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In My Own Time
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Expected 27 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 07:56:52
20 copies available
U.S. only
Emmy Award-winning actor Christopher Lloyd―one of the most iconic performers of his generation―shares an intimate portrait drawn from the defining moments of his life, from his early years in theater to his time on the sets of iconic television and film, his struggles with addiction, and an isolated childhood of privilege. Whether appearing as a disembodied head in Wednesday or taking on the title role in a stage production of King Lear, Christopher Lloyd has become known for portraying larger-than-life characters with a singular intensity and imagination. Now, for the first time, Christopher shares stories from his life that he has rarely spoken about before. In My Own Time begins with Christopher’s childhood at Waveny, the sprawling Connecticut estate. Raised primarily by governesses and wandering the grounds, he became a quiet observer of the people and relationships around him, including the complicated dynamic between his creative mother and his stern father. With New York already a familiar part of his world, Christopher immersed himself in the demanding life of the theater. On stage he developed the intensity, imagination, and fearlessness that would come to define his work. From there, Christopher’s career expanded across television and film, where audiences came to know him as the intense and unpredictable Taber in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the eccentric and beloved Reverend Jim Ignatowski on Taxi, and the wild-eyed genius Doc Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy―performances that helped define some of the most enduring films and television of their time. Christopher Lloyd offers a rare and deeply personal reflection on a life spent both onstage and on screen, told with charm, dry wit, and honesty. In sharing the stories behind his work, his struggles, and the people and places that shaped him, In My Own Time reveals the thoughtful and deeply observant man behind the iconic characters.
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 27, 2026
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Christopher Lloyd
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 30, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC.
This read like a long Wikipedia article to me. Like Sgt. Joe Friday said on Dragnet, ‘Just the facts, ma’am’.
It didn’t have much heart, or pizazz, or whatever you want to call it. Just A to B to C stated with very little personality. It also had too many one off ‘stories’ if you will. In the middle of a chapter you’d get a couple paragraphs about ‘oh and I met him once’ or something totally bland and benign.
Even the few anecdotes he did have in there just seemed like an afterthought, like someone who’s not adept at telling stories is forced to tell one even though they don’t want to tell it. This is the second autobiography I’ve read recently that felt this way.
I was hoping for more but, ‘to be or not to be’, it was not meant to be I guess.
This read like a long Wikipedia article to me. Like Sgt. Joe Friday said on Dragnet, ‘Just the facts, ma’am’.
It didn’t have much heart, or pizazz, or whatever you want to call it. Just A to B to C stated with very little personality. It also had too many one off ‘stories’ if you will. In the middle of a chapter you’d get a couple paragraphs about ‘oh and I met him once’ or something totally bland and benign.
Even the few anecdotes he did have in there just seemed like an afterthought, like someone who’s not adept at telling stories is forced to tell one even though they don’t want to tell it. This is the second autobiography I’ve read recently that felt this way.
I was hoping for more but, ‘to be or not to be’, it was not meant to be I guess.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Excellent book. A breath of fresh air. Real life, real experiences, just open honest memories. Thank you to Christopher Lloyd for sharing a small part of your world. Thank you to Goodreads and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for being allowed a read.
I'm going to be the first to say: this book is short. Not only that, 50% is spent talk about his life not in show-business. I was bummed because well, who doesn't love when an actor recalls memories from filming, moments spent with other actors, etc. The more I read, the more I feel like this is a book written for Christopher to explain himself in some aspects. I'm not saying that Christopher Lloyd is a private person, or he makes himself private. He is just... who he is?
The book mainly covers that he grew up wealthy. And I mean wealthy wealthy. His father was the bread-winner of the family, and the time with him was little to none. His mother was in her own world and or cold with him so he was raised more or less by the servants in the family. His estate is now a place where people can go and have events at and or celebrate things on the lawn. He had little to no friends, and he got into theatre in his college years, which then had him going into film.
When he does mention film, he recalls brief moments with certain films. While his resume is a bit long (mainly in the 90's and Y2k era), he doesn't cover those. The films he does focus on are One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Addams Family. He obviously spends the most time on Back to the Future, but he doesn't really talk much about the films so to speak. He kind of just gives glossy views of the films and his experience and leaves it there.
If anything I came away from this book realizing: Christopher is really a person who can talk to people, but as he expresses in the book, he doesn't really know what to say or is used to small talk. He will talk to you, of course, and doesn't mind it, but it's hard for him. He enjoys listening to interesting people talk about things. He cares deeply for his fans, but is also a little concerned when people tell him that he made their childhoods (because, as he puts it, to make someone's childhood means that their childhood was poor). He loves going to fan conventions and really enjoys questions that people ask him on films or things he has done that HAVEN'T BEEN discussed as often as the above films.
He also REALLY loves Shakespeare. He is obsessed with it, and he loves Hamlet. He can recite Hamlet's 'To Be Or Not to Be' speech by memory and uses it as a motivational tool. If I was ever to meet him, I wouldn't really want to talk to him about his films, I'd have a million Shakespeare questions to ask him. I'm sure he'd open up more and talk your head off with all his feelings and his nerd feelings for something I never knew he loved as dear.
The point being: If you come into this book expecting a huge reminiscence, you will be disappointed. But, if you stick around and get through it, you will find a side of someone you never knew because he's just a shy kind of guy.
I'm going to be the first to say: this book is short. Not only that, 50% is spent talk about his life not in show-business. I was bummed because well, who doesn't love when an actor recalls memories from filming, moments spent with other actors, etc. The more I read, the more I feel like this is a book written for Christopher to explain himself in some aspects. I'm not saying that Christopher Lloyd is a private person, or he makes himself private. He is just... who he is?
The book mainly covers that he grew up wealthy. And I mean wealthy wealthy. His father was the bread-winner of the family, and the time with him was little to none. His mother was in her own world and or cold with him so he was raised more or less by the servants in the family. His estate is now a place where people can go and have events at and or celebrate things on the lawn. He had little to no friends, and he got into theatre in his college years, which then had him going into film.
When he does mention film, he recalls brief moments with certain films. While his resume is a bit long (mainly in the 90's and Y2k era), he doesn't cover those. The films he does focus on are One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Addams Family. He obviously spends the most time on Back to the Future, but he doesn't really talk much about the films so to speak. He kind of just gives glossy views of the films and his experience and leaves it there.
If anything I came away from this book realizing: Christopher is really a person who can talk to people, but as he expresses in the book, he doesn't really know what to say or is used to small talk. He will talk to you, of course, and doesn't mind it, but it's hard for him. He enjoys listening to interesting people talk about things. He cares deeply for his fans, but is also a little concerned when people tell him that he made their childhoods (because, as he puts it, to make someone's childhood means that their childhood was poor). He loves going to fan conventions and really enjoys questions that people ask him on films or things he has done that HAVEN'T BEEN discussed as often as the above films.
He also REALLY loves Shakespeare. He is obsessed with it, and he loves Hamlet. He can recite Hamlet's 'To Be Or Not to Be' speech by memory and uses it as a motivational tool. If I was ever to meet him, I wouldn't really want to talk to him about his films, I'd have a million Shakespeare questions to ask him. I'm sure he'd open up more and talk your head off with all his feelings and his nerd feelings for something I never knew he loved as dear.
The point being: If you come into this book expecting a huge reminiscence, you will be disappointed. But, if you stick around and get through it, you will find a side of someone you never knew because he's just a shy kind of guy.
October 7, 2026
I went into In My Own Time somewhat blind. I’m certainly not a Christopher Lloyd mega-fan, but I know and appreciate his work, and I was especially interested in hearing about the life and career of an actor from his generation. Unfortunately, the memoir ultimately fell pretty flat for me.
Much of the book reads almost like bullet points of a life: I did this production with these people, then I did this movie with those people, then I went here and worked with someone else. There are certainly interesting pieces of Hollywood and theater history scattered throughout (I had no idea his maternal grandfather was one of the founders of Texaco!), but I rarely felt like I was being brought into those experiences.
There is an overarching theme of loneliness throughout the memoir. Lloyd describes feeling isolated, struggling to connect with people, and often seeming more comfortable on his own. What made that difficult for me as a reader, though, was how often it seemed that people around him were trying to connect with him. Colleagues, friends, and people in his life would reach out or attempt to create some sort of community, and he would seemingly brush them off or simply walk away. I understand that this behavior likely grew out of the same internal struggles and loneliness he describes, but at times it came across less as sympathetic and more as frustratingly detached—or even a little rude.
And maybe that is ultimately what didn’t work for me about this memoir: I never felt like Lloyd let me in.
When I read a memoir, I want to finish feeling as though I’ve walked alongside someone for a little while. I want to understand them better, even if I don’t necessarily like or agree with them. Here, I continually felt held at arm’s length. Interestingly, that distance almost seems to mirror the way Lloyd describes moving through relationships in his own life. Whether intentional or not, I finished the book with the impression of someone who feels he has had surprisingly little agency in his own life and who remains deeply isolated from the people around him.
There are also a handful of anecdotes that Lloyd clearly finds funny or charming that landed as more odd or secondhand-cringe-inducing for me, which only added to that disconnect.
I think this will work much better for someone who is already deeply invested in Christopher Lloyd—someone for whom Back to the Future, Taxi, or his broader career holds a lot of personal significance and who simply wants to know everything they can about the man behind those roles. For a more casual reader like me, though, there just wasn’t enough emotional depth or introspection to make the chronological recounting of his life particularly compelling.
Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eARC. “In My Own Time” will be published 10/27/2026.
Much of the book reads almost like bullet points of a life: I did this production with these people, then I did this movie with those people, then I went here and worked with someone else. There are certainly interesting pieces of Hollywood and theater history scattered throughout (I had no idea his maternal grandfather was one of the founders of Texaco!), but I rarely felt like I was being brought into those experiences.
There is an overarching theme of loneliness throughout the memoir. Lloyd describes feeling isolated, struggling to connect with people, and often seeming more comfortable on his own. What made that difficult for me as a reader, though, was how often it seemed that people around him were trying to connect with him. Colleagues, friends, and people in his life would reach out or attempt to create some sort of community, and he would seemingly brush them off or simply walk away. I understand that this behavior likely grew out of the same internal struggles and loneliness he describes, but at times it came across less as sympathetic and more as frustratingly detached—or even a little rude.
And maybe that is ultimately what didn’t work for me about this memoir: I never felt like Lloyd let me in.
When I read a memoir, I want to finish feeling as though I’ve walked alongside someone for a little while. I want to understand them better, even if I don’t necessarily like or agree with them. Here, I continually felt held at arm’s length. Interestingly, that distance almost seems to mirror the way Lloyd describes moving through relationships in his own life. Whether intentional or not, I finished the book with the impression of someone who feels he has had surprisingly little agency in his own life and who remains deeply isolated from the people around him.
There are also a handful of anecdotes that Lloyd clearly finds funny or charming that landed as more odd or secondhand-cringe-inducing for me, which only added to that disconnect.
I think this will work much better for someone who is already deeply invested in Christopher Lloyd—someone for whom Back to the Future, Taxi, or his broader career holds a lot of personal significance and who simply wants to know everything they can about the man behind those roles. For a more casual reader like me, though, there just wasn’t enough emotional depth or introspection to make the chronological recounting of his life particularly compelling.
Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this eARC. “In My Own Time” will be published 10/27/2026.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
I can only remember seeing Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future and its sequels, so I haven't really followed his long career in a serious way. I learned a lot about his early life and his work in the theater from this memoir, and I appreciated that he also mentions his drug and alcohol problems without really glossing over how serious they were. The book is quite short for a man with such a long life and career, though, and I wish he had gone into more details about some of his films and his personal relationships.
Before reading this book, I had no idea that Christopher Lloyd grew up in a wealthy family in Connecticut. While he was financially secure, he wasn't that close to his parents, and he also didn't have that many friends growing up. There's an interesting recurring theme of solitude throughout his life that I never would have guessed about a famous Hollywood actor. I had no idea Lloyd took months-long bike rides across the country. He frequently mentions how he feels awkward around people and doesn't really bond with them easily, and it kind of makes sense given his childhood and his family situation. Lloyd also talks about his alcohol and drug problems, including some stints in rehab, and while it's not like he goes into gritty detail about everything, I appreciated that he included mentions of these problems and his struggles with sobriety. There's also some fun memories from Back to the Future, as would be expected.
The beginning feels a bit slow since Lloyd spends a lot of time on his childhood, though, and then later on it feels like it's going a bit fast, with very little time given to most individual movies and shows. I would've been interested in reading more about some of his major film projects, and that may have gotten me interested in checking some of them out, but I can't say after reading this book that I now have more movies on my to-watch list (not that I have one). Some girlfriends and wives are mentioned off-hand here and there, but the only time LLoyd mentions a real relationship is in the very last chapter, when he talks about marrying his fifth wife. He does explain that he's not mentioning his exes because "there is no way I feel I can talk about them without sounding defensive or vindictive," but it's a bit strange to only read about the love of his life for the first time 20 pages from the end of the book.
Interesting memoir that taught me a lot about an actor whose work I'm not all that familiar with, and I appreciated some of the behind-the-scenes information about the movie series I've actually seen. I do wish there was more detail about some of his other film projects and about his relationships.
I can only remember seeing Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future and its sequels, so I haven't really followed his long career in a serious way. I learned a lot about his early life and his work in the theater from this memoir, and I appreciated that he also mentions his drug and alcohol problems without really glossing over how serious they were. The book is quite short for a man with such a long life and career, though, and I wish he had gone into more details about some of his films and his personal relationships.
Before reading this book, I had no idea that Christopher Lloyd grew up in a wealthy family in Connecticut. While he was financially secure, he wasn't that close to his parents, and he also didn't have that many friends growing up. There's an interesting recurring theme of solitude throughout his life that I never would have guessed about a famous Hollywood actor. I had no idea Lloyd took months-long bike rides across the country. He frequently mentions how he feels awkward around people and doesn't really bond with them easily, and it kind of makes sense given his childhood and his family situation. Lloyd also talks about his alcohol and drug problems, including some stints in rehab, and while it's not like he goes into gritty detail about everything, I appreciated that he included mentions of these problems and his struggles with sobriety. There's also some fun memories from Back to the Future, as would be expected.
The beginning feels a bit slow since Lloyd spends a lot of time on his childhood, though, and then later on it feels like it's going a bit fast, with very little time given to most individual movies and shows. I would've been interested in reading more about some of his major film projects, and that may have gotten me interested in checking some of them out, but I can't say after reading this book that I now have more movies on my to-watch list (not that I have one). Some girlfriends and wives are mentioned off-hand here and there, but the only time LLoyd mentions a real relationship is in the very last chapter, when he talks about marrying his fifth wife. He does explain that he's not mentioning his exes because "there is no way I feel I can talk about them without sounding defensive or vindictive," but it's a bit strange to only read about the love of his life for the first time 20 pages from the end of the book.
Interesting memoir that taught me a lot about an actor whose work I'm not all that familiar with, and I appreciated some of the behind-the-scenes information about the movie series I've actually seen. I do wish there was more detail about some of his other film projects and about his relationships.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Is there anyone who doesn't love Christopher Lloyd?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
Lloyd is simply one of those beloved actors, complex yet hilarious while also constantly coming off as approachable and real.
"In My Own Time" is the actor's autobiography from his childhood years raised by his creative mother and stern father in the massive Connecticut estate called Waveny through his early stage work, struggles with addiction, television years, and Hollywood success.
A three-time Emmy Award winner, Lloyd is perhaps best known for his roles as Rev. Jim in the television series "Taxi" and, of course, as Doc Brown in the "Back to the Future" trilogy.
With "In My Own Time," one can practically hear Lloyd talking to us as he shares intimate stories, personal memories, and the obviously desired accounts of some of our favorite memories of his work over the years.
A good 1/3 of "In My Own Time" finds us taking a journey through Lloyd's childhood. As a direct descendant of one of the Texaco founders, Lloyd's childhood was seemingly privileged yet isolated and one in which it's obvious the friction between his parents, who would eventually divorce, undoubtedly influenced him.
While "In My Own Time" doesn't quite possess the magic one might expect from Lloyd, it's still a fascinating endeavor sure to please Lloyd's many fans. From an early encounter with Meryl Streep during his college days through his fearless stagework and cinematic debut in the Academy Award-winning "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Lloyd comes off here as a rather matter-of-fact fellow somewhat detached from the world around him yet never less than fiercely likable and immensely talented.
"In My Own Time" doesn't quite do the cinematic deep dive we might hope, though the obvious titles are here along with an early career story about his only time abandoning a project after determining it to be an unpleasant atmosphere.
Lloyd comes off as deeply thoughtful and appreciative of his fans, though he comes off as almost saddened by the fact that a performance of his might "make" someone's childhood.
I sometimes question it when we get the latest autobiography from one of Hollywood's stars, but there's little denying that at 87-years-old Lloyd has given us a lifetime of entertainment and this surprisingly quick read gives us a glimpse into the life that made Lloyd a star and gives us an even deeper appreciation for his amazing career.
Yeah, I didn't think so.
Lloyd is simply one of those beloved actors, complex yet hilarious while also constantly coming off as approachable and real.
"In My Own Time" is the actor's autobiography from his childhood years raised by his creative mother and stern father in the massive Connecticut estate called Waveny through his early stage work, struggles with addiction, television years, and Hollywood success.
A three-time Emmy Award winner, Lloyd is perhaps best known for his roles as Rev. Jim in the television series "Taxi" and, of course, as Doc Brown in the "Back to the Future" trilogy.
With "In My Own Time," one can practically hear Lloyd talking to us as he shares intimate stories, personal memories, and the obviously desired accounts of some of our favorite memories of his work over the years.
A good 1/3 of "In My Own Time" finds us taking a journey through Lloyd's childhood. As a direct descendant of one of the Texaco founders, Lloyd's childhood was seemingly privileged yet isolated and one in which it's obvious the friction between his parents, who would eventually divorce, undoubtedly influenced him.
While "In My Own Time" doesn't quite possess the magic one might expect from Lloyd, it's still a fascinating endeavor sure to please Lloyd's many fans. From an early encounter with Meryl Streep during his college days through his fearless stagework and cinematic debut in the Academy Award-winning "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Lloyd comes off here as a rather matter-of-fact fellow somewhat detached from the world around him yet never less than fiercely likable and immensely talented.
"In My Own Time" doesn't quite do the cinematic deep dive we might hope, though the obvious titles are here along with an early career story about his only time abandoning a project after determining it to be an unpleasant atmosphere.
Lloyd comes off as deeply thoughtful and appreciative of his fans, though he comes off as almost saddened by the fact that a performance of his might "make" someone's childhood.
I sometimes question it when we get the latest autobiography from one of Hollywood's stars, but there's little denying that at 87-years-old Lloyd has given us a lifetime of entertainment and this surprisingly quick read gives us a glimpse into the life that made Lloyd a star and gives us an even deeper appreciation for his amazing career.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy of In My Own Time.
I was incredibly excited about this book when I first heard about it. I was even more excited when I found out I was approved for the ARC of this book.
I love Christopher Lloyd and grew up watching his work. Taxi was commonly on the TV when I was a child and I watch Back to the Future once a year as a way to remember my late father on the anniversary of his death (it was one of his favorite movies).
The beginning of the book was pretty rough. It starts out discussing how incredibly wealthy he was growing up. Not in a condescending way, but just noting how he realized he was different than the other kids. But I feel like starting the book off that way makes him immediately off putting and unrelatable. However, he becomes more relatable a bit further into his childhood, like when he discusses his relationship with his parents and how he was lonely growing up.
The first half of the book discusses his life and didn't really touch on his career. It could drag and I started to become disinterested at parts. The chapters were also fairly long.
The second half discusses his TV and film career. I feel like this is where he finally found his stride. The chapters were much shorter in the second half, the flow was smoother, and it was much more organized. I zoomed through the second half. He discusses Taxi and Back to the Future more than anything, but I would have liked for him to have gone into more detail about what it was like to film Roger Rabbit with half the cast being cartoons, his experiences on the set of Clue, or more details about overcoming addiction. I know he has such an extensive body of work that not everything can be covered, but I was surprised and disappointed that Clue wasn't even discussed.
I think I would have rated this higher if it wasn't for the slow pace at the beginning. He definitely told his story in his own time.
I was incredibly excited about this book when I first heard about it. I was even more excited when I found out I was approved for the ARC of this book.
I love Christopher Lloyd and grew up watching his work. Taxi was commonly on the TV when I was a child and I watch Back to the Future once a year as a way to remember my late father on the anniversary of his death (it was one of his favorite movies).
The beginning of the book was pretty rough. It starts out discussing how incredibly wealthy he was growing up. Not in a condescending way, but just noting how he realized he was different than the other kids. But I feel like starting the book off that way makes him immediately off putting and unrelatable. However, he becomes more relatable a bit further into his childhood, like when he discusses his relationship with his parents and how he was lonely growing up.
The first half of the book discusses his life and didn't really touch on his career. It could drag and I started to become disinterested at parts. The chapters were also fairly long.
The second half discusses his TV and film career. I feel like this is where he finally found his stride. The chapters were much shorter in the second half, the flow was smoother, and it was much more organized. I zoomed through the second half. He discusses Taxi and Back to the Future more than anything, but I would have liked for him to have gone into more detail about what it was like to film Roger Rabbit with half the cast being cartoons, his experiences on the set of Clue, or more details about overcoming addiction. I know he has such an extensive body of work that not everything can be covered, but I was surprised and disappointed that Clue wasn't even discussed.
I think I would have rated this higher if it wasn't for the slow pace at the beginning. He definitely told his story in his own time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Let me begin by saying that Christopher Lloyd is a national treasure. He is a master thespian and, by all accounts, a pretty decent human being. Back to the Future, Clue, Addams Family, Taxi and many others…I grew up with this man. Who among us did not grow up wishing that we could travel back in time with Doc Brown?! If you didn’t then I’m sorry for you, because it was the best. And now, he has written an autobiography! I was pretty stoked when I saw that it was coming out and I was even more excited when I scored an ARC from NetGalley. So, I read.
Now, I’ve gushed a little about Mr. Lloyd, the magnificent thespian, who I expected to take me on a magical ride in his Delorean one last time to relive his life. He did do that, and it was interesting. However, I expected more. I mean, I understand that he’s not the kind of guy to go dishing the Hollywood dirt, and that’s fine. There’s very little, if any dirt here to be devoured but I would have liked to see a little more. At only 256 pages, this is a pretty short autobiography, especially for someone with as storied a career as Christopher F***ing Lloyd! A pretty significant chunk of the book is spent telling his story prior to Taxi and the ensuing fame he enjoyed. That would be fine, but he really skimps on the info when discussing his movie career. Where are all the BTTF stories? So much of his beloved filmography is just glossed over, it couldn’t have been anything but a letdown.
In My Own Time was a good, fun read, but I really think it had to the potential to be a great one. Lloyd does talk about Back to the Future, but it seemed to this reader to be the bare minimum for a franchise so renowned. He also tells a bit about Buckaroo Bonzai and Cuckoo’s Nest is pretty well represented. But, he barely (if at all) mentions lesser known classics such as Angels in the Outfield, Camp Nowhere, The Dream Team, Suburban Commando. Even the Addams Family films and Clue are suspiciously underrepresented here. It begs the question of why? Why would you stop at such a short page count, when there simply HAS to be more interesting things to say about these other projects. Maybe he hates those films and just doesn’t want to mention them. Or, maybe he is extremely humble and didn’t think anyone would care about them. Perhaps he just decided that he was tired of writing and gave the bare minimum to fulfill a contract. I don’t know what happened, but In My Own Time feels like an unfinished self-portrait. He drew the outline, the hair and the facial features, but was afraid to add the little details that really make him Christopher Lloyd.
In the end, I’m glad I read this book and I still love Mr. Lloyd dearly. Maybe there will be a sequel, but this seems as if it was meant to be his one and only memoir as bare-bones as it may be. I did enjoy reading it and I’m just going to chalk it up to his following of the old maxim, “Always leave them wanting more”. I appreciate him writing it and it was, after all, better than nothing. I also appreciate Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read it early in exchange for an honest review.
Now, I’ve gushed a little about Mr. Lloyd, the magnificent thespian, who I expected to take me on a magical ride in his Delorean one last time to relive his life. He did do that, and it was interesting. However, I expected more. I mean, I understand that he’s not the kind of guy to go dishing the Hollywood dirt, and that’s fine. There’s very little, if any dirt here to be devoured but I would have liked to see a little more. At only 256 pages, this is a pretty short autobiography, especially for someone with as storied a career as Christopher F***ing Lloyd! A pretty significant chunk of the book is spent telling his story prior to Taxi and the ensuing fame he enjoyed. That would be fine, but he really skimps on the info when discussing his movie career. Where are all the BTTF stories? So much of his beloved filmography is just glossed over, it couldn’t have been anything but a letdown.
In My Own Time was a good, fun read, but I really think it had to the potential to be a great one. Lloyd does talk about Back to the Future, but it seemed to this reader to be the bare minimum for a franchise so renowned. He also tells a bit about Buckaroo Bonzai and Cuckoo’s Nest is pretty well represented. But, he barely (if at all) mentions lesser known classics such as Angels in the Outfield, Camp Nowhere, The Dream Team, Suburban Commando. Even the Addams Family films and Clue are suspiciously underrepresented here. It begs the question of why? Why would you stop at such a short page count, when there simply HAS to be more interesting things to say about these other projects. Maybe he hates those films and just doesn’t want to mention them. Or, maybe he is extremely humble and didn’t think anyone would care about them. Perhaps he just decided that he was tired of writing and gave the bare minimum to fulfill a contract. I don’t know what happened, but In My Own Time feels like an unfinished self-portrait. He drew the outline, the hair and the facial features, but was afraid to add the little details that really make him Christopher Lloyd.
In the end, I’m glad I read this book and I still love Mr. Lloyd dearly. Maybe there will be a sequel, but this seems as if it was meant to be his one and only memoir as bare-bones as it may be. I did enjoy reading it and I’m just going to chalk it up to his following of the old maxim, “Always leave them wanting more”. I appreciate him writing it and it was, after all, better than nothing. I also appreciate Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read it early in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2026
Just finished this ARC of Christopher Lloyd’s upcoming memoir In My Own Time and thoroughly enjoyed it. The first chapter was a little rough - partly because it was jumping around from from one age in Lloyd’s childhood to another and back again (though in reflection this could be an allusion to Doc Brown’s time traveling), but he also just had a very isolated childhood with disengaged parents, so it’s difficult to read about. The first couple of chapters, understandably, weren’t as humorous as the tongue-in-cheek title would imply, but I think this is a good thing as forcing humor would have diminished what seems like a very lonely childhood. The third chapter is when the acting career begins taking off and when that humor starts to come out in full force, but those first two chapters are foundational for understanding the trajectory of Lloyd’s career. He covers some serious topics like his addiction with wit and grace, but humor is intertwined in a way that doesn’t feel forced (I learned about a game called Chicken Shit Bingo that Lloyd played at a bar in Truckee while he was wasted and supposed to be filming scenes for BttF Part 3), and I appreciate that he discusses his addiction and alcoholism in a way that doesn’t give every little detail of how bad things got - it’s a very personal topic and I’m glad he didn’t feel like he needed to dwell on it. There are also heartwarming stories - he loves going to fan expos and hearing from fans and he has regular Zoom check-ins with his Taxi costars. Definitely a fun read for any Christopher Lloyd fan.
I won this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway from Grand Central Publishing
I won this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway from Grand Central Publishing
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been a Christopher Lloyd fan for a while- Taxi, Back to the Future, and Dennis the Menace (to name a few) are some of the things I remember watching him in (thanks to Nick at Nite for showing reruns of some great shows!) and smile when I think about him in his roles. When I saw he had a memoir out, I was intrigued to learn more about who he was and what led to his acting career.
For me, the book was slow to start. There was a lot of background about his childhood and young adult years- growing up wealthy, the relationship (if you can call it that) with his parents, and school. I never would have guessed he came from money, as he has stayed out of the news- unlike most celebrities who do come from money. I felt the book picked up slightly, when he started talking about his acting career, but struggled with the flow/cadence of the book.
I very much enjoyed his sharing about his current wife- how they met and how he was smitten right from the start. Discovering his love of Shakespeare. And reading that his fans matter to him.
While I do wish there was a bit more "story telling" in the book itself, I'm glad I got to have an behind the scenes look at Christopher Lloyd.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
For me, the book was slow to start. There was a lot of background about his childhood and young adult years- growing up wealthy, the relationship (if you can call it that) with his parents, and school. I never would have guessed he came from money, as he has stayed out of the news- unlike most celebrities who do come from money. I felt the book picked up slightly, when he started talking about his acting career, but struggled with the flow/cadence of the book.
I very much enjoyed his sharing about his current wife- how they met and how he was smitten right from the start. Discovering his love of Shakespeare. And reading that his fans matter to him.
While I do wish there was a bit more "story telling" in the book itself, I'm glad I got to have an behind the scenes look at Christopher Lloyd.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Christopher Lloyd would be an actor I would count among my favorite as he appeared films like Clue, Back to the Future, Star Trek III, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit among many others (heck, I’ve still watched the Legend of the Lone Ranger more times than most I expect) but it occurred to me that while I know his work, I don’t really know the man all that well. His life is a fascinating and interesting story and I feel I understand and more so, know him better after reading. Would I have liked it to be longer? Of course. I would gladly have read a longer version with more than brief reminisces of his work on a handful of his projects but this was also more than enough and I am glad to have listened to him tell his story.
Special Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
Christopher Lloyd's memoir "In My Own Time" is just that - him telling his story at his own pace, providing insight and self-awareness of his privileged upbringing within one of of the wealthiest families in Connecticut, which was in stark contrast to the roles for which he is most famous - from Reverend Jim in "Taxi" to Doc Brown in the "Back to the Future" series.
While I have been a great fan of his filmography, I wasn't aware of any details of his personal life, nor too familiar with his stage career - I've always viewed him as an brilliant actor, who expertly inhabited every character he played. He writes of his early struggles with breaking into show business and his later bouts of drugs and alcohol with a sense of earnestness and honesty that is truly refreshing.
I'd love an addendum to this memoir when his reaches 88.
You know why.
Christopher Lloyd's memoir "In My Own Time" is just that - him telling his story at his own pace, providing insight and self-awareness of his privileged upbringing within one of of the wealthiest families in Connecticut, which was in stark contrast to the roles for which he is most famous - from Reverend Jim in "Taxi" to Doc Brown in the "Back to the Future" series.
While I have been a great fan of his filmography, I wasn't aware of any details of his personal life, nor too familiar with his stage career - I've always viewed him as an brilliant actor, who expertly inhabited every character he played. He writes of his early struggles with breaking into show business and his later bouts of drugs and alcohol with a sense of earnestness and honesty that is truly refreshing.
I'd love an addendum to this memoir when his reaches 88.
You know why.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Actor Christopher Lloyd had a rarified upbringing, living in Waveny House, a mansion sitting on over 400 acres in New Canaan, CT. A family SUMMER HOUUE. His maternal grandfather cofounded an oil company that became better known as Texaco. I include this info in this review because it's in stark contract to who Lloyd is; a man you'd feel comfortable having a conversation with and who doesn't have an air of superiority over others. He found his own place in the acting world and surprisingly had a lot of self doubt along the way. This memoir is not a Hollywood tell-all, which is refreshing, but just might be a disappointment to those who think it might be. It's more than a tell-all.
This memoir feels like an old friend is writing to you.
* I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
This memoir feels like an old friend is writing to you.
* I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
September 12, 2026
Sit down and hear the stories! Many you probably have never heard, some simply remind you of the fantastic career of an actor you have known for most of your life. I am so glad that Christopher Lloyd felt it was his time to share his past adventures- growing up in Connecticut, trials and tribulations of the 60’s and 70”s, the acting development and love of the craft. It feels like you are just sitting down with a really nice guy to hear about his past. Take away wisdom, love and admiration for a remarkable man.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In My Own Time is a short and informative read about Christopher Lloyd’s life. I enjoyed learning about his upbringing and finding out how he got his start in the industry. I also liked all the personal stories about his family and relationships. The only downside was the skimmed-over treatment of his career and the writing style that didn’t entirely resonate with me.
Overall, I’d still recommend it to fans who wish to learn more about Christopher Llyod.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC(advanced reader copy) in return for an honest review.
Overall, I’d still recommend it to fans who wish to learn more about Christopher Llyod.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC(advanced reader copy) in return for an honest review.
October 3, 2026
Super interesting - a classically trained actor from a privileged family who has played some iconic characters on film and stage
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Christopher Lloyd has long been a favorite actor of mine and I was so eager to obtain an advance copy of his memoir. I wanted it to be so much more than JUST his time on Back to the Future and it surely was. The way this book is structured genuinely felt as if I was listening to Christopher Lloyd read it. There were diversions, tangents, and roundabouts in the mentors laid out here that make it feel like a conversation. It is amazing to hear of what he has gone through in his life, what he has overcome, and what he sees when looking back on his life as an almost 88 year old.
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