Endless Highway

by David Carradine

Endless Highway provides a raucous ride down the road that has been David Carradine's life. The son of a world-renowned Shakespearean actor, Carradine's early years were spent being shuttled from mother to estranged father to relative to boarding school to reformatory. Spontaneity, quick-wittedness, and ingenuousness were his guideposts in life, and he quickly learned that creativity was survival. The fifties found him in San Francisco among the original members of the Beat Generation, and the path through the drug flooded sixties and seventies ultimately led him to "Kung Fu", the show that helped launch an Eastern spiritual philosophy into Western culture. Writing with warmth, humor, and tremendous insight, Carradine provides an honest and in-depth look at his life. Had Holden Caulfield grown up, met Hunter S. Thompson, gone on the road with Jack Kerouac, and finally studied with Master Po -- well, perhaps that would embrace the spirit of Carradine's own writing style. He has been, in his own words, fraud, genius, holy man, movie star, martyr, monster, fool, hero, whore, neurotic, poet, burnout, beauty, beast -- but always a legend.

Genres: Biography, Film

647 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

John Arthur "David" Carradine was an American actor best known for his work in the 1970s television series Kung Fu and more recently in the Kill Bill films. He appeared in more than 100 feature films and was nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, where to begin. I've read lots of celebrity bios and expect these people to have pretty well developed egos, but this guy is in another league entirely. He is an expert at everything: acting, singing, dancing, writing, directing, composing, guitar-playing, and more. He is the best at everything, even when he's wandering around naked, breaking into other people's homes and bleeding on their piano. (Ok, in fairness, he did that only once....) When things do go wrong, it's not his fault; it's the director, the producer, the editor, the IRS, the woman. He's kind of superhuman; he can lift, with his back, a trampoline, his wife, an ironing board, and two firefighters....all at the same time. He admits that it's not physically possible, but he did it!
You get the general idea. I'd be lying if I said his life wasn't interesting, but the constant bragging can wear thin after a while.
He says near the end of the book that Wife #3 will be his last, FOR SURE. I wish the book had included wives #4 and 5 so I could learn what happened there.

ETA: In looking for more information on some of the events he described, I learned that his versions were not always accurate. And, oh yeah, he puked a lot.

[Levi · Rating 2 out of 5]

actually a surprisingly enjoyable read, filled with fascinating tales of others... but I'm sure his own story will unfold sooner or later...


ok, so the ramblings continued and drifted from one segment of 'I worked with these famous people' to another. He anecdotes on significant moments of his life and then moves on. I contribute this to 1) wanting to keep his own life private 2) he is still hiding from the truth of his life, his problems and his lack of control of it (no matter how many times he says he was in fact in control).

After the first 200 pages it got to be cliche writing at best, it seemed he was repeating himself over, and over, and over, and over... ah well, I guess I'll end now.

right?

maybe?

Oh, why not, a few pages directly from my journal on things I already talked about...

and now I'll end.

[April Simmons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat entertaining, but you can read between the lines and tell just how full of himself he really was...

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of two halves

I was looking forward to this based on a recommendation from Tarantino. However once out of an interesting, often sad childhood and into the professional realm, I found the book lost some momentum.

While sometimes charming Carradine seems an inconsistent narrator and at times there appears to be gaps especially when it comes to relationships with his children.

Outside of a couple of excellent movies, Bound for Glory and The Long Riders he seems largely unimpressed with is acting work and his own directing efforts, while oft mentioned don't seem to find a resolution bar one.

As a side note the Kindle file is riddled with typos most prominent being any word with 2 "ll"s have them replaced by a d e.g. really reads as ready, all reads as ad.

[Ashley Hobgood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read this book because I'm a fan. I liked learning about David Carradine's life and career in Hollywood. I thought the book was well written. It was okay but not a favorite.

[Paul F · Rating 2 out of 5]

The crazy life of David Carradine, don’t think this would be a path to model after.

[Omer Farid · Rating 5 out of 5]

The criticisms that this book receives are ridiculous; pathetic in fact. I’ve read many a books, and I find that David Carradine is one of the best writers I have ever come across. And that’s no gentle statement. Never once was I bored in any part of the book. His incredible writing ability and adventurous life always managed to captivate my attention on any and every page. I have learned so much from David Carradine’s triumphs, heart breaks, pitfalls, and redemptive moments. I read his book over a period of nearly 6 months, and it felt like he was a companion in my own journey. I feel forever honored to have had the opportunity to lay my eyes and imagination on this testament to his life in his own words. Carradine is a Renaissance man. He may not be celebrated for it, and he may even be criminally overlooked. But the art speaks for itself and remains a masterpiece on earth for those who care to gift it a glance.

[Sull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was uneven in places but overall quite a good read. The man had an interesting life, grew up as the son of a busy-for-a-time actor, went into that odd business himself, and--after struggling for years looking for his big break-- finally found his niche in an obscure 1970's martial arts-themed television drama, seized and rode that cresting wave for all it was worth right into the sunset....

He comes across as a decent guy in this autobiog, though of course many do in their autobiogs. Unstable, almost overly honest, full of odd regrets, very much a family man.... A strange and gripping book.

[Phobean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book probably the year it was released, such a fan I was of David Carradine and the TV series Kung Fu back in my high school days. I'm not sure what I'd think of the book if I read it now, as an adult. I suspect it doesn't really matter; childhood idols remain forever as they were if you are careful not to examine them too closely for the faults and idiosyncratic attributes we all have. That said, there's a scene in this book involving DC, a cow, and an electric fence that may remain with me always! :-)

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most talented actors in the business (and my first crush) writes a surprisingly entertaining autobiography. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to be in a relationship with this restless person, and his involvement with two of his three children seems minimal prior to their adulthood (unfortunately an all too common trait in many artistic men), but his acting gift is absolutely undeniable (Boxcar Bertha, Kung Fu, Americana, Bound for Glory, The Long Riders, The Iron Circle, and Kill Bill).

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I read this. I read it back in 1995 while David was still alive and vibrant. Reading it again after his death was fascinating. He was a unique and interesting man but a difficult man to have in one's life.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most entertaining autobiography I've read.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable. A look at the sixties and early seventies and a person who through it. A story of a man who destroyed his television and film career through drug abuse.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

followed up after reading the kill bill diary. Thank you David for keeping it Real.really real. I'll remember and share your stories u hip son of a b.