Sonny Boy

by Al Pacino
Sonny Boy cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Biography and Memoir
Technical
  • ID: 3975
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9780593655115
  • Publisher: Penguin Group
  • Published: 2024-10-15
  • Reviews: 3

Al Pacino's memoir, Sonny Boy, is a vivid and introspective account of his life, from his early days growing up in the South Bronx to his meteoric rise as a Hollywood legend. The book delves into his formative years, marked by a fiercely loving but mentally unwell mother and a father who left when he was young, shaping his resilience and determination. Pacino's journey through avant-garde theater and his eventual breakthrough in films like The Godfather and Dog Day Afternoon are recounted with candor and depth. The memoir also explores Pacino's struggles with fame, the challenges of balancing creativity with commerce, and the enduring power of love and purpose in his life. With unflinching honesty, Pacino reflects on his relationships, collaborations, and the lessons learned from both triumphs and setbacks. This is not just a story of a legendary actor but a testament to the transformative power of passion and dedication.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2025-10-20
great 4.00

The memoir is honest, well-written, and heartfelt, leaving a lasting impression. It's a great book that shares Pacino's story with authenticity and charm.

This review praises the memoir for its honesty and heartfelt storytelling, noting that it's well-written and leaves a lasting impression. The reviewer feels a deep connection to Pacino's journey, describing the book as a great read. They appreciate the authenticity and charm with which Pacino shares his story, making it a memorable experience.

Quick quotes

    It's honest, well-written, and heartfelt.

    I think I fell in love a little.

    What a great book. Thanks Al Pacino for sharing your story of Sonny Boy. Bravo!

The Guardian · 2024-10-20
revealing 3.50

The memoir is most compelling when depicting Pacino's formative years, offering a raw and honest portrayal of his journey. It provides valuable insights into his life and career, though some parts feel rushed.

This review highlights the memoir's strength in detailing Pacino's early life, which is both engaging and heartfelt. The reviewer appreciates the raw and honest portrayal of his struggles and triumphs. However, they note that the book sometimes feels uneven, with certain sections rushing through significant events. Overall, it's a revealing look into the life of a Hollywood legend, but it could benefit from more depth in some areas.

Quick quotes

    The Oscar-winning actor's account of his rise to fame is at its most compelling depicting his hardscrabble formative years.

    An uneven memoir that is sometimes a heartfelt consideration of art, and often a perfunctory cradle-to-age-84 overview of his life and career.

    This is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide.

Los Angeles Times · 2024-10-12
revealing 3.50

The memoir is an eccentric mix of self-reflection and career reframing, offering insights into Pacino's troubled youth and Hollywood career. It's a revealing and sometimes surprising account.

This review describes the memoir as an eccentric mix of self-reflection and career reframing, providing a unique perspective on Pacino's life. The reviewer appreciates the insights into his troubled youth and Hollywood career, finding the book both revealing and sometimes surprising. They note that Pacino's honest and introspective approach makes the memoir a compelling read, though it can be somewhat discursive.

Quick quotes

    Al Pacino's book is an eccentric mix of self-reflection and career reframing as one of Hollywood's giants talks about his troubled youth and ...

    The text offers many pleasures, but it is also ragged and discursive, full of anecdotes that end before they've gotten to their point.

    This is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide.

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