Book description
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.Review“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 ChronicleAbout the AuthorActor and director Al Pacino is a unique and enduring figure in the world of American stage and film. He grew up in New York City's South Bronx, attended the School of Performing Art, and studied acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio with Charles Laughton and the Actors Studio with mentor Lee Strasberg. He has been nominated for the Academy Award nine times, for movies including The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, and The Irishman, and won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1992 for Scent of a Woman. He has been nominated for the Golden Globe Award nineteen times, and won four, and has been nominated for three Tonys and won two. Pacino has been awarded the Kennedy Center Honor, the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, the National Merit of Arts from President Obama, and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures.
Frosty
The bookmark feature is a lifesaver – no more losing my place in the story! I'm thrilled to finally have a way to enjoy books while keeping up with my busy schedule. Discovering new literary worlds has never been this easy. This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audiobook library is at my fingertips. 📚🔊
Candy Butcher
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Dropkick
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Show Off
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Gold Dahlia
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FlyGuardX
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my audiobook experience, ensuring I catch every detail. Bookmarking my favorite parts of audiobooks is now a breeze. Love this feature!
RiddleRover
The offline mode is a lifesaver on flights – I'm never without a good story. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
Moxie
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Kevlar Wanted
Binaural audio processing on ListenBook is a thoughtful addition that keeps my ears comfortable during extended listening sessions. Noise reduction on ListenBook enhances the clarity of dictaphone recordings, allowing me to enjoy content even in noisy environments. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
FireBerry
Audiobooks have become my go-to gift for friends – and they all love it! ListenBook's support for various formats means I can explore a wide range of content without limitations. No more worries about compatibility – ListenBook handles numerous formats flawlessly. CUE playlist support is a brilliant feature that allows me to create customized listening experiences for different moods, activities, and moments of the day. The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night.
Crash Override
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Moon Radar
ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks a seamless and delightful experience. ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch adds a new level of convenience to my audiobook journey. I can't believe how easy it is to download audio from various sources. So convenient! Tone adjustment is a thoughtful addition that adds a personal touch to the audiobook narration. It's like having a narrator tailor their voice to my preferences.
Guillotine Trigger
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Killer Curio
This app has turned long waits into exciting opportunities to dive into a new story. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a testament to its innovation.
Hang 11
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Icy Avenger
Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is commendable. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I learn and enjoy audiobooks. I can adapt the pace to my needs, maximizing comprehension and retention. Binaural audio processing is amazing. Reduced my listening fatigue significantly.
Midnight Rider
ListenBook's compatibility with playlists and CUE files is a great addition for those who love organized listening. ListenBook's dedication to optimizing for iOS 16 ensures a seamless experience on the latest devices. This app has brought back the joy of reading, no matter how busy I am. I can't believe how convenient this app has made my reading experience. I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
Ladybird
Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization – top-notch. ListenBook has truly transformed my audiobook experience. The sleek interface, extensive format support, and easy downloading options make it my go-to app! The statistics feature is brilliant. I love seeing how much time I spend on audiobooks with ListenBook. The app supports background playback, which is a must for me. What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience