Sonny Boy

A Memoir

By: Al Pacino

Narrated by: Al Pacino

The Instant New York Times Bestseller • One of People Magazine's Top 10 Books of the Year

"The rare celebrity memoir that's also a literary read. As funny as it is reflective, it shares stories behind Pacino's hardscrabble upbringing, classic films and journey to icon status."—People Magazine

From one of the most iconic actors in the history of film, an astonishingly revelatory account of a creative life in full

To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies—The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon—that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became legendary and changed his life forever. Not since Marlon Brando and James Dean in the late 1950s had an actor landed in the culture with such force.

But Pacino was in his midthirties by then, and had already lived several lives. A fixture of avant-garde theater in New York, he had led a bohemian existence, working odd jobs to support his craft. He was raised by a fiercely loving but mentally unwell mother and her parents after his father left them when he was young, but in a real sense he was raised by the streets of the South Bronx, and by the troop of buccaneering young friends he ran with, whose spirits never left him. After a teacher recognized his acting promise and pushed him toward New York’s fabled High School of Performing Arts, the die was cast. In good times and bad, in poverty and in wealth and in poverty again, through pain and joy, acting was his lifeline, its community his tribe.

Sonny Boy is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide. All the great roles, the essential collaborations, and the important relationships are given their full due, as is the vexed marriage between creativity and commerce at the highest levels. The book’s golden thread, however, is the spirit of love and purpose. Love can fail you, and you can be defeated in your ambitions—the same lights that shine bright can also dim. But Al Pacino was lucky enough to fall deeply in love with a craft before he had the foggiest idea of any of its earthly rewards, and he never fell out of love. That has made all the difference.

©2024 Al Pacino (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Pacino’s high energy proves to be as mesmerizing in print as it is onscreen. Sonny Boy is a page-turner that allows the reader to experience the struggles, inspirations, tragedies, and triumphs of an artist from humble beginnings who becomes infatuated with ‘the power of expression’ at a very young age . . . So touchingly reflective that [it] left me in tears.”—The Washington Examiner

“A movie superstar of rare stature . . . In Sonny Boy, Mr. Pacino still sounds like the actor who dazzled in his heyday. The book, written with Dave Itzkoff, preserves Mr. Pacino’s personality, with all his intelligence, his wit and his eagerness to talk about the theater history he loves.”—Farran Smith Nehme, Wall Street Journal

“Very revealing of an artist’s soul . . . a beautiful, heartfelt piece of work.”—San Francisco Chronicle

What a lovely gift to his children and the rest of us.

Fun listen. Touching. I’ve enjoyed his work over the years and now I feel compelled to enjoy more Shakespeare. Thank you AP

Wonderful!

When I was a little girl I used to sit under the tree in the yard or at the kitchen table and listen to the old folks tell the stories about their lives. These stories took me to a time that didn't exist anymore. These times only existed in their memories. They would transport me to places that I could never ever go and experience. This book does the exact Same thing. It's not a book it's a conversation. It will take you to places that you could never hope to go to, as they no longer exist. Thank you for sharing your life stories Mr. Pacino.
I felt as if we were sitting at the kitchen table, and he was recounting the story of his life to me. Not reading to me, but actually telling me stories . I can't tell you how enjoyable it was. I absolutely recommend this title!

Who doesn't LOVE Al Pacino

One of my top 5 favorite big screen actors of all time. I am so glad that I came across this audio book. It was not boring at any time during the narration and I love listening to that voice even if it is a bit raspier than it once was. Pay for the credit and take the time to listen. He has lived a very interesting life. And I believe he is a very humble man. Wow!

The greatest writes the best

A brilliant reading of an engaging, moving, evocative, funny, charming and sweet life story. There is a lot here for the movie and theater lover but also a general audience that likes a great story. Just exceeded my expectations which weren’t insignificant. One if the all time best actor memoirs. Wow.

Al enthusiasm

I appreciate Al’s zest for life, sensitivity, generosity, self education, love for the theater, lack of complaints

Humble and gracious what a story

Very interesting life. So many things you learn about Al Pacino in this book. Fascinating

vignette in pacinos life told by him

it gets a bit unraveled at the end as he gets philosophical about his meaning of life.

Lovely, lovely guy, Al Pacino.

I was sad for this to end. Never before have I imagined this great actor would be so humble, even wrapped up in a package of shame. I want him to see his mother and ask what he wants to ask.

Pacino’s humanity

Pacino’s humanity jumps up off the page as you learn at the beginning and at the end that he’s just a poor boy from the South Bronx who was and continues to be full of love for humanity and the transformation into something beyond himself, beyond individual identity that acting provided for him.

Like a personal conversation with Al Pacino!

Delightful and real. Narrated with passion, wisdom, and humor. Musings of end of life. Don’t miss this one.