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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
"I was proud as fuck. It was an adventure [...] I was seven, and had just completed my first drug deal."
Trejo tells the story of how Danny Trejo went from a life on the streets to life "in the hole" to sobriety, to fame, and finally, to life as a restaurateur. As he describes, "I was a kid who'd fallen through the cracks in the crack." From a young age, drugs, guns, and incarceration were something of a given in Danny Trejo's life. After time in prisons like San Quentin, Folsom, and Soledad, he finally found the resources, support, faith, and self-motivation to get clean and stay sober, and he dedicated his life to helping others in recovery.
I'm a huge Danny Trejo fan. Like any good millennial, Uncle Machete was my favorite character in Spy Kids, and ever since, I've loved seeing him on film as Machete and in all of his roles - big or small, hero or villain. Speaking on Spy Kids, Danny Trejo says, "[Overnight,] I'd gone from being the bad guy, a Mexican stereotype, to someone kids could look up to."
Of course, I loved the parts of the book that referenced Danny Trejo, the iconic movie star. But they were such a minor part of his story. His vulnerability shone through while talking about gang violence, addiction, crime, PTSD, hepatitus, machismo, cancer, experiences with family that fostered his own addiction as well as his experiences as a father of children struggling with addiction, and so much more. It was an honor to be introduced to that Danny Trejo through this book.
Trejo tells the story of how Danny Trejo went from a life on the streets to life "in the hole" to sobriety, to fame, and finally, to life as a restaurateur. As he describes, "I was a kid who'd fallen through the cracks in the crack." From a young age, drugs, guns, and incarceration were something of a given in Danny Trejo's life. After time in prisons like San Quentin, Folsom, and Soledad, he finally found the resources, support, faith, and self-motivation to get clean and stay sober, and he dedicated his life to helping others in recovery.
I'm a huge Danny Trejo fan. Like any good millennial, Uncle Machete was my favorite character in Spy Kids, and ever since, I've loved seeing him on film as Machete and in all of his roles - big or small, hero or villain. Speaking on Spy Kids, Danny Trejo says, "[Overnight,] I'd gone from being the bad guy, a Mexican stereotype, to someone kids could look up to."
Of course, I loved the parts of the book that referenced Danny Trejo, the iconic movie star. But they were such a minor part of his story. His vulnerability shone through while talking about gang violence, addiction, crime, PTSD, hepatitus, machismo, cancer, experiences with family that fostered his own addiction as well as his experiences as a father of children struggling with addiction, and so much more. It was an honor to be introduced to that Danny Trejo through this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Death of parent
Audiobook Review
I knew this would be a fascinating book and I certainly was not disappointed. What an incredible and almost unbelievable life Danny Trejo has led. From growing up in an environment in which he was basically groomed for a life of crime and time in prison he was able to turn it all around and commit himself to a life of helping others with no expectations of reward.
Though Trejo is full of heavy topics and situations it has been written with humour and with an intent to inspire and uplift. I highly recommend going out and reading/listening to this book!
Read it if you love a real life redemption story.
Don’t read it if you’re triggered by violence, gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse.
I knew this would be a fascinating book and I certainly was not disappointed. What an incredible and almost unbelievable life Danny Trejo has led. From growing up in an environment in which he was basically groomed for a life of crime and time in prison he was able to turn it all around and commit himself to a life of helping others with no expectations of reward.
Though Trejo is full of heavy topics and situations it has been written with humour and with an intent to inspire and uplift. I highly recommend going out and reading/listening to this book!
Read it if you love a real life redemption story.
Don’t read it if you’re triggered by violence, gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse.
If you don’t know who Danny Trejo is, you’ve been living under a rock for the last 20 or so years. Danny is a prolific and well-heeled actor - and one of my absolute favorites. I’ve been dying to read this memoir since I first heard about it, and I devoured it in nearly one sitting.
Be forewarned - this book, much like Trejo himself, is TOUGH and unflinching. Trejo suffered abuse as a young man in a terribly broken home, was in a gang, went to prison, engaged in a ton of drug use and more violent and criminal behavior than you can shake a stick at. It’s not an easy read. He has lead a really hard life.
But- and there’s a but!- he also turned it around in the most glorious way possible. In Hollywood now, you’d be hard-pressed to find an actor so generous. For all the wrongs in his life, he has certainly rededicated his life to making them right. He’s not a perfect human and this isn’t a perfect book- but that’s what made me like it so much.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Trejo’s, and after this book, I am even more so. He’s one badass dude, and this memoir is unforgettable.
Be forewarned - this book, much like Trejo himself, is TOUGH and unflinching. Trejo suffered abuse as a young man in a terribly broken home, was in a gang, went to prison, engaged in a ton of drug use and more violent and criminal behavior than you can shake a stick at. It’s not an easy read. He has lead a really hard life.
But- and there’s a but!- he also turned it around in the most glorious way possible. In Hollywood now, you’d be hard-pressed to find an actor so generous. For all the wrongs in his life, he has certainly rededicated his life to making them right. He’s not a perfect human and this isn’t a perfect book- but that’s what made me like it so much.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Trejo’s, and after this book, I am even more so. He’s one badass dude, and this memoir is unforgettable.
I read this expecting to learn more about Trejo, I ended up learning about myself. :)
I've been a fan of Danny Trejo since I first saw him in From Dusk Till Dawn. I always get excited when he pops up in films and I even have a Machete t-shirt that says "You just f***ed with the wrong Mexican" on it.
His life story is extraordinary. He went from being a drug addict, committing armed robberies, dealing drugs, spending time in notorious prisons like San Quentin and Folsam, to finding the strength to get himself clean, opening his own recovery clinics, going out of his way to help anyone, and then starring in films.
He managed to stay positive and keep working and helping people as his family life was in turmoil and whilst going through some serious illnesses. He's the ultimate badass, and what makes him even more inspiring is, even in his 70s, he's still able to to look back at his way of thinking and change the way he looks at things.
I enjoyed reading this. It's very honest and open. He talks about things he is ashamed of and some heartbreaking moments, but mostly it is inspiring and leaves you feeling nothing but respect for the guy. I'm glad that one of my favourite actors is actually a good person. Now, hurry up and make Machete Kills Again in Space!
His life story is extraordinary. He went from being a drug addict, committing armed robberies, dealing drugs, spending time in notorious prisons like San Quentin and Folsam, to finding the strength to get himself clean, opening his own recovery clinics, going out of his way to help anyone, and then starring in films.
He managed to stay positive and keep working and helping people as his family life was in turmoil and whilst going through some serious illnesses. He's the ultimate badass, and what makes him even more inspiring is, even in his 70s, he's still able to to look back at his way of thinking and change the way he looks at things.
I enjoyed reading this. It's very honest and open. He talks about things he is ashamed of and some heartbreaking moments, but mostly it is inspiring and leaves you feeling nothing but respect for the guy. I'm glad that one of my favourite actors is actually a good person. Now, hurry up and make Machete Kills Again in Space!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced