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A Life in Parts

Author:
Bryan Cranston
Read by:
Bryan Cranston
Read Read Own Own

Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
129
Narrator
41
Release Date
October 11, 2016
Duration
8 hours 52 minutes
Summary
Winner of the 2017 Audie Award for Narration by the Author

“Nothing short of riveting...an engrossing first-person account by one of our finest actors” (Huffington Post)—both a coming-of-age story and a meditation on creativity, devotion, and craft—Bryan Cranston, beloved and acclaimed star of one of history’s most successful TV shows, Breaking Bad.

Bryan Cranston began his acting career at the age of seven, when his father, a struggling actor and sometime director, cast him in a commercial for United Way. By fifth grade he was starring in the school play, spending hours at the local movie theater, and re-enacting favorite scenes with his brother in their living room. Cranston seemed destined to be an actor. But then his father left. And his family fell apart. Troubled by his father’s missteps, Cranston abandoned his acting aspirations and resolved to pursue a steadier career in law enforcement. Then, on a two-year cross-country motorcycle journey, Cranston re-discovered his talent for acting and found his mission and his calling.

In this “must-read memoir” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), Cranston traces the many roles he inhabited throughout his remarkable life, both on and off screen. For the first time he shares the story of his early years as an actor on the soap opera Loving, his recurring spots on Seinfeld, and his time as bumbling father Hal on Malcolm in the Middle, to his tour-de-force, Tony-winning performance as Lyndon Baines Johnson in Broadway’s All the Way, to his most iconic role of all: Breaking Bad’s Walter White.

“An illuminating window into the actor’s psyche” (People), Cranston has much to say about creativity, devotion, and craft, as well as innate talent and its challenges and benefits and proper maintenance. “By turns gritty, funny, and sad” (Entertainment Weekly), ultimately A Life in Parts is a story about the joy, the necessity, and the transformative power of simple hard work.
Reviews
Profile Avatar Molly G Aug 2017

Excellent, engaging storytelling from a fascinating person. Great to read/listen all in one sitting or in small bite sized chunks. Love Cranston!

Profile Avatar Ian_lyman94 Aug 2025

As 00s kid that grew up watching Malcom in the Middle, and Breaking Bad. I thought that Bryan Cranston did a good job at narrating his life. The crazy story about his stalker is when he became Heisenberg before the show. It really was fascinating. Thanks for all the good shows, Bryan!

Profile Avatar Anonymous Mar 2025

Bryan Cranston is intelligent, driven & admirable. Loved his story and so funny that I too lived in Daytona and worked as a "lifeguard" selling suntan lotion on hotel pool decks! He's so real and genuine, yet amazing!

Profile Avatar Andrew H. Oct 2024

Cranston is such an inspiration for anyone who’s crazy enough to pursue an acting career. He reminds us that the craft is more important than anything else.

Profile Avatar Jennifer K. Oct 2023

An amazing book by a incredibly talented actor. Thank you for sharing your story Bryan!

Profile Avatar Anonymous Apr 2023

Bryan is an amazing human being! Hands down one of my favorite actors and people in general, his story is very entertaining and he keeps you in the driver's seat the entire way to the end. I love how selfless he is and his intelligence is top notch. Very well written story and enjoyed this quite a bit.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Apr 2023

Enjoyed this!

Profile Avatar Anonymous Mar 2023

Excellent book and narrator. Very interesting actor.

Profile Avatar Enid L. Oct 2022

Well done.

Profile Avatar Teresa B. Feb 2020

Loved it ♥️♥️♥️

Profile Avatar Julie J Aug 2017

A good read and certainly better than I expected. I would recommend.

Profile Avatar Tasya B Aug 2017

Not a fan, kind of sexist though I understand it's a story of his life. Not that interesting to me

Profile Avatar Susanna Burger Jan 2017

I really enjoyed listening to Bryan Cranston narrating the story - it felt like he was sitting next to me telling me his life story. It was really awesome! Being familiar with his work in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad made it that much more like a personal conversation than someone just reading a book.

Profile Avatar Donald Smith Dec 2016

Wonderful book and life. A very insightful and enjoyable book about a well rounded actor.

Profile Avatar Justin Rice Nov 2016

The book is a memoir of Cranston. If you don't like his acting, you wont enjoy the book. If you have not seen Breaking Bad, you will not enjoy the book. I recommend it to people who have viewed his work. It is wonderful to see into his life and how he approaches his work and the struggles within the industry. Personally, I just wanted more of a life advice, from him its more of his story (which doesn't surprise, I just don't think the title does it justice). The audiobook read by Cranston is fabulous. I like that he reads his own work, it shows he cares. Not to mention, his voice is quite welcoming.

Profile Avatar Gloria Medina Nov 2016

Love this book

Profile Avatar Noelle Carbone Nov 2016

A very entertaining read. Cranston's voice could make anything (even recipe cards) sound engaging and delightful.

Profile Avatar Amy Harmon Nov 2016

Good for actors but I'm not one so I gave it one star.

A Life in Parts

A Life in Parts

Author: Bryan Cranston
Read by: Bryan Cranston
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