Never Grow Up

By: Jackie Chan, Zhu Mo

Narrated by: Daxing Zhang, Jennifer Lim

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

A candid, thrilling memoir from one of the most recognizable, influential, and beloved cinematic personalities in the world. 

Everyone knows Jackie Chan. Whether it’s from Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, The Karate Kid, or Kung Fu Panda, Jackie is admired by generations of moviegoers for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and mind-bending stunts. In 2016 - after 56 years in the industry, over 200 films, and many broken bones - he received an honorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievement in film. But at 64 years old, Jackie is just getting started. 

Now, in Never Grow Up, the global superstar reflects on his early life, including his childhood years at the China Drama Academy (in which he was enrolled at the age of six), his big breaks (and setbacks) in Hong Kong and Hollywood, his numerous brushes with death (both on and off film sets), and his life as a husband and father (which has been, admittedly and regrettably, imperfect). 

Jackie has never shied away from his mistakes. Since The Young Master in 1980, Jackie’s films have ended with a bloopers reel in which he stumbles over his lines, misses his mark, or crashes to the ground in a stunt gone south. In Never Grow Up, Jackie applies the same spirit of openness to his life, proving time and time again why he’s beloved the world over: He’s honest, funny, kind, brave beyond reckoning and - after all this time - still young at heart.

©2018 Jackie Chan (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

A solid bio but the male narration is poor

A solid bio about Jackie Chan's long and fascinating career. In his films, he always came off as a kind gentle soul but turns out he was a grade A asshole. Many celebrity bios focus on the highs and skip over the lows but I was glad Jackie shared with us his personal shortcomings Daxing Zhang narrates with a heavy accent which detracted from the story. I would have preferred to have Jackie Chan narrate his own story. Since he choose not to, why not use another Asian voice narrator who spoke clearly and concisely? The female narrator was excellent and they should had her narrate the entire book or chosen another male narrator.

A full picture of Jackie

Never grow up is a more off-the-cuff telling of Jackie Chan's life, compared with his early autobiography which was sleekly mined and organized by a ghost writer. This book reads like Jackie just talking about stuff which can be really refreshing, and also a bit heartbreaking. Jackie leaves little off the table here. While the media focuses exclusively on the ugly (and boy, is there a lot of ugly) there is also a tremendous amount of beauty to be found in the human being of Jackie Chan. If his mission in writing this was to transmit an impression of himself as an honest and flawed, ordinary human being who has had the benefit of an extraordinary life, this book wildly succeeds at that.

Jackie Chan on his own life

Never Grow Up starts out a straightforward tale from his early life first as a schoolboy, then entering a martial arts academy for nine continuous years of rigorous training. The narrative follows his difficulties in becoming established in Chinese films — his first exposure onscreen was as a dead body. Early attempts to cast him in the stern mold of the late Bruce Lee ran counter to his natural ebullience which became evident later in his famous blend of martial arts, daredevil stunts and comedy. Jackie Chan details his early life and movie career, the brutal punishment absorbed by his body, his lifestyle and excesses, life with his parents, wife and son. The changes brought by maturity follow, mentoring younger performers, American films, generosity to friends, and philanthropy as a UN global ambassador of culture. Turning philosophical towards the end of the book, Jackie Chan reveals the complicated life his parents endured in the years following the 1949 Communist takeover, the growth of his philanthropy, and the development of Jackie’s patronage of the cultural heritage of China. A fitting and satisfying end to a tale.

GREAT FREAKING BOOK

I recommend that alot people should read it or listen to it. I learned alot about the life of Jackie Chan and it makes you appreciate the value of people so much more.

Jackie Chan is the man

I loved hearing his story...I would have loved it more if he had read the audible book himself. Just my two cents. Story was great. Performance was okay because it wasn’t Jackie Chan. Overall, the performance hurt the overall, but the story itself was great and it felt genuinely heartfelt. Thank you Jackie for your life, for your work, for your book and I look forward to seeing what you have left in your future.

...And the Oscar goes to... Vulnerability!

I’ve listened to many memoirs. This one takes the cake! Initially I thought this memoir was a bunch of boloney. But Jackie Chan came thru. To be honest, I’ve only watched two of his movies; ‘Shanghai Nights’ and noon. I had absolutely no idea what his back story was. Don’t think twice about getting this book. It’s amazing!

Growing up a Jackie fan

I have been a Jackie fan since I can remember. My favorite part of a Sunday night was going with my father to the video store to rent a movie. My pick has always been a Jackie film. I felt a closer connection to the artist as a real person. Thank you for your Art

very lack luster

this started good but sadly this felt very political. It felt like Jackie had to censor his story, or maybe he did not want to be so open as to share his more personable intimate moments. this honestly felt very empty. it leaves you wishing he'd spent more time expressing more in depth what he felt, or moments of working or meeting people he'd considered of influence, like Sylvester Stallone; but he only briefly mentions him by name and goes on. there are no moments that sound fun like a behind the scenes or a glimpse of him and some celebrity friends hanging out having fun. no imagination for fans to fantasize the happier luxurious life of Jackie and friends. it's like he explains, rags to riches, but we all know a story like that. when you become rich, of course you live it up! its the finer details that this story misses. this book takes HUGE leaps from one moment to years ahead in like a chapter. why not discuss things like your cartoon? Jackie chan adventures, the thoughts or inspiration for it? honestly, this book doesn't give me ANY feeling that i got to know more of WHO Jackie Chan is as a person, only what he does.

I understand.

A man who you respect his strengths, weep at his faults by any other meaning a human like the rest of us.

Jackie Chan!

This is a great "fireside chat" about Jackie's life, how he grew up, his challenges and his victories. My favorite part is when he said (and I paraphrase) "After 15 years, I was an overnight success". So true in most things. I was surprised that Jackie barely acknowledged his American costars and didn't mention a couple at all. This book made me wish I could just sit down and have a dinner with Jackie (and his Entourage) for an evening. The additional input from his good friend and co-writer was an extra bonus to see his life in action from a different perspective. Thanks!