, grace, humor, and humility. It's not the self-congratulatory litany sometimes found in fame memoirs. It is an honest reflection back of how he came into acting, his process of self-discovery, his very non-linear and somewhat uncomfortable propulsion into fame, and the relationships and people who loved him and who he loved. It's honest, well-written, and heartfelt. I think I fell in love a little. What a great book. Thanks Al Pacino for sharing your story of Sonny Boy. Bravo!
April 27, 2025
A New Yorker at heart, Al Pacino narrated the audiobook himself. But it didn’t feel like he was reading a book to me. It felt like he was telling his life story to me. Just him and me.
November 24, 2024
I tried to avoid finishing this because I never wanted it to end. I could listen to this man speak, and laugh and reminisce every day for the rest of my life.
This was the most exquisite memoir I have ever read. Hugely personal, full of just the perfect amount of life stories outside of the industry and a harrowing glimpse inside of it. As someone who is still finding their way through the entertainment industry, this book instilled great hope, named and acknowledged the heavy losses, and painted a wonderfully accessible story of life and the pursuit of the dream. It was the story of someone who worked hard, failed harder, got back up and tried again all while never losing integrity or his sense of joy. I cried several times throughout this and I look forward to the day I start it all over again.
Thanks, Al.
This was the most exquisite memoir I have ever read. Hugely personal, full of just the perfect amount of life stories outside of the industry and a harrowing glimpse inside of it. As someone who is still finding their way through the entertainment industry, this book instilled great hope, named and acknowledged the heavy losses, and painted a wonderfully accessible story of life and the pursuit of the dream. It was the story of someone who worked hard, failed harder, got back up and tried again all while never losing integrity or his sense of joy. I cried several times throughout this and I look forward to the day I start it all over again.
Thanks, Al.
July 16, 2025
"Sonny Boy" de Al Pacino (trad. Ioana Văcărescu) este un răsfăț pentru orice iubitor al cinematografiei 🎥 Suntem purtați într-o călătorie ce ne arată cum se naște, cum trăiește și cum gândește un zeu al filmelor de la Hollywood, ghidați fiind de vocea sinceră și melancolică a geniului însuși 🎬 Mai multe despre carte am scris într-un articol publicat pe blog ✍️
"Când lucrez la un rol o perioadă îndelungată de timp, reușesc să găsesc personajul în străfundul propriei ființe."
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2025/...
"Când lucrez la un rol o perioadă îndelungată de timp, reușesc să găsesc personajul în străfundul propriei ființe."
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2025/...
January 6, 2025
If you’re a fan of Al Pacino you’ll want to read this book. A vivid and colorful look at his life from boyhood to present times. Going from poverty to eventual fame. A gritty and honest read about Pacino’s life and career. I could hear his voice while reading it in my head and it felt like he was telling me stories from his life. Really enjoyed this one.
November 21, 2024
DNF. I really wanted to like this memoir. After seeing all the great reviews, I thought it would be at least entertaining.
December 3, 2024
I’m sitting in the quiet now after having spent a week or so with Al Pacino. He was my companion on the car ride home when I’d snatched him from the library and on the chilliest of nights, I found myself wrapped in the warmth of beautifully written prose. This book was so good that finishing it left me a bit sad, like I’d been forced to say goodbye to a friend that I wasn’t ready to part with. Al and his team did such an amazing job telling his story. It’s the kind of memoir you would expect a man of his stature to have, a memoir that is meant to be cherished and celebrated much like his career. It was full of emotion, intellect, and honesty. My eyes even brimmed with tears at the end which surprised me. His journey really spoke to the dreamer in me. I feel there’s a writer clawing at my flesh, begging to be set free, and this book touched her immensely. I admire him for living a life solely dedicated to his craft, the way the flame is still lit after all this time. It’s so inspiring. Also.. can I just say.. I’ve been exploring his filmography, trying to watch everything that I haven’t seen yet.. and boy oh boy, is he handsome! The cover says it all! Lol
November 9, 2024
What makes this book so enjoyable besides the endless tidbits behind Pacino’s classic roles, is the fact that it’s so unhinged. It very much so is an 84 year old man having stream of conscious mid thought/stories.
January 10, 2025
Close, but no hoo-ah!
July 17, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version, read by Al Pacino himself. That was probably the best part, as he carries energy.
The content is weak, even as an autobiography. Pacino spends a large fraction of the book, at the beginning and at the end, reminiscing about his wild childhood in the Bronx (New York). It is clearly a romanticized version of what must have been.
The rest of the book is filled with lots of name dropping and personal anecdotes, some of them insignificant. The best bits are probably when he describes his relationship with Mr Coppola and his work as Michael Corleone.
The last part of the book gets worse and worse, with Pacino rambling about his childhood again, and his vision of death. The focus at the end is completely lost, and you know you are listening to mumbling.
A pity. Certainly Pacino had a great career as one of the best actors of the past decades, but this biography doesn’t make justice.
The content is weak, even as an autobiography. Pacino spends a large fraction of the book, at the beginning and at the end, reminiscing about his wild childhood in the Bronx (New York). It is clearly a romanticized version of what must have been.
The rest of the book is filled with lots of name dropping and personal anecdotes, some of them insignificant. The best bits are probably when he describes his relationship with Mr Coppola and his work as Michael Corleone.
The last part of the book gets worse and worse, with Pacino rambling about his childhood again, and his vision of death. The focus at the end is completely lost, and you know you are listening to mumbling.
A pity. Certainly Pacino had a great career as one of the best actors of the past decades, but this biography doesn’t make justice.
December 5, 2024
“Hey Ma, see what happened to me?”
When I think of Al Pacino, I think of an extremely successful actor who has given us some of the greatest films in history. This memoir was eye opening. Al Pacino faced many tragedies in his life, including betrayals and he always overcame them with his head held high. It makes me respect him even more the way he carried himself throughout his life.
Would highly recommend giving this book a read!
When I think of Al Pacino, I think of an extremely successful actor who has given us some of the greatest films in history. This memoir was eye opening. Al Pacino faced many tragedies in his life, including betrayals and he always overcame them with his head held high. It makes me respect him even more the way he carried himself throughout his life.
Would highly recommend giving this book a read!
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