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A Life in Parts cover art

A Life in Parts

Written by: Bryan Cranston
Narrated by: Bryan Cranston
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the 2017 Audie Award for Narration by the Author

A poignant, intimate, funny, inspiring memoir - both a coming-of-age story and a meditation on creativity, devotion, and craft - from Bryan Cranston, beloved and acclaimed star of one of history's most successful TV shows, Breaking Bad.

Bryan Cranston landed his first role at seven, when his father, a struggling actor and director, cast him in a United Way commercial. Soon Bryan was haunting the local movie theater, memorizing and reenacting favorite scenes with his older brother. Acting was clearly the boy's destiny - until one day his father disappeared. Suddenly destiny took a backseat to survival.

Seeking something more stable, perhaps subconsciously trying to distance himself from his absent father, Cranston decided on a career in law enforcement. But then, while a young man on a classic cross-country motorcycle trip, Cranston one day found himself stranded at a rest area in the Blue Ridge Mountains. To pass the time, he read a tattered copy of Hedda Gabler, and in a flash he found himself face-to-face once again with his original calling. Suddenly he thought this was what he wanted to do, what he would do, with the rest of his life. Act.

In his riveting memoir, A Life in Parts, Cranston traces his zigzag journey from his chaotic childhood to his dramatic epiphany and beyond, to megastardom and a cultlike following, by vividly revisiting the many parts he's played on camera and off. With great humor and much humility, Cranston chronicles his unlikely rise from a soap opera regular trying to learn the ropes and the politics of show business on the fly to a recurring spot as Tim Whatley on Seinfeld, finding himself an indelible part of popular culture. He recalls his run as the well-meaning goofball, Hal, on Malcolm in the Middle, proving to writers and fans that he was willing to do anything, anything, for a laugh, and he gives a bracing account of his run on Broadway as President Lyndon Johnson, pushing himself to the limit as he prepared, physically and mentally, for a tour de force that would win him a Tony to go along with his four Emmys.

Of course Cranston dives deep into the grittiest, most fascinating details of his greatest role, explaining how he searched inward for the personal darkness that would help him create one of the most riveting performances ever captured on-screen: Walter White, chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin.

Discussing his failures as few men do, describing his work as few actors can, Cranston has much to say about innate talent and its benefits, challenges, and proper maintenance, but ultimately A Life in Parts is about the necessity and transformative power of hard work.

©2016 Bryan Cranston (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

What the critics say

"The narration is pitch-perfect, profound, and room-filling, thanks to Cranston's sonorous timbre and expert inflections. Audio fidelity and production values are exceptionally strong, and Cranston's performance is on par with any of his award-winning TV roles.... This is a winner - a great listening experience." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about A Life in Parts

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Loved it!

I have a love-hate relationship with autobiographies. In the first few chapters, I'm intrigued and interested to learn more about the book's author. But about halfway through the book, I start to lose interest and begin questioning his/her version of events. By the end of the book -- if I can be bothered to make it there -- I'm pretty much done with the author.

This was not the case for A Life in Parts. I listened (and finished) this book over a few days and never once did I think about skipping ahead or not finishing. Bryan's book details a life full of adventure, with meaningful observations and life lessons scattered throughout. I highly recommend it.

Oh, and having his voice in my ear for almost 9 hours was an added bonus. He could make my grocery list seem interesting.

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Loved loved this book

I truly enjoyed listening to this book learning about Brian’s life growing up and his eventual start in show business. Truly an honourable man. Only thing I didn’t like was that it ended too soon.

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1 person found this helpful

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Exactly what I was looking for

It was great listening to Bryan narrate his biography! He takes you on a colourful journey throughout his life. If you're on the fence about the purchase, don't hesitate. Get it!

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Bryan Cranston is the Best!

Wow, what a wonderful read. Hard to stop listening. Bryan narrates wonderful, tells compelling stories and gives great advice for any inspiring actors.

Bryan Cranston: Please make another book. We are all thirsty for more.

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Standout Audio book

The author is truly a gifted story teller. Literally laugh out loud at some points, courageously vulnerable at others. Always honest. It’s no wonder he’s reached the success he has.

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Coincidentally the best book I've ever read.

For my English Culminating I had to find a autobiography, biography or a memoir. I chose this book for that. This book that Bryan wrote following his life is the most captivating and genuinely interesting to listen to. It follows his younger years talking about his childhood and how his father left at an early age, then develops into when he gets older talking about how he rode his motorcycle cross country and started his pursuit in acting. If I could rate this even higher I would.

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Thank you Bryan

Inspiring. Simply a delight. Thank you Bryan for sharing these parts of your life. As an aspiring actor myself, I found a lot of comfort in your words.

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Superb

Well written, well thought out very entertaining. Love listening to Bryan. Truly one of the more versatile actors throughout his roles.

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Such a beautiful narrator

Bryan’s voice is everything in this book. His stories are interesting and compelling and I loved the chances I’d get to listen for extended periods on long car rides (my preferred way to listen to audiobooks)

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I really like Brian Cranston in movies on tv talk sow etc

The audio was too slow and not so amusing .. it’s way better than Matthew Perry’s audio book though

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