The Steps: The powerful new memoir from the Academy Award-winning actor and icon, read by Sylvester Stallone

by Sylvester Stallone

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A gritty, inspiring, heart-wrenching memoir by the Academy Award-winning legend and icon Sylvester Stallone, about his unlikely path to stardom and the creation of the greatest underdog story ever told.

Read by Sylvester Stallone and featuring an exclusive new score composed and performed by legendary Academy Award-winner Bill Conti, the original composer of Rocky.

'Smart and dumb, thoughtful and ferocious, underestimated and overblown - Stallone's contradictions make him a cut above the average celeb, and this book a cut above the average celebrity memoir'
The Times

'I had no idea what to expect from this but it's an absolute knockout; a hugely entertaining page-turner that is both funny and uplifting . . . I hope he is already writing the next instalment'
Mail on Sunday

***

In the fifty years since Sylvester Stallone ran up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum, he and those steps have become symbols of resilience and determination, and have inspired millions from all over the world to pursue their dreams. In The Steps, Stallone recounts how he pursued his own dreams. A culmination of decades of reflection, Sly shares where he came from - a difficult birth, an even more difficult childhood, years of struggle in school being misunderstood - and he explains how the real story of a successful life is built by facing, embracing and ultimately overcoming our challenges. It's found in the distances we are willing to go and the steps we must take to get from where we are to where we want to go.

In a narrative framed between Stallone's arrival in New York City in 1969 and the triumph of Rocky at the 1977 Academy Awards, Sly weaves a vivid and propulsive portrait of struggle, subsistence and ultimately success. He writes of his early days and later years, too, and the persistence, creativity and resilience that led not only to the creation of Rocky but to a career filled with remarkably iconic roles. The Steps is a testament to Stallone's extraordinary life and a profound meditation on the importance of vision and willpower and hard work.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, Film

Audible Audio

Published September 29, 2026

About the author

Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone (July 6, 1946 - ) is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter.

One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the '70s to the '90s, international megastar Sylvester Stallone is a global icon. He has played two characters who have become a part of the American cultural lexicon: Rocky Balboa, the boxer who overcame all odds to fight for love and glory, and John Rambo, a courageous soldier who specialized in violent rescue and revenge missions.

During the 1980s, he enjoyed phenomenal popularity and was one of the biggest movie stars in the world with the Rocky and Rambo franchises. Stallone's culturally influential films changed pop culture history and he has largely enjoyed a career on the Hollywood A list for over 30 years.

He is considered by many (including the mayor of Philadelphia) as the one who made the city of Philadelphia an international tourist attraction with the Rocky Steps. His immense popularity there has led to a statue of his Rocky character being placed permanently near the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a cultural landmark. In August 2007, a statue of Rocky was also erected in the Serbian village of Žitište. Stallone's film Rocky has also been inducted into the National Film Registry as well as having its film props placed in the Smithsonian Museum as a national treasure.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspiring book of having the courage to pursuing your dream and never giving up. Sylvester Stallone has written a beautiful memoir of his life before the fame that Rocky gave him. From his everyday struggles where no one thought he was good enough or had the "right look" for acting, to just keeping a roof over his head and having something to eat. Throughout these struggles he describes what his childhood was also like with absent parents and constantly being an outsider because of the way he looked and talked.

He never gave up and it is interesting to see how his life shaped the story of Rocky, and how hard he fought to play the role and to keep his movie the way he wanted it to be. Growing up with the Rocky movies, this was very cool to read to see how it all unfolded for Sly before he became a global superstar. There is no easy road to success, and this story shows that. I will always be a big fan of Sly, even more so now after seeing another side of him in this book. Highly recommended read!!

[Nashelito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Доки я читав (за обідом, в трамваї, на ходу) мемуари Сильвестра Сталлоне "Сходинки", мене здивувала реакція деяких людей, мовляв і шо, він сам це писав? Що там може бути цікаве настільки, щоби про це аж читати на ходу?

Нещодавно в мережі помірно вірусився ролик з Арнольдом Шварцнеггером, де він дотепно коментував відсутність часу для занять спортом. Щось на кшталт, а що ж ми робимо з усім тим часом, який не проводимо на роботі чи уві сні? Тоді мені хтось закинув, що добре йому — багатому і успішному — таке казати, але нас, звичайних і втомлених складним життям та війною людей такі тези мали б дратувати.

В цьому контексті Сильвестру Сталлоне закинути нічого, адже у молодості він був страшенно бідний і пережив чимало випробувань. Тому, мабуть, його мемуари й читаються на одному подиху, наче пригодницька історія про невдаху, якому нічого в цьому житті не світило б, якби не його безмежне бажання працювати в кіноіндустрії і шалена впертість на шляху до цих мрій.

Сценарій до фільму "Рокі", який зробив його всесвітньо відомим, багатим і оскароносним, Сталлоне написав сам і дуже швидко — на межі психічних і фізичних сил. А раніше витратив купу часу та зусиль задля написання сценарію про життя Едґара Аллана По, чернетки якого переписував по двадцять разів. Тож хіба не міг він описати цікавезну історію про бідного італійського хлопчика, який важкою працею виборов собі місце серед найвідоміших кінозірок ХХ століття? 

Спершу Сталлоне намагався пробитися в кіноіндустрію у Нью-Йорку. Оббив пороги всіх можливих агенств, але нікого з кіношників не зацікавила його не зовсім конвенційна зовнішність та специфічна дикція. Працюючи білетером в маленькому кінотеатрі, щоб мати змогу оплачувати житло та хоч щось їсти, Сталлоне передивлявся репертуар десятки разів і намагався зрозуміти, чому деякі фільми стають популярними, в інші залишаються непоміченими назавжди. Крім цього, він багато годин блукав музеєм сучасного мистецтва і регулярно відвідував публічну бібліотеку, де заприятелював з охоронцем і завдяки цьому побачив раритетні примірники оригінальних творів, серед яких і рукописний рулон Едгара Аллана По. Цей химерний саморобний сувій так вразив хлопця, що він прочитав про цього письменника все, що знайшов у бібліотеці, а тоді взявся до написання власного сценарію про його життя.

Зрештою Сталлоне зрозумів, що якщо він хоче втілити свою мрію долучитися до кіноіндустрії, то йому треба їхати ближче до Голлівуду, в Лос-Анджелес. 

Поїздка на старезному роздовбаному авто в компанії з подругою Сашею і великим псом через всю країну стала ще тим випробуванням. Мандрівники заледве мали що їсти, страшна спека завдавала усім трьом глибоких страждань, а собаку навіть довелося віддати якомусь чоловікові по дорозі, щоби той вижив.

У Лос-Анджелесі на Сталлоне теж ніхто не чекав, але у нього було таке шалене бажання втілитися, здійснити щось значне і важливе, пробитися з глибоких тіней долі на світло, реалізувати свій потенціал, була сила волі і вражаюча наполегливість, феноменальна працездатність і віра у себе, що він задумав і написав сценарій до фільму про боксера Рокі, в якому хотів сам зіграти головну роль. 

Історія написання та втілення цього сценарію мене так вразила, що тепер я не лише планую передивитися це легендарне кіно, але й задумався про аудит власного потенціалу: чи не пошукати в цих затінених і затягнутих павутиною кутках якусь вартісну ідею або закинуту мрію...

Дивовижно, що я подивився "Рокі" лише кілька років тому, після перегляду документального серіалу про Сильвестра Сталлоне. У цього кіно є дуже ослбоиві вайб, хімія та магія, які нечасто зустрінеш в наші АІшні часи... А яка прекрасна там музика — музика, яка залишиться в історії культури на всі часи.

Цікавим є і вибір назви для цих мемуарів, яка водночас визначає структуру розповіді і вказує на кожному відому сцену, де Рокі мчить на світанку Філадельфією, в тоді вибігає по 72-х сходинках до входу у музей мистецтв.

Сильвестр Сталлоне розповідає про себе не менш жваво і динамічно, ніж свого часу розповів про Рокі, адже вони обоє — і автор, і персонаж — чи не найвідоміші в історії кіномистецтва андердоґи, які здатні надихати тих усіх, хто бореться за кращу долю і втілення мрій. Такі історії дуже допомагають триматися своїх бажань і ніколи не спинятися.

[Tony Farinella · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Am I greedy for really liking this book but also wanting more out of it? This is Sylvester Stallone’s long-awaited memoir, and like most red-blooded American men, I grew up looking up to Stallone and the Rocky character. This memoir traces his life from 1969 through the moment Rocky earned Best Picture at the 1977 Academy Awards. The book offers an inspirational account of the struggles, rejection, humiliation, pain, and eventual success that followed Sylvester Stallone betting on himself. We read about a troubled childhood and financial hardship, along with the obstacles he faced to create the first Rocky film. As a movie buff, I genuinely appreciated the behind-the-scenes details and the daily pressure he felt to prove himself.

What I found most compelling about the book were his revelations regarding his mother and father and the mental and physical abuse he endured from them. His parents never wanted him and blamed him for their disappointing lives, lending the work a melancholy tone at times. This quality is not a flaw, as the tone is authentic and revealing. It is clear that his troubled childhood will always stay with him, as he weighs whether it ultimately helped or harmed him. Sylvester Stallone is an impressive writer and an intellectual who does not always receive the respect he deserves for his brains. He is someone who reflects on life at a deeper level and poses the essential questions.

The reason I’m giving the book 4.25 stars is because I left the book with a couple of important questions unanswered. Whatever happened to his wife, Sasha, and why did they get divorced? What ended up happening with his mother and father? I understand this memoir is covering a particular period in his life and that is the focus of the book, but when he introduces these pivotal figures in his life, I think it’s important to have a little bit of closure as the reader on how these relationships ended.

I really, really liked this book, and I’d love to read an autobiography from Stallone that covers his entire career. Still, as it stands, this is a very good book that left a lasting impression on me. I just wanted a little bit more out of it.

[Кирило Половінко · Rating 5 out of 5]

Просто для контексту: «Роккі» – один з моїх найулюбленіших фільмів.

Коли починав читати цю книгу, подумав: «Чому так багато ниття?». А потім, епізод за епізодом, невимушено став пригадувати свої найтемніші 10 років життя: переселенство, обмани, злидні, зневіра та якась психопатична віра в те, що це все тимчасове та наприкінці все складеться як треба. Книга пробудила в мені темний спогад, коли з боргами під 2000$, в квартирі з грибком та тараканами, я засинав на незручному дивані та придушуючи сльози сам собі говорив: «Це не назавжди».

«Сходинки» охоплюють період до зняття феноменального «Роккі». Це сповідь людини, яка попри всі обставини намагалась перти вперед, мантрувати себе позитивними думками та вірити до останнього в те, що те, що не працює, колись таки (можливо) запрацює. Це історія про людину, яка не зламалась та обрала те, на що заслуговує.

Якщо бачити мету і вперто до неї рухатись попри усі негаразди, мрія обов’язково здійсниться.

Keep punchin’

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lifestory that I really enjoyed listening narrated by the author Sylvester Stallone. (Audible audiobook)
The famous steps from Rocky become a metaphor for his entire life: every rejection, every setback, every sacrifice, and every time he had to get back up and keep moving.
I especially loved reading about the writer behind the actor. Stallone’s determination to write Rocky and then I found myself thinking that perhaps Rocky was never just a character. Stallone had been preparing to play him his entire life.
A very human memoir about perseverance, ambition, family wounds, failure, and the courage to keep climbing when you have no idea what is waiting for you at the top.
Sometimes the greatest victory is simply taking the next step.
100 % recommended

[Jon Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of Stallone's life leading up to the release of "Rocky." Read by the author, which made it SO MUCH BETTER!

[Briana Saucedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much I could say about this book. I'm truly speechless. I know this is a biography, but I found myself turning the last pages hoping new pages would appear. Sylvester Stallone has always been my favorite actor and celebrity since I was introduced to him in 2006 as a young girl. I saw his sixth Rocky movie and ever since then I've been obsessed. The Rocky movies have always been my comfort movies. So inspirational. I am left feeling I can conquer anything as long as I keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Thank you so much for sharing your story with the world Sly. I will forever cherish reading more about your struggles and stubborness that truly paid off in the end. You give us hope with our lives! I love it when books like this read like a novel and lets me experience it like I was them.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rocky Road to Resilience, Reinvention and Self-Belief

Some people wait for their big break. Others, when the world repeatedly tells them no, decide to create their own opportunity. In The Steps: A Memoir, Sylvester Stallone recounts the painful, uncertain and frequently humiliating journey that led him from struggling actor to Hollywood star and the creation of Rocky, one of cinema’s most enduring underdog stories. Published in September 2026, the memoir offers more than a familiar tale of triumph against the odds: it is a reflection on rejection, creative discipline, personal suffering and the extraordinary determination required to turn a dream into reality.

At the heart of Stallone’s story is a deceptively simple lesson: success is rarely the product of overnight inspiration or good fortune; it is built through countless small acts of persistence, often undertaken when there is little evidence that they will ever pay off. The title captures this philosophy perfectly. Just as Rocky Balboa climbs the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art one at a time, Stallone’s own ascent was made up of setbacks, compromises, difficult decisions and the refusal to abandon his ambitions.

The making of an underdog

The memoir focuses primarily on the years between Stallone’s arrival in New York in 1969 and Rocky’s triumph at the 1977 Academy Awards, while also exploring the difficult childhood that shaped him. His early life was marked by family turmoil, physical and emotional hardship, educational struggles and the consequences of a birth injury that affected his facial muscles and speech. These experiences contributed to the distinctive appearance that would become both a professional obstacle and, eventually, part of his identity.

Before Hollywood embraced him, Stallone faced rejection not only as an actor but as a person whose appearance did not fit conventional expectations of leading-man glamour. He survived through odd jobs and precarious circumstances, including cleaning lion cages at Central Park Zoo. His story is a reminder that the glamorous public image of a successful actor can conceal years of insecurity, deprivation and unrecognised effort.

What makes this history compelling is not simply the severity of Stallone’s struggles, but the way he gradually transformed them into creative material. Rather than attempting to erase every perceived weakness, he learned to use his vulnerability as a source of authenticity. The physical characteristics that once seemed to limit his prospects helped distinguish him from more conventional screen heroes. In the character of Rocky Balboa, he found a vehicle for expressing the determination, loneliness and desire for recognition that had defined much of his own life.

Stallone’s achievement, then, was not merely to overcome adversity. It was to reinterpret it. His struggles became part of his artistic identity, and his personal experience gave emotional credibility to a character who might otherwise have been just another fictional boxer.

Writing is a craft, not a miracle

One of the memoir’s most valuable lessons concerns the nature of creativity. Stallone’s success as a screenwriter was not the result of a single flash of genius. He developed his storytelling through repeated attempts, discarded ideas and revisions, learning that a compelling screenplay depends on structure, character development and the discipline to remove what does not work.

The familiar story of Rocky can make its creation seem almost miraculous: an unknown actor writes a script in a burst of inspiration, refuses to surrender his dream and becomes a star. The Steps offers a more instructive perspective. Behind the breakthrough lay a long period of experimentation and professional frustration. The finished screenplay was the product of learning how to tell a story, not simply possessing an innate gift.

This emphasis on craftsmanship makes Stallone’s experience relevant well beyond the film industry. Writers, entrepreneurs, artists and anyone pursuing a difficult ambition can recognise the temptation to interpret early failure as proof of insufficient talent. Stallone’s journey suggests a more productive conclusion: failure may indicate that the work needs to improve, that the approach needs to change or that the necessary skills have not yet been acquired.

Talent matters, but it is rarely enough on its own. Persistence becomes meaningful when it is accompanied by reflection, revision and a willingness to learn. The distinction is important: perseverance is not blindly repeating the same mistake, but continuing to work while becoming better at the work itself.

The courage to bet on yourself

The defining episode in Stallone’s story is his refusal to sell the Rocky screenplay unless he was allowed to play the title character. Studios recognised the script’s potential and offered substantial sums, reportedly reaching $360,000, but wanted an established actor in the lead role. For Stallone, accepting the money would have meant sacrificing the very opportunity he had spent years trying to secure.

His decision was an extraordinary gamble. He was desperately short of money, with little professional security and no guarantee that audiences would accept him as a leading man. Nevertheless, he believed that his connection to Rocky was integral to the story’s authenticity. He was not simply selling a screenplay; he was fighting for the chance to embody the character whose struggles reflected his own.

This episode provides the memoir with its central dramatic tension. Stallone’s conviction is admirable, but it also raises a difficult question: when does persistence become recklessness? His success makes the decision look visionary in retrospect, yet countless people make similarly courageous choices without receiving comparable rewards.

That distinction matters. The lesson is not that everyone should reject financial security or gamble everything on a personal ambition. Rather, Stallone demonstrates the importance of understanding what one is truly trying to achieve and recognising when a compromise would undermine the goal itself. His determination succeeded because he was willing to accept substantial risk in pursuit of something he considered indispensable.

The staircase as a metaphor for life

The image of Rocky sprinting up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps has become one of the most recognisable symbols in popular cinema. In The Steps, the staircase acquires a more personal significance: it represents the slow, frequently unglamorous accumulation of effort that precedes visible success.

Stallone’s early years involved financial desperation, unstable employment, repeated rejection and moments when even basic survival was difficult. His experiences cleaning zoo enclosures and sleeping in makeshift accommodation stand in stark contrast to the wealth and celebrity that followed. The distance between those realities is precisely what gives his story its emotional force.

The staircase metaphor is effective because it resists the mythology of the overnight success. We see the triumphant athlete at the summit, but we rarely consider the individual steps, the exhaustion between them or the possibility of falling before reaching the top.

Yet the metaphor also suggests that progress need not always be dramatic to be meaningful. A rejected screenplay can teach a writer something. A disappointing audition can reveal a weakness that needs attention. A period of apparent stagnation can provide the experience required for a later opportunity.

Stallone’s story encourages readers to reconsider how they measure progress. The absence of immediate recognition does not necessarily mean that nothing is happening. Sometimes the most important development is taking place long before anyone else notices.

Learning to make Rocky human

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Stallone’s creative journey is his recognition that determination alone does not make a character compelling. Early versions of Rocky were less sympathetic, and criticism from his then-wife helped him recognise the need to make the protagonist vulnerable and relatable rather than simply aggressive.

That change was crucial. Rocky is not memorable merely because he can withstand punishment. He is memorable because he is an imperfect man seeking dignity, affection and the chance to prove that his life has value. His physical struggle becomes a metaphor for a much more universal emotional need: the desire to matter.

This is where Stallone’s experiences as an outsider become artistically significant. He understood what it meant to be underestimated, to feel that others had already decided what he could achieve and to struggle for recognition. By incorporating those feelings into Rocky, he created a character whose appeal extended far beyond boxing.

The film’s lasting influence supports one of the memoir’s strongest insights: audiences do not necessarily connect with perfection. They connect with recognisable humanity. A protagonist’s weaknesses can be as important as their strengths, provided those weaknesses make the character feel real.

For aspiring writers, this is a lesson in empathy as much as technique. A story becomes powerful when its characters embody emotional truths that audiences recognise in themselves. Stallone’s determination to play Rocky was therefore not only a personal wager; it was also a commitment to preserving the relationship between the character and the experiences that inspired him.

Beyond the triumph: the cost of success

Although The Steps celebrates perseverance, its more interesting reflections concern the emotional cost of continually having to prove oneself. Stallone’s drive emerged partly from a desire to overcome the judgements imposed on him, but that same desire could become a source of anger, defensiveness and dissatisfaction.

Success does not automatically resolve the insecurities that preceded it. A person who has spent years feeling inadequate may continue to seek validation even after achieving extraordinary recognition. The finish line moves, and the achievement that was supposed to provide peace becomes the starting point for another struggle.

This gives the memoir greater depth than a straightforward motivational narrative. Its message is not simply that hard work eventually brings rewards. It also suggests that the psychological habits developed during adversity can outlive the adversity itself.

Stallone’s reflections invite a distinction between ambition and self-worth. Ambition can motivate creative achievement, but it becomes exhausting when every setback is interpreted as a personal judgement and every success must provide further proof of one’s value. Resilience involves learning to continue after failure, but emotional growth may also require learning when to stop fighting battles that no longer need to be won.

The book’s account of a difficult childhood and complicated family relationships adds weight to this theme. Stallone’s determination did not emerge in a vacuum. It developed in response to experiences that shaped his understanding of himself and the world around him. His eventual success cannot erase those experiences, but it can give him a new perspective on them.

Strengths and limitations

One of the memoir’s principal strengths is its conversational, energetic storytelling. Stallone has an instinct for dramatic situations, and the narrative benefits from his ability to frame personal experiences in terms of conflict, risk and consequence. Readers familiar with Rocky will appreciate the behind-the-scenes account of its creation, while those less interested in Hollywood history may still find value in the broader themes of creative development and perseverance.

The book also benefits from the distance of time. Stallone is not simply recounting the exhilaration of an early breakthrough; he is revisiting the experiences that preceded it and considering what they meant. His willingness to acknowledge anger, family difficulties and the burden of self-validation gives the story a more reflective dimension.

Nevertheless, readers seeking a completely detached or consistently self-critical autobiography may find the narrative less satisfying. The dramatic arc naturally gravitates towards Rocky, and the knowledge of Stallone’s eventual triumph inevitably shapes how the earlier struggles are presented. The memoir can consequently feel like an origin story organised around a destiny that was far less certain at the time.

Ultimately, the memoir is most persuasive when it allows the contradictions to remain visible. Stallone’s determination is inspiring, but it is also rooted in pain. His self-belief is admirable, but it can shade into stubbornness. His success is extraordinary, but it does not offer a universal formula for overcoming hardship. These complexities make his experience more useful, not less, because they remind us that resilience is a human process rather than a simple motivational slogan.

Final verdict: a memoir about earning the summit

The Steps is a compelling account of the years that transformed Sylvester Stallone from a struggling actor into the creator and star of Rocky. Its greatest achievement is to look beyond the familiar image of the triumphant underdog and examine the years of work, rejection, sacrifice and emotional struggle that made that triumph possible.

The memoir’s most enduring lesson is that resilience requires more than refusing to give up. It demands the discipline to improve, the humility to accept criticism, the imagination to turn personal pain into something meaningful and the conviction to recognise opportunities that others might overlook. It also requires an awareness that professional success cannot, by itself, heal every emotional wound.

Stallone’s life is an exceptional story, and his eventual achievements should not be mistaken for proof that persistence guarantees success. Circumstances, opportunity and luck matter. But his journey demonstrates that talent often needs time to mature, that rejection need not have the final word and that creative work can transform experiences once regarded as disadvantages into sources of strength.

The staircase, in the end, is not simply a route to fame. It is a reminder that meaningful progress is made incrementally, that setbacks are part of the climb and that the value of an achievement lies partly in what it takes to reach it.

For readers facing their own professional or personal obstacles, The Steps offers an encouraging, if sometimes uncomfortable, message: you cannot control every judgement, every setback or every opportunity, but you can keep learning, keep working and decide what you are unwilling to surrender.

[Cameron Rhoads · Rating 5 out of 5]

9.04 hours on Audible, read by Sylvester Stallone himself. Absolutely loved it. The struggle he went through to produce Rocky was incredible.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1969 Sylvester Stallone arrived in New York City with very little money. He lived in a run down rented room, and took jobs that included cleaning out the lion cages in Central Park Zoo, while he strived to find work as an actor.
The first 200 pages of this memoir are, quite simply, an incredible read. Stallone then spends the next 100 pages on how the now classic film Rocky (one of my favourite films of all time) came to life.
I was surprised how the early drafts of Rocky were so different from the end result. Stallone showed amazing determination to star in the film, and not just sell his screenplay, even when he was offered life changing amounts of money.
The Steps is a superb memoir about a man who refused to give up. Even at the age of 62 I still love the Rocky films. Stallone has provided me (& millions of others) with great entertainment throughout my life. Even now, aged 80, Sylvester Stallone acts, produces and co writes the brilliant TV series Tulsa King.
Thanks for everything you did, and continue to do. Keep punching, Sly.

[Tetyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvester Stallone has been my biggest hero for as long as I can remember. His new book “The Steps” is everything I hoped for and more. It is full of pure energy, hope and real wisdom that he learned from the hardest times in his life. This book teaches you to never give up, to take the punches and to always keep moving forward.
I know I will re-read this book over and over again. Whenever I feel down, Sly’s words feel like a mentor holding my hand, firing up my blood and putting the light back in my eyes.
I bought both the book and the Audible version. The printed book is amazing because it is full of beautiful photos for every chapter. But you must listen to the audiobook. Hearing Sly read his own story with so much raw emotion is powerful. You truly feel like you are living through every hard challenge and big triumph right next to him.
I absolutely love this book with all my heart. If you need inspiration, please read it!

[John Schorg · Rating 3 out of 5]

By now, the story of the making of Rocky has been told so many times that there's nothing much new to reveal. There was a documentary on Stallone's career not long ago, followed by this book, and a feature film coming soon. What would be more interesting would be for the author to trace his career after this point, when the sequels piled up and the quality went down... at least until Creed.

[BRADY NUTT · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A journey like this, in pursuit of impossible dreams, is its own kind of fifteen-round prizefight. And like any worthy battle for dignity and respect and a better life, true victory isn't found in money or fame or awards. It's won each and every day, with the decisions we make on that journey, until we arrive at the doorway to our dreams and our destiny, and fully enter.”

TRULY INCREDIBLE, WILL READ THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN. KEEP PUNCHING

[Veera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vuoden odotetuin kirja.

Rocky teki minuun valtavan vaikutuksen. Olin päälle parikymppinen, kun katsoin ensimmäisen osan ja sen jälkeen ilmestyneet osat. Legendaarisen ensimmäisen osan lisäksi erityisen vahvasti mieleeni on jäänyt Rocky IV, jossa Rocky taistelee Ivan Dragoa vastaan.

Elokuvan soundtrack on yksi parhaista, ja etenkin Training Montage sekä koko treenikohtaus ovat jääneet lähtemättömästi mieleeni. Olen saanut valtavasti fyysistä voimaa ajatellessani niitä älyttömiä vatsalihasliikkeitä ja valmentajaa, joka huutaa Rockylle vieressä: ”No pain!”

Olen synnyttänyt neljä lasta miettimällä tätä kohtausta. Ehkä on vähän hullua rinnastaa miehen nyrkkeilymatsiin valmistautumista synnytykseen, mutta jokin siinä on vaikuttanut minuun niin valtavasti. Kun on todella kovilla, ajatus siitä, että aina vielä vähän kestää, on jäänyt pysyvästi mieleeni Rockyn kautta.

Portaat kertoo Stallonen elämästä ennen Rockya ja ensimmäisen Rocky-elokuvan synnystä. Erityisen kiinnostavaa on seurata, kuinka Stallone piti päänsä, vaikka kukaan ei halunnut häntä näyttelemään pääroolia. Hän ei suostunut myymään käsikirjoitustaan suurellakaan rahalla, koska halusi itse olla Rocky, vaikka eli samaan aikaan köyhyydessä.

Stallone on tätä kirjoittaessa 80-vuotias ja tehnyt huikean elokuvauran niin näyttelijänä kuin käsikirjoittajana. Siksi kirjan tiiviys yllätti minut. Elämästä ja urasta olisi ollut aineksia vaikka kuinka paljon pidempään teokseen, mutta nyt kaikki on puristettu todella tiukkaan pakettiin. Asioita ei juuri käsitellä laajasti, eikä Rockyn jälkeisestä urasta kerrota oikeastaan lainkaan.

Olisin siis ehdottomasti toivonut kirjalle reilusti lisää pituutta.

Mutta koska rakastan Rockya ja sillä on ollut niin suuri vaikutus omaan elämääni, annan kirjalle suorilta 5/5 – vaikka myönnän, ettei kirja itsessään ehkä ole viiden tähden kirja.

Tämä on ennen kaikkea kirja, jonka luin Rocky-fanina. Ja jos et ole Rocky-fani tai ole nähnyt elokuvia, tämä ei välttämättä anna lukijalle läheskään yhtä paljon.

Keep punching🥊

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this memoir, narrated by Sylvester Stallone. I’ve been a fan ever since I saw the first Rocky film with my dad at our local movie theater. I fell in love with both Stallone and the character Rocky. Over the years, I have watched many of his films.

While listening to the memoir, I learned things I didn't know about him. For instance, he went by the name Mike for much of his childhood and into his young adulthood. His long road to success was filled with ups and downs, and he struggled with money for years. At one point, he had to give away his dog, Butkus, because he couldn't afford to care for him.

The book has many sad, emotional moments. It possibly contains triggers related to violence, homelessness, jail, mental illness, and time spent in a mental ward. Life in the 1960s was certainly challenging, to say the least.

[Cap · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Usually, the more familiar I am with an artist's work, the more likely I am to enjoy their life's story. With Stallone, I grew up watching the Rocky movies, but I'm not too familiar with the rest of his filmography. Nevertheless, I found this memoir thoroughly engaging. (It certainly doesn't hurt that this audiobook is read by the author.) There's much more to Stallone than meets the eye, and his tenacity through this rags-to-riches story almost defies belief. There are times where he clumsily jumps back and forth through time, making me unsure at places what part of his life he's referring to, but that's a minor critique.

[Helen Connelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this book! Every word is perfect. What writing. This is a testament to excellence and doing what it takes to achieve it. I love when an author edits their words in such a way that every sentence is perfect. There is not a minute of your time wasted while you’re reading this book. It is only enriching. This is the type of writing that you wait for and only comes along every now and then.

[Book Boyfriend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to learn he was releasing this book. I have been a fan of his for a long time. I remember watching Rambo: First Blood, Cobra, and Rocky. I love the classic movies. Oh, and let's not forget The Expendables movies. I knew I'd love this when I read the first chapter at Walmart.

I'm so thankful he wrote this, and I feel like this book would give hopeless people hope, help them believe in themselves, and give them steps to never give up or doubt themselves, even when others do.

I was shocked when he talked about writing the movie script for Rocky. It was insightful to read about his writing process and Rocky’s, Adrian’s, and the other characters' development. It was sad to read how his mom felt about him, and how she never really supported him like he wanted her to. His dad has his issues as well, but at least they were able to make up.

[Ville Verkkapuro]

An inspiring and entertaining autobiography, especially delicious listened to performed by Stallone himself. I've listened to some interviews by Stallone lately and they felt powerful. Somehow, even more powerful than this. More tender and vulnerable. Somehow I was expecting a bit more. I'm not saying this was bad, but it was a lot about the business. Very American. Everything leading up to Rocky. I would've loved to hear about Mr. Stallone using steroids, fighting bulimia and arthritis, losing his son, raising a family and competing with Arnold and directing Rocky III while having under 3 percent body fat. This had a story and an arch, some great images and a very cinematic touch, even having Stallone acting his lines and some added music. And it was great and a great story, for sure, but still... it's an underdog story, it's a self-made man and rags-to-riches thing. And for that, it's great. It should've maybe been titled: "Rocky Road" or something like that. And I would love to have a follow-up for sure. But yes, crazy stories here, Stallone sleeping at the Port Authority bus station and living like a bum, not giving up and showering with his clothes on and washing his clothes at the same time and just fighting for his life. Eating raw eggs. It's a pretty inspirational story. And I loved the artistic sensibilities the man has, frequenting MoMA and painting what the horse thinks about instead of painting the horse. If you listen to this, make sure to listen to the New York Times interview, too.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an inspiring read. Those who know me, know that I'm a sucker for memoirs that have a message, and this one delivered just that.

I admired his tenacity in pursuing his own pinnacle of success, which is also everyones dream who goes to Hollywood. And just a select few achieve this kind of fame. Stallone wasn't content with simply getting close to his ultimate dream. He wanted to hit the bullseye and was willing to make the hard choices necessary to get there....even when lesser choices sounded super tempting.

Add to that a rough childhood and the other setbacks life threw his way, any one of which could have held him back. Rather than allowing those hard experiences to become a heavy burden to carry, he used them as fuel to keep moving forward. He learned from them, then moved on. That is a gift to be able to do that.

Overall, this was an inspiring and worthwhile read, and one I'd happily read again. So 5 full stars for this one.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you're in a reading slump and other times book after book are like this! Stallone takes you on a fast ride, retelling stories of his life; he has incredible depth, grit, and perseverance. The action starts with his tumultuous parents, how he was never wanted in life, and a terrible student throughout the school years. Without any connections and by holding his vision, he created everything from nothing, including the screenplay for Rocky. I am not doing the review justice as there is so much to read in Stallone's story. I'd highly recommend this even if you know nothing about his career or his early years.

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was well done and had a lot of interesting life stories, I did not like some the music that was added behind the audio.

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! Covers his upbringing up to the filming of and release of Rocky. It takes a lot to write a book and this is sufficient proof of an actor who can do just that. Wish there had been more wrap-up on his family, but hey, that may be the next book.

[Marian · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Not sure why I thought this was going to be good, but it was a mess. (Editors were out to lunch on this one, or didn't have the guts to fix it.) The final 25%, about the making of "Rocky", was moderately interesting, but ends abruptly. Throughout the book he describes his relationship with Sasha, including the birth of their daughter Sage, but then in the Epilogue he includes a photo with "my beautiful wife Jennifer" and daughters that do not include Sage. The recounting of his early years was so disjointed that I still can't tell you if he grew up in Philadelphia, Hell's Kitchen, or Jackson Heights. And the story about his time in the Snake Pit sounds like pure fiction, sorry. Don't waste your time unless you're a superfan (I'm not).

[Shelly Itkin · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

I found it very interesting to learn about the terrible childhood Sylvester Stallone endured. He suffered emotionally till he achieved his dream. His never-giving-up attitude and constant search for a chance to prove himself were very enlightening.

Unfortunately, we all know how Rocky paved th way for him to become a famous actor and a well-loved hero to others. What is missing is more of his life after Rocky up until today, like his role in Tulsa King.

He has so much he could have shared with his fans, yet he only emphasized how he fought for and won the right not only to write but to act in Rocky.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

And how did the book get to the top of the nonfiction list? You guessed it — Frank Stallone....

Besides that and 'cup the balls', that's the first thing I thought about with respect to Sly. Then I heard the NYT Daily interview with him when the book came out and gave this a shot. It was much better than I would have thought. Of course, it's pure Rocky in memoir format, with truly terrible parenting thrown in for good measure. So yes, it was very nice in that respect. That said, his recent bio-pic is apparently only succeeding due to consciously keeping Stallone out of the process entirely, and the guy has made some, er, interesting career moves post-Rocky, good and bad. But this one was worth it.

[Becky Gallego · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of Rocky might enjoy the behind the scenes look at how the movie came to be, but I didn't find it that engaging. The constant jumping back and forth in time before you get to the "Rocky" part of the story is distracting.

[Marika]

(Sylvester Stalone)

[Marcas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvester Stallone's memoir, charting the course of his life up to the release of Rocky, is serendipitously splendid. While there is tragedy and strife for sure, there is also so much hope and romance in his story. It makes for a refreshing change from the constant hermeneutic of suspicion, of cynicism, and despair that so often sells today.

At his core, Stallone is a euchatastrophic storyteller, like the man who gave us that great neologism, J.R.R. Tolkien. From the first pages of The Steps, it is clear that Sly has seen first hand the depravity of human beings, of systems, and all sorts. His two parents alone would double up for fairytale villains with consummate ease. But, he never let it break him beyond repair. He even harnessed some of their folly into great good.

The same goes for school bullies, Hollywood snobbery, and an array of naysayers.

Stallone far transcends the caricatures of the dumb action star, or droopy-faced halfwit that too many have mistaken him for. He is apparently a sensitive and thoughtful guy; he is an artist who wanted to build new worlds. He is a man who had a vision, so he never perished. And against profound odds, which he details conscientously in the book, he reached the top without losing his soul.

His principled stance that he must play the titular role in Rocky is truly remarkable, and to hear how it played out, engrossing.

As with any memoir like this, there is a lot unsaid and I'm sure Sly is no saint. We need not make an idol of the man or assume we are getting the whole story. But, from what we do get, we can appreciate the vulnerability and his ability to welcome us into such a remarkable time in recent history.
We get a remarkable sense of how it might have been before Rocky was the iconic franchise it is today. It is good honest storytelling that makes that happen.

It becomes clearer with every page that Sylvester the man and Rocky Balboa the character are eternally intertwined. But their story is equally our story; that's why it is so resonant and has such vitality.
Sly speaks and writes in archetypal ways and even refers over and again to the divine intervention that he trusts gave Rocky to the world. Amen.

I was hooked from early on by this book and there were a number of paragraphs that distilled the pathos of his prose, proving to be very moving and encouraging.

Here is one on the famous steps themselves, and a part of their symbolic meaning. I think it summarises nicely the style and substance of the memoir. It says more than many a long review:

"For hours, there was nothing but running. Up Broad Street. Toward City Hall. Down through Fishtown. Through the Italian marketplace. Through the railyard and along the docks. We didn’t have permits for any of it. We were stealing everything we could before the unions caught up to us. I’d run down these crowded, familiar streets and nobody knew we were filming a movie, so Philly being Philly, I’d get booed and cheered - one person even threw an orange to me. It was all spontaneous and fantastic.

Then finally, near 10 a.m., we got to the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. The glorious steps. They were a sacred place for me. Whenever my mother threw me out of the house, I would retreat to the steps.

Somehow, they brought me comfort. I felt like I belonged there. I don’t know why the place was so special, maybe it was the fact that when I was very young this was the magical place that transported me to the world I wanted to live in. Little did I know that running up the steps would be the most famous shot in the entire movie, which would ultimately allow me to build the life I wanted to live and the world I wanted to live in.

Those towering steps were the embodiment of success for me. They were a symbol of all the times I had failed to make it to the next level in my life. Now before me, in seventy-two wide stone steps, was the blueprint of every dream I had been living for the better part of a decade.

I ran and hit those steps as fast as I could. Tearing up them, my legs were on fire, but that made me push even harder. It was not planned, but when I got to the top, I began to dance around with almost hysterical exaltation.

This was the beginning of the journey of my impossible dream - Rocky’s, too. And we’d both just arrived at the top..."

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may not always agree with Sly’s life choices, but I’ve always recognized his impact on writers and the film industry. Rocky is one of my all-time favorite film series. Heck, I’ve even made the trip to Philly to run up the iconic steps and retrace Rocky and Adrian’s footsteps throughout the city. These films hold a special place in my heart, so I was super excited to read this memoir.

And goodness, me… The Steps is a total knockout of a read! It explores Stallone’s tumultuous childhood (seriously, some of it is so extremely sad), his journey to Hollywood, and the uphill battle to get Rocky made.

Learning about everything he overcame—the hardships, the setbacks, the doubts—and the moments when his determination finally paid off, gave me a deeper appreciation for the story behind one of cinema’s most beloved underdog tales.

Much like Rocky himself, Stallone’s journey is a testament to perseverance and the determination to keep going when life knocks you down. As Rocky famously says in Balboa, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward.”

Stallone’s path was far from easy, and his commitment to bringing Rocky to life is a powerful reminder of what it takes to pursue a dream when the odds are stacked against you. And boy, am I grateful he stuck with it, because the world got Rocky out of it!

If you’re a fan of the films or simply love a story about overcoming adversity and refusing to give up on a dream, The Steps is well worth your time. Read it! You’ll come away feeling inspired!