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Yes I Can  By  cover art

Yes I Can

By: Sammy Davis Jr., Jane Boyar, Burt Boyar
Narrated by: Burt Boyar
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Publisher's summary

Yes I Can is the self-portrait of one of the extraordinary men of our time, who became a figure of controversy because he dared to live his life not as a Negro but as a man. "I've got to be a star like another man has to breathe" writes Sammy Davis. "I've got to get so big, so powerful, so famous that the day will come when they'll look at me and see a man, and then somewhere along the way they'll notice he's a Negro."

Yes I Can “is:...one of the most candid, engrossing and important American autobiographies of our time,” wrote the N.Y. Herald Tribune Book Editor and Critic Maurice Dolbier. "One of the really great autobiographies ever written." Brother Judd, Audible.com.

©1965 Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jane and Burt Boyar (P)2012 Sammy Davis, Jr and Jane and Burt Boyar

What listeners say about Yes I Can

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story boringly read

What did you like best about Yes I Can? What did you like least?

The whole background of Sammy's life and over comings, his rise above adversity is a great story of his tenacity and grace in the front line of prejudice. The reading by Burt Boyar spoils a great bio.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Yes I Can?

His army experience during WW2

What didn’t you like about Burt Boyar’s performance?

His boring monologue, basically there is no emphasis of any in all his reading, it's beige while Sammy's life was technicolour.

Could you see Yes I Can being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

A great movie, I'll leave others to decide on the actors.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sammy Davis was the performer of all times. . .

What did you love best about Yes I Can?

While Sammy's life appeared glamorous, the book tells a very different story. It reveals the truth behind the broad, make-believe smile and the eyes that spoke louder than the voice.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Burt Boyar?

This book should have been narrated by a better voice. . .the one thing I did not like about the book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Story Beautifully Told

Burt Boyar was emotional, REAL, loving and wonderful. I was moved to tears at times. I loved it. Would read again.






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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An amazing biography

This is one person I knew nothing about, and I'm glad that I listened. It is a well written and fun biography.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story from beginning to 1965

I liked the audio. speaker was good, sometimes a bit hard to understand but well read with lots of feeling.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Catchy but not true

If you want to hear a summary of Sammy Davis's Life from his point of view as he talks to people. Then you would like this, but if you want any details on situations and emotions. And how he might have felt during any point in time in his life as an adult. Do not waste your time. I have often wondered. Why do we not have a movie about Sammy? Davis's junior life until I read the deconstruction of sammy davis junior

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sad yet inspiring

I wish everybody would read this, especially young people today. As a message in there that anybody could benefit from.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A literal tear-jerker

It may be novelistic and unobjective, but it’s a beautiful & moving book, one of the greatest of all American autobiographies, in my view.

Reviewers complain about the reader, and it’s true it’s a little monotone. But the reader is the author, who knew Davis well, and as a result…it’s a little weird, but the narrator is often so moved by what he’s reading that he starts to *cry* while reading. It’s - a bit strange for an audiobook. But when you know that they were friends, it’s understandable and definitely doesn’t detract from this superb book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Standing Ovation!

One of the best memoirs ever written. I listened to it three times over. I can't give it enough stars. This is a classic on par with Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. I'm at a loss for words. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of listening to this story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous listen!

From start to finish this has been a fantastic read! I’m heading to spend my next credit on the book his daughter wrote about him now!

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