Hail to the Chin

Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor

By: Bruce Campbell, Craig Sanborn

Narrated by: Bruce Campbell

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times bestseller

One of my dad’s favorite jokes about getting older was: “I went out for coffee when I was twenty-one and when I got back I was fifty-eight!”

I get what he meant now. Time flies. My first book, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a "B" Movie Actor, was published back in 2001 and it chronicles the adventures of a “mid-grade, kind of hammy actor" (my words), cutting his teeth on exploitation movies far removed from mainstream Hollywood. 

This next book, an “Act II” if you will, could be considered my “maturing years” in show business, when I began to say “no” more often and gravitated toward self-generated material. Taking stock in the overall quality of my life, I fled Los Angeles and moved to a remote part of Oregon to renew, regroup and reload. 

If that sounds tame, the journey from Evil Dead to Spider-Man to Burn Notice was long, with plenty of adventures/mishaps along the way. I never pictured myself hovering above Baghdad in a Blackhawk helicopter, facing a pack of wild dogs in Bulgaria, or playing an aging Elvis Presley with cancer on his penis - how can you predict this stuff? The sheer lunacy of show business is part of the fun for me and I hope you'll come along for the ride.

– Bruce “Don’t Call Me Ash” Campbell

An icon of B movies and a champion of independent filmmaking, Bruce Campbell is an actor, director and writer best known for his roles as Ash in the Evil Dead franchise and Sam Axe on the hit TV show Burn Notice.

Written and read by Bruce Campbell. Co-written with Craig Sanborn. Recording and sound design by Sean McCoy at Oregon Sound Recording.

©2017 Bruce Campbell (P)2017 Bruce Campbell

Hail to the Chin...Win for the Ears!

Where does Hail to the Chin rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Bruce is always one of the best authors to read their own book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hail to the Chin?

His Burn Notice Years!

Have you listened to any of Bruce Campbell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Just as good!

Any additional comments?

After plowing through the goodness of his first book, "If Chins Could Kill," I was bummed it stopped before getting to his "Burn Notice" years. But despite that, it is one of the best audio books you will ever hear. Funny, informative and highly entertaining. Then my prayers were answered in his sequel book, "Hail to the Chin." Picks right up where his first book left off and takes you right up to him returning to Ash vs Evil Dead. Bruce is a master storyteller. If you are thinking of getting this book because you are a fan of his, think no longer. Just do it already and start listening.

Every bit as good as the first

About half way through the first book, I realized how sad I was going to be when it ended. So much greatness has happened in Bruce Campbell's career since its publication date. After it ended I felt very positive things which I felt the need to share with the author. I went to his webpage to send him a pleasant letter and that's when I saw an ad for Hail to the Chin. I was unreasonably excited and picked this up immediately. I'm so glad that I did.

Great, but does not include 2019 updates.

I really enjoyed this as a follow-up to "If Chins Could Kill." This book included much more insight into Bruce's personal and professional experiences off-screen, so this book feels much more personal than the previous book.

My only complaint (and the reason for the overall 4-star review) is that this is an audio version of the 2017 hardcover edition; when the book was released in paperback in 2019, it included additional material about the end of Ash vs Evil Dead and Campbell's European book tour, all of which I expected to hear. (Campbell did the same thing with his previous memoir, and the new paperback material was included with the audio book as an addendum, which provided an additional hour+ of enjoyment.) So I'm going to the bookstore tomorrow to purchase the paperback version so I can read the material that wasn't included in the audio book.

If you want the extra material, make sure you purchase either the paperback or the e-book.

I'm happy for Campbell to make an extra buck or two off me since I'm buying an extra copy, because I enjoy his work and I believe in paying creatives for their work. but I'm not terribly happy with Audible and the publishing company getting my money for a second purchase.

He's still got it

Bruce Campbell is one of those actors who is hard not to love, no matter how cheesy the material. Like another Bruce (Willis), Campbell's movies tend to feature him getting curb-stomped for 90 minutes before ultimately prevailing. Whether it's aliens, mummies, zombies, more standard bad guys, or unimpressed locals, Bruce takes his beatings like a legend, maintaining his sense of humor along the way.

This second memoir picks up where his first leaves off, covering his more recent projects on film, television, the literary world, the fan world, and in real life in rural Oregon and Baghdad. Bruce is a solid storyteller, and he carries us along with wit and attention to detail. Its a fun read/listen

Bruce Campbell: HIS chin should be on My Rushmore!

Bruce Campbell is a natural raconteur. He's unpretentious, funny and sophomoric in a way that just pleasantly works its way up your butt and gently loosens the bowels allowing you to let go of all the scrap of the day.

it's Bruce Campbell of course it was awesome

can beat this book just as good as the first one ps don't watch starz anymore

Good...but not great

I loved Campbell's first autobiography. It's one of the best autobiographies I've read. This second installment is good...but it's not great. It picks up where the last one left off. Unfortunately, the first one did a lot of heavy lifting. Unless you're a big fan of Burn Notice, that's where the biggest part of the story focuses. The story does cover from Jack of All Trades to Ash Vs. Evil Dead. The stories in between are sadly short and I would have liked a lot more details and stories. This isn't a terrible book by any means. It has Campbell's humor in it for sure. I'm still a fan. Final Grade - B-

Soothing voice to calm the soul, while laughing.

The book itself is comedy gold. You get caught up in Bruce’s world and feel personally connected. Now add his smooth, calm, voice, and your soul will feel refreshed like ointment on hemorrhoids. Quit screwing around and get this book either by audio or hardcover.

loved it

Fun, simple, real, I loved it. More behind the scenes "Hollywood" and great personal Bruce stories.

Bruce has done it again...

A second delightful book from the King. I hope he does a third or narrates other books.

He gave a great read.

dissapointed it ended.

love Bruce's voice made it more like a 1 on 1 experience of his experiences beeig told to you. I did buy the book for the decorative sake of owning it but being the dyslexic I am I can't read it and this audio book was a great justification to give the people involved money. probably better to listen to it to be honest :) good book loved it

The chin is back

Great to hear what the greatest b movie actor has been up to since his last book. You'll laugh you might cry, bit overall a great listen and superbly read, only gripe is that it just ends. Would have been cool to hear what Bruce has planned, but hey that's for another tale.

Just Brilliant

Witty, insightful and brilliantly narrated by the big man himself! A must for any fan of the Evil Dead franchise

fantastic

I really enjoyed listening to the adventures of Bruce Campbell. I really hope he does more audiobooks

A Farewell to Arms

Absolutely brilliant. A must for Campbell fans and a good sequel to his first book.

The Chin Always Delivers

Amazing and insightful, Mr Campbell follows on from Act 1. a good listen. As a admitted fan I was drew to it from there. Even non fans will enjoy the mirror raised to the B Movie life.

All Hail...

Like his first autobiography, this is just as interesting, sincere and funny. I heartily recommend it to any fan or anyone new to Bruce's world, you won't be disappointed. in fact you may look for other materials involving his life and career. Thanks Bruce, now to chapter 3.

Great book , with great narration from the man himself

Not as informative as his previous book but still
A must for any Campbell or Evil Dead fan .

awesome Campbell goodness

well what can I say it's more Bruce, read by Bruce , about Bruce , full of Brucy goodness. Hail to the king and listen to this awesome book. if you loved the first you will love the second.

Great read made better by added Bruce

Very amusing. Super reading by the man himself. Interesting and funny in equal measure