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A Life in Parts  By  cover art

A Life in Parts

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

Critic reviews

"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)

Featured Article: The top 100 celebrity memoirs of all time


The best celebrity memoir audiobooks are in a league of their own—there is no greater listening experience than a memoir performed by the celebrity behind the title. Their charisma and authenticity greatly enhance the experience, making it all the more engaging. Many listeners who would never think to read a celebrity memoir in print gravitate to the genre in audio. There’s something magical about hearing, in their own voice, the nitty-gritty of a star’s path.

What listeners say about A Life in Parts

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

They're all good parts.

Bryan holds nothing back, the reader is left knowing he's been true in his retelling of his life's story. wonderfully written, paced perfectly and performed wonderfully by the author making the read even more enjoyable. I found myself laughing & crying at times but never bored waiting for the next good part to come along, because they are all good parts. Thus far Bryan seems to have had one heck of an interesting life. I can't wait to hear more from him, either written or narrated!

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31 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful.

This is a fantastic book – read by an amazing storyteller. It makes me want to go back and change all other previous five star ratings to fours – so that this book stands alone!

Buy this book and start it immediately!

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29 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Cranston is the hardest worker

Would you consider the audio edition of A Life in Parts to be better than the print version?

Cranston's childhood and teens set him up to know what's important in life. He never was self destructive, or sabotaged his career in any manner. It's unusual to listen to the life and career of Bryan Cranston, hard work and talent, with no goal to become Famous, was the key to Bryan Cranston becoming a World Wide Star.

What other book might you compare A Life in Parts to and why?

Alec Baldwins "Nevertheless" captures a love for the craft of Acting, intelligently written, like "A Life in Parts."

What does Bryan Cranston bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His reading the book made me feel like I was able to eavesdrop into one of the most extraordinary careers in modern Hollywood.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

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23 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beyond the Bad

Great book. It was very cool to learn so much more about Bryan Cranston. Beyond his many characters, regressing back into his rocky and near direction-less beginnings. The events that shaped him into the man/actor he has become. Some of the information he shares is so personal and surprising, you can't help but blush, gasp, or laugh out loud as he reads it to you.

Great book. Great man. Bryan Cranston.

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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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LOVE!

Bryan Cranston is magnificent and fascinating! His sense for story telling is compelling and wonderful to listen to. Thank you, Bryan, for such an entertaining book!

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Pure Insight

Excellent memoir on Bryan Cranston. "A Life in Parts" is a pure insight on his professional career on his acting and also his personal life. Not only he goes in depth on Walter White in Breaking Bad, but he also talks about his failures in his acting. There are very touching moments in this book, where my heart was warmth. When Cranston talks about his mom and how his proposed to his wife is one of those moments where you see his normalcy as being a son and a husband.

Cranston talks a lot on Breaking Bad. It's a must read to anyone that binged watched on one of the best series ever.

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13 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Cranston is great, but the book is just so-so

Not bad by any means, just not my most favorite memoir. He's had an interesting life, but I still found that I wasn't gripped by his words. There is some sage advice sprinkled through out. I did appreciate his insight to the different film and tv projects he was on.

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10 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Spectacular!

Bryan Cranston is the epitome of what a hard working person is and should be. No matter how big the achievement he remembers that every decision he has made to up to that point got him there. Remembering the people that helped along the way is a form of humility too which we should all aspire.

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10 people found this helpful

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Phenomenal

Bryan Cranston is a beautiful human being. The book was very interesting and it felt so much more genuine with him reading his own story. Strongly recommend!

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10 people found this helpful

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  • 10-17-16

Deliciously entertaining!

A very enlightening and fun trek through the life of this self made, adventurous man. A man who carved a path through adversity, lived life on his own terms, and found himself in the process. A man who has taken his fans on an emotional rollercoaster ride; from his perfect comedic timing as Hal, to the shockingly human and dark side of Walter White. He will be best remembered for his impeccable ability to force so many of us to look deep into our soul and ask ; 'What would Walter White Do?

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9 people found this helpful