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Paul Newman: A Life Audiobook
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(3.02) - 403 listener ratings
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Paul Newman, the Oscar-winning actor with the legendary blue eyes, achieved superstar status by playing charismatic renegades, broken heroes, and winsome antiheroes in such revered films as The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Verdict, The Color of Money, and Nobody’s Fool. But Newman was also an oddity in Hollywood: the rare box-office titan who cared about the craft of acting, the sexy leading man known for the staying power of his marriage, and the humble celebrity who made philanthropy his calling card long before it was cool. The son of a successful entrepreneur, Newman grew up in a prosperous Cleveland suburb. Despite fears that he would fail to live up to his father’s expectations, Newman bypassed the family sporting goods business to pursue an acting career. After struggling as a theater and television actor, Newman saw his star rise in a tragic twist of fate, landing the role of boxer Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me when James Dean was killed in a car accident. Though he would joke about instances of “Newman’s luck” throughout his career, he refused to coast on his stunning boyish looks and impish charm. Part of the original Actors Studio generation, Newman demanded a high level of rigor and clarity from every project. The artistic battles that nearly derailed his early movie career would pay off handsomely at the box office and earn him critical acclaim. He applied that tenacity to every endeavor both on and off the set. The outspoken Newman used his celebrity to call attention to political causes dear to his heart, including civil rights and nuclear proliferation. Taking up auto racing in midlife, Newman became the oldest driver to ever win a major professional auto race. A food enthusiast who would dress his own salads in restaurants, he launched the Newman’s Own brand dedicated to fresh ingredients, a nonprofit juggernaut that has generated more than $250 million for charity. In Paul Newman: A Life, film critic and pop culture historian Shawn Levy gives readers the ultimate behind-the-scenes examination of the actor’s life, from his merry pranks on the set to his lasting romance with Joanne Woodward to the devastating impact of his son’s death from a drug overdose. This definitive biography is a fascinating portrait of an extraordinarily gifted man who gave back as much as he got out of life and just happened to be one of the most celebrated movie stars of the twentieth century.
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"I love Paul Newman, so I couldn't help but enjoy the book--though there were some things that I didn't want to know. The book was slightly disorganized, but it stuck in my head. I found myself thinking about it for days after. "
— Jennifer (4 out of 5 stars)
Paul Newman Listener Reviews
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" A great bio of Paul Newman. Great insight, details in to a great life without being at all trashy! A must reead for Newman & Movie fans! "
— Jay, 2/19/2014 -
" It never fails when completing one of these biographies, you seem compelled to sit down and watch so many of the movies described. This bio was written without the assistance of Paul Newman or his family. Consequently it is a documented timeline of Paul Newman's world as it can be defined through newspapers, magazines, film archives, other's books and interviews that both he and his wife have given. Several of the Newman's friends and work associates were also interviewd. Not to say there weren't some interesting stories and facts that I did not know about. But the book in general read much like a "just the facts" account. And if I remember correctly that is also how I felt about the REDFORD biography I read recently. I guess I perhaps prefer an autobiography! Well, I have to go and review my film selections... see what I am missing in the Paul Newman film list! "
— Jack, 2/7/2014 -
" I have always liked Paul Newman so I am interested in what this author has to tell me about his life. "
— Linda, 1/30/2014 -
" Not the best written bio I've ever read but Newman is a hero of mine. "
— Corey, 1/26/2014 -
" Good, comprehensive study of a very conflicted actor, a man who fought his own image while embracing it at the same time. a well written work by a hometown (for me) boy, Shawn levy, film critic of The Oregonian here in Portland. Good job, sir. "
— Scott, 1/17/2014 -
" Very well researched and well written book about an American icon. Besides being a fan of his acting work, I always looked up to Paul Newman for his philanthropic accomplishments. "
— Michelle, 1/16/2014 -
" Man, I love Paul Newman, but I just couldn't do it. This author is a little TOO enamored. There's just to much awe in every. single. sentence. I can't take your biography seriously if I have no trust in your ability to tell the truth. And I don't need a page and a half of rhapsodizing about New York in the '50s. Get to the part where you're talking about your subject. Fellow readers, take it from me: if you want to read a book about Paul Newman, do yourself a favor and go read Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good. "
— Faith, 1/14/2014 -
" Never was the greatest fan but this book puts his career in perspective and overall his work is impressive. "
— Joe, 1/10/2014 -
" Not so great - makes me not like Paul Newman. "
— Kathy, 1/9/2014 -
" The author covered it all...acting, philanthropy, race car driving, his perfect marriage with Joanne Woodward. He was Paul Newman. 'Nuff said. "
— Michael, 1/5/2014 -
" Shawn Levy wrote a great book on Paul Newman!!! Love the old movie stars!!!! "
— Kimberly, 12/19/2013 -
" finished the bk and found that it was a story of a man who used his wealth in the single pursuit of helping others. It just made me like him even more as a man, husband father and community leader. "
— Irene, 12/18/2013 -
" More about his movie career than his personal life. "
— Peg, 11/30/2013 -
" I love Paul Newman, so I couldn't help but enjoy the book--though there were some things that I didn't want to know. The book was slightly disorganized, but it stuck in my head. I found myself thinking about it for days after. "
— Jennifer, 11/25/2013 -
" I loved this book about this remarkable actor, man, and humanitarian. "
— Carol, 10/21/2013 -
" I learned a lot about Newman that i never knew. I didn't finish the book, because I got bogged down in it. "
— Lucille, 10/12/2013 -
" Fall in love all over again with a true star. "
— Kris, 8/8/2013 -
" One of the better biographies I have read. Shawn Levy covers him well in all aspects of his life-professional, personal and philanthropic. Mr Newman is truely a man and actor I respect "
— Derek, 5/6/2013 -
" This felt like kind of a cursory review of Newman's life. Decent biography but not exceptional. Made me realize that I need to see Hud. "
— Nicole, 8/16/2012 -
" A lot of material to get through. Not an easy read, but a thorough presentation of his life. "
— Martha, 7/15/2012 -
" Makes me want to see all of Paul Newman's movies. He was truly a great actor and well respected. "
— Karen, 1/15/2012 -
" This is a complete book on Newman's life. It was a little too detailed for me and I found it boring. I will give the author credit - he does stick to facts which I appreciate instead of gossip which may or may not be true. I would rate it 2 1/2 stars if they had that rating. "
— Kay, 9/9/2011 -
" Ah so so book. Got bored with it. "
— Olga, 5/28/2011 -
" Good, comprehensive study of a very conflicted actor, a man who fought his own image while embracing it at the same time. a well written work by a hometown (for me) boy, Shawn levy, film critic of The Oregonian here in Portland. Good job, sir. "
— Scott, 5/19/2011 -
" dang, newman drank a case a beer a day for 30 years "
— James, 2/16/2011 -
" Not the best written bio I've ever read but Newman is a hero of mine. "
— Corey, 12/9/2010 -
" Not so great - makes me not like Paul Newman. "
— Kathy, 11/17/2010 -
" Really unbiased and very well chronicled. An amazing guy. "
— Kevin, 11/10/2010 -
" This felt like kind of a cursory review of Newman's life. Decent biography but not exceptional. Made me realize that I need to see Hud. "
— Nicole, 10/26/2010 -
" Paul Newman wouldn't be interviewed for this book, and when he declined, so did many of his friends, so it didn't come across as very personal. Still, it was a decent recounting of his life. "
— Kate, 1/26/2010 -
" Fall in love all over again with a true star. "
— Kris, 1/20/2010 -
" Overall, I found this book a little boring. I finally started skipping through it just to get it finished in time to return to the library. "
— Linda, 12/27/2009 -
" Shawn Levy wrote a great book on Paul Newman!!! Love the old movie stars!!!! "
— Kimberly, 12/15/2009
About Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy is the film critic for the Oregonian and the author of The Last Playboy; Ready, Steady, Go!; Rat Pack Confidential; and King of Comedy. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and three children.
About Marc Cashman
Marc Cashman, Earphones Award–winning narrator, was named one of the “Best Voices of the Year” by AudioFile magazine. His voice can be heard on radio, television, film, and video games. He also instructs voice actors through his classes, The Cashman Cache of Voice-Acting Techniques, in Los Angeles.