Book Cover

A Life in Parts

Save:
Find on Amazon

"A Life in Parts" by Bryan Cranston is a memoir that takes readers through the life journey of the beloved actor. Cranston shares insights into his childhood, career, and experiences on iconic TV shows like Seinfeld, Malcolm in the Middle, and Breaking Bad. The book is described as a competently ghostwritten memoir that offers a warm and engaging narrative style, capturing the essence of Cranston's personal and professional life with honesty and humor.

Cranston's writing delves into emotionally difficult topics with ease, providing readers with a glimpse into his life as a hardworking and dedicated actor. The book also explores Cranston's passion for acting, his experiences with different roles, and the impact of his unexpected fame from Breaking Bad. Overall, "A Life in Parts" presents a compelling and insightful account of Cranston's journey in the entertainment industry, showcasing his talent, humility, and appreciation for both the highs and lows of life.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging, candid, and infused with humor, providing a relatable portrait of Cranston's life.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative is divided into manageable chapters that spotlight significant experiences in Cranston's life, detailing his journey from childhood to successful actor.

Setting:

The setting encompasses various locations significant to Cranston's life, capturing the environment of his upbringing and career.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk and engaging, with each chapter presenting its own focused narrative that maintains reader interest.
Why should I save her? This little junkie, Jane, was threatening to blackmail me, expose my enterprise to the police, destroy everything I had worked for, and wipe out the financial life preserver I w...

Notes:

Bryan Cranston narrates his own memoir, which adds a personal touch.
The book is structured into small chapters, each focusing on a different part of his life.
Cranston realized he wanted to be an actor during a motorcycle trip with his brother.
He initially planned to join the police academy before choosing acting as a career.
Cranston's stories include humorous moments from his life and career.
He emphasizes hard work and humility throughout his journey in acting.
Cranston discusses his challenging childhood and relationships with family.
He played various roles before gaining fame as Walter White in Breaking Bad.
The memoir reflects on his experiences in shows like Malcolm in the Middle and Seinfeld.
Readers find Cranston relatable and down-to-earth despite his celebrity status.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include discussions of difficult family dynamics and childhood experiences.

From The Publisher:

"Nothing short of riveting...an engrossing first-person account by one of our finest actors" (Huffington Post)-both a coming-of-age story and a meditation on creativity, devotion, and craft-Bryan Cranston, beloved and acclaimed star of one of history's most successful TV shows, Breaking Bad.

Bryan Cranston began his acting career at the age of seven, when his father, a struggling actor and sometime director, cast him in a commercial for United Way. By fifth grade he was starring in the school play, spending hours at the local movie theater, and re-enacting favorite scenes with his brother in their living room. Cranston seemed destined to be an actor. But then his father left. And his family fell apart. Troubled by his father's missteps, Cranston abandoned his acting aspirations and resolved to pursue a steadier career in law enforcement. Then, on a two-year cross-country motorcycle journey, Cranston re-discovered his talent for acting and found his mission and his calling.

In this "must-read memoir" (The Philadelphia Inquirer), Cranston traces the many roles he inhabited throughout his remarkable life, both on and off screen. For the first time he shares the story of his early years as an actor on the soap opera Loving, his recurring spots on Seinfeld, and his time as bumbling father Hal on Malcolm in the Middle, to his tour-de-force, Tony-winning performance as Lyndon Baines Johnson in Broadway's All the Way, to his most iconic role of all: Breaking Bad's Walter White.

"An illuminating window into the actor's psyche" (People), Cranston has much to say about creativity, devotion, and craft, as well as innate talent and its challenges and benefits and proper maintenance. "By turns gritty, funny, and sad" (Entertainment Weekly), ultimately A Life in Parts is a story about the joy, the necessity, and the transformative power of simple hard work.

Ratings (2)

Incredible (1)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (2):

Read It (2)

About the Author:

Bryan Cranston won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Walter White in AMC's Breaking Bad. He holds the honor of being the first actor in a cable series, and the second lead actor in the history of the Emmy Awards, to receive three consecutive wins. In 2014 he won a Tony Award for his role as Lyndon Johnson in the bio-play All the Way. In film, Cranston received an Academy Award nomination for his leading role in Trumbo. Among his numerous television and film appearances, he was nominated for a Golden Globe and three Emmys for his portrayal of Hal in FOX's Malcolm in the Middle. He is the author of A Life in Parts.

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.