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  • Becoming Superman

  • My Journey From Poverty to Hollywood
  • Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
  • Narrated by: Peter Jurasik
  • Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (53 ratings)

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Becoming Superman

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
Narrated by: Peter Jurasik
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Publisher's Summary

Featuring an introduction by Neil Gaiman!

“J. Michael Straczynski is, without question, one of the greatest science fiction minds of our time.”—Max Brooks (World War Z)

For four decades, J. Michael Straczynski has been one of the most successful writers in Hollywood, one of the few to forge multiple careers in movies, television and comics. Yet there’s one story he’s never told before: his own.

In this dazzling memoir, the acclaimed writer behind Babylon 5, Sense8, Clint Eastwood’s Changeling and Marvel’s Thor reveals how the power of creativity and imagination enabled him to overcome the horrors of his youth and a dysfunctional family haunted by madness, murder and a terrible secret.

Joe's early life nearly defies belief. Raised by damaged adults—a con-man grandfather and a manipulative grandmother, a violent, drunken father and a mother who was repeatedly institutionalized—Joe grew up in abject poverty, living in slums and projects when not on the road, crisscrossing the country in his father’s desperate attempts to escape the consequences of his past.

To survive his abusive environment Joe found refuge in his beloved comics and his dreams, immersing himself in imaginary worlds populated by superheroes whose amazing powers allowed them to overcome any adversity. The deeper he read, the more he came to realize that he, too, had a superpower: the ability to tell stories and make everything come out the way he wanted it. But even as he found success, he could not escape a dark and shocking secret that hung over his family’s past, a violent truth that he uncovered over the course of decades involving mass murder.

Straczynski’s personal history has always been shrouded in mystery. Becoming Superman lays bare the facts of his life: a story of creation and darkness, hope and success, a larger-than-life villain and a little boy who became the hero of his own life. It is also a compelling behind-the-scenes look at some of the most successful TV series and movies recognized around the world.

©2019 J. Michael Straczynski (P)2019 HarperAudio

What listeners say about Becoming Superman

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Wow!!!

That was one of the most amazing books I have ever read!!!*****
I’m going to look for more by this author! So inspirational! I loved it!!
Excellent work Joe!!❤️

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Wow!

What a life!

I've loved JMS' work since the first episode of Babylon 5! I never would have thought I'd enjoy his autobiography as much as his fiction, or that his childhood would have been so difficult! If you like JMS', you'll love this, and Peter Jurasik did a fantastic job in the delivery!

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Outstanding!

Really enjoyed this book. Very uplifting story, we can carve our own path and are not our circumstances. I’ve recommended this book to several friends.

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Understanding Superman

This book truly moved me. I had no idea who J.Michael Straczynski was when I started this story, although now I see that he influenced many things that I know in popular culture. This story is all consuming and the narration is genuinely perfect. I was so absorbed in every detail of this book that I couldn't stop listening and missed it when I was finished. An absolutely amazing book and audio production. My whole heart recommends this book.

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wow

after hearing this man's story reds description of Andy Dufranes escape.
he crawled through a mile of shit and came out clean on the other side

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  • WTL
  • 2020-06-17

Fantastic read

One of the best autobiographies I have read in the last ten years, with a strong message of being yourself, sticking to your beliefs, the willingness to try new things is a path to success no matter what life throws at you.

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Talk about not hiding anything ...

Inspirational, with parts that will make you uncomfortable and angry, and likely therapeutic for J.M.S., and for some of us.

Thoroughly recommend reading/listening to this story. As a side note, Peter Jurasik kicks butt.

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Not at all what I expected

...so, so much more. The kind of audiobook that you can't press pause on, because there's always one more thing waiting in the next chapter. An inspiring book about an inspiring man.

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Amongst the best audio books I've ever read

I normally do not listen to biographies -- I tend to focus on other kinds of nonfiction books such as scientific or educational content. I wouldn't have even thought to read this had I not seen the promoting the author was doing on Twitter, and even then I thought it wouldn't be that interesting, until I read the synopsis and initial reviews. I figured not really being a comic book person and not generally being interested in biographies would mean I wouldn't care for it, but I was very wrong.

The first quarter of the book perhaps should come with a trigger warning -- it documents more kinds of abuse than you might even know existed, let alone ever seen in one story. What keeps it not just listenable but compelling through this dark time is both the skilled and carefully paced storytelling, the solid narrating, and the knowledge that the author clearly did survive to tell these stories. The author does not pull punches but also does not revel in lingering on any single even beyond the amount required to properly detail for posterity the depravities experienced and witnessed.

What follows will undoubtedly stir all of your emotions, and perhaps some you didn't know you had. Had a character in a novel been created that follows the path of the author, it wouldn't be believable. Yet in spite of that, I found myself relating often to the many unlikely scenarios, having been through so many myself as well.

Throughout the book I couldn't figure out why exactly the title is what it is, but once you reach the namesake chapter, you will understand without question, and will likely agree no other name would suffice.

The only downside I can think of was that due to my habit of listening to audiobooks before going to sleep, I slept much less for many days, being unable to let the sleep timer dictate when to stop. Everything was just too compelling.

I find myself unable to be specific on who to recommend to, other than anyone who enjoys a good story, and could use some inspiration and motivation to do what others have discouraged you from doing.

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