The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man

A Memoir

De: Paul Newman, David Rosenthal - editor, Melissa Newman - foreword, Clea Newman Soderlund

Narrado por: Jeff Daniels, Melissa Newman, Clea Newman Soderlund, Ari Fliakos, January LaVoy, John Rubinstein, Emily Wachtel

Duración: 8 h y 46 m

Resumen del Editor

The raw, candid, unvarnished memoir of an American icon. The greatest movie star of the past 75 years covers everything: his traumatic childhood, his career, his drinking, his thoughts on Marlon Brando, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, John Huston, his greatest roles, acting, his intimate life with Joanne Woodward, his innermost fears and passions and joys. With thoughts/comments throughout from Joanne Woodward, George Roy Hill, Tom Cruise, Elia Kazan and many others.

In 1986, Paul Newman and his closest friend, screenwriter Stewart Stern, began an extraordinary project. Stuart was to compile an oral history, to have Newman’s family and friends and those who worked closely with him, talk about the actor’s life. And then Newman would work with Stewart and give his side of the story. The only stipulation was that anyone who spoke on the record had to be completely honest. That same stipulation applied to Newman himself. The project lasted five years.

The result is an extraordinary memoir, culled from thousands of pages of transcripts. The book is insightful, revealing, surprising. Newman’s voice is powerful, sometimes funny, sometimes painful, always meeting that high standard of searing honesty. The additional voices—from childhood friends and Navy buddies, from family members and film and theater collaborators such as Tom Cruise, George Roy Hill, Martin Ritt, and John Huston—that run throughout add richness and color and context to the story Newman is telling.

Newman’s often traumatic childhood is brilliantly detailed. He talks about his teenage insecurities, his early failures with women, his rise to stardom, his early rivals (Marlon Brando and James Dean), his first marriage, his drinking, his philanthropy, the death of his son Scott, his strong desire for his daughters to know and understand the truth about their father. Perhaps the most moving material in the book centers around his relationship with Joanne Woodward—their love for each other, his dependence on her, the way she shaped him intellectually, emotionally and sexually.

The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man is revelatory and introspective, personal and analytical, loving and tender in some places, always complex and profound.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of all the photographs from the printed book

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Paul Newman (P)2022 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Unlike most celebrity self-retrospectives, this is not a “first I did this, then I did that” kind of memoir. It is, rather, a sharp, acerbic, often somber “what was I thinking?” analysis that reveals a level of vulnerability and insecurity surprising for a man who was seen as the epitome of cool…Fans looking for Hollywood gossip will not find it, while those who really want to know the man behind the image and the legend will be compelled by Newman's raw, open, and principled self-portrait…Newman's timeless allure will work its magic on readers.”—Booklist, Starred review

"Actor, race car driver, and philanthropist Newman (1925-2008) was a deeply private man living an intensely public life; this posthumous memoir features the Hollywood legend’s own voice as he “sets things straight” and “pokes holes in the mythology” that accompanied his celebrity…Newman’s story unfolds in a humble, sometimes humorous narrative voice—“I’m aware that in some ways it’s my nature to deprecate everything I do”—punctuated with earnest awe of the turns his life has taken, astonishment at the intensity of his passion for wife Joanne Woodward, affection for his children and anguish that he could not shelter them from the vagaries of fame. Newman’s voice is interwoven with transcripts from friends, relatives, and colleagues (including Eva Marie Saint, Tom Cruise, Elia Kazan, and more) whose memories shed light on what transformed the summer stock actor into an international sex symbol and what curbed his struggles with alcoholism and grief from veering into tragedy. …[T]hese collective perspectives do more than offer a prismatic view of film industry glamour and dirty laundry: they elevate the book from a humble autobiography to a more nuanced, human portrait—with the “semblance of truth” that Newman craved when he went on the record. With equal parts grounded authenticity and inviting charm, this candid memoir captures the life of a legend."—Publishers Weekly

"Raw reflections from a movie icon…a revealing memoir of a life marked by pain, grief, and regret…Intimate reflections on an extraordinary life steeped in sadness."—Kirkus Reviews

Fantastic

Wonderful, insightful and beautiful. I admire and appreciate the family for sharing this with the public

Do NOT miss out on this book

What a great book written by a very special man. Extraordinarily well done and narrated. So happy I bought it. Loving every minute. Quite inspirational

Jeff Daniels Narration

Good story and interesting. Only drawback was Jeff Daniels dropping his voice so quietly at the end of sentences that it's difficult to hear what he says.

You hear Paul through Jeff

I really enjoyed this book read by Jeff Daniels. You get the sense of Paul’s generosity and often comedic charm

Excellent!!!

One of the best audiobooks I have ever heard. The presentation and delivery of the books was thoroughly enjoyable. Jeff Daniel’s is outstanding!!!

more proof that the people that we

idolize r just people too. incredible understanding of a man who the world thought of as eye candy. an understanding of the inside story of a human with love, loss and victory as he searched for his true meaning in this world.

Brutally Honest Book

I loved this book.. I was one of those young women whose heart swooned over Paul Newman. Yes, to those beautiful blue eyes😊. I applaud his foresight in recording his story. The honesty is palpable and painful at the same time. My husband was also a formula one race car fan. We once saw Paul casually strolling in the garage areas at Daytona Speedway .No paparazzi just a regular guy. I have volunteered at Camp Hole in the Wall in CT what a wonderful legacy. Thanks to his family for sharing this story.

Amazing man and biography

Incredible detail about Paul. Loved this bio. You will be surprised with the detail. Bam!

Exceptional

The title says it all. This book snaps into sharp focus the ordinary man leading an extraordinary life. The juxtaposition of these two seemly conflicting versions of Paul is remarkable to learn about.

Patricia Neal (Co-star in HUD) was like a grandma to me. She shared many stories with me over the years before she passed so to hear her take on Paul in this book was extra special.

Jeff Daniels narration is flawless, as are the other narrators.

All around a fantastic book.

Awesome story

A complete enigma of a human being! This is a fascinating story of a simply stated very complex individual. A very entertaining and informative book.