Overview

For the first time, the full, fascinating, and inspirational true story of Danny Trejo's journey from crime, prison, addiction, and loss to unexpected fame as Hollywood's favorite bad guy with a heart of gold. On screen, Danny Trejo the actor is a baddie who has been killed at least a hundred times. He's been shot, stabbed, hanged, chopped up, squished by an elevator, and once, was even melted into a bloody goo. Off screen, he's a hero beloved by recovery communities and obsessed fans alike. But the real Danny Trejo is much more complicated than the legend. Raised in an abusive home, Danny struggled with heroin addiction and stints in some of the country's most notorious state prisons, including San Quentin and Folsom, from an early age, before starring in such modern classics as Heat, From Dusk till Dawn, and Machete. Now, in this funny, painful, and suspenseful memoir, Danny takes us through the incredible ups and downs of his life, including meeting one of the world's most notorious serial killers in prison and working with legends like Charles Bronson and Robert De Niro. In honest, unflinching detail, Danny recounts how he managed the horrors of prison, rebuilt himself after finding sobriety and spirituality in solitary confinement, and draws inspiration from the adrenaline-fueled robbing heists of his past for the film roles that made him a household name. He also shares the painful contradictions in his personal life. Although he speaks everywhere from prison yards to NPR about his past to inspire countless others on their own road to recovery and redemption, he struggles to help his children with their personal battles with addiction, and to build relationships that last. Redemptive and painful, poignant and real, Trejo is a portrait of a magnificent life and an unforgettable and exceptional journey through tragedy, pain, and, finally, success that will transfix and inspire.

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9781797122922

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Reviews

"""A gutsy, wrenching, inspiring account of personal redemption and one man's discovery of a higher purpose, written as though Trejo's life depended on it. And once you read his story, you'll know that it does."" -- ""Walter Kirn, author of Blood Will Out"" ""A raw and deeply engrossing salvation story."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews"" ""A story with compassion and unsparing candor...its enough to make you believe in the possibility of a Hollywood ending."" -- ""New York Times Book Review"" ""One hell of a storyteller. Brimming with heart and generosity, wicked humor and hard-won wisdom, Trejo reaches across generations, cultures, and borders to leave readers with a righteous, inspirational high."" -- ""Francisco Cantú, New York Times bestselling author"" ""This gripping autobiography recounts a flawed hero's journey as Trejo digs his way out of tragedy, temptation, and the toxic masculinity of his youth. Trejo's true power far exceeds that of his tough-guys roles."" -- ""Booklist"" ""From ex-con to icon. Danny's incredible life story shows that even though we may fall down at some point in our lives, it's what we do when we stand back up that really counts."" -- ""Robert Rodriguez, creator of Spy Kids, Desperado, and Machete"""

""A gutsy, wrenching, inspiring account of personal redemption and one man's discovery of a higher purpose, written as though Trejo's life depended on it. And once you read his story, you'll know that it does."" -- ""Walter Kirn, author of Blood Will Out"" ""A raw and deeply engrossing salvation story."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews"" ""A story with compassion and unsparing candor...its enough to make you believe in the possibility of a Hollywood ending."" -- ""New York Times Book Review"" ""One hell of a storyteller. Brimming with heart and generosity, wicked humor and hard-won wisdom, Trejo reaches across generations, cultures, and borders to leave readers with a righteous, inspirational high."" -- ""Francisco Cantú, New York Times bestselling author"" ""This gripping autobiography recounts a flawed hero's journey as Trejo digs his way out of tragedy, temptation, and the toxic masculinity of his youth. Trejo's true power far exceeds that of his tough-guys roles."" -- ""Booklist"" ""From ex-con to icon. Danny's incredible life story shows that even though we may fall down at some point in our lives, it's what we do when we stand back up that really counts."" -- ""Robert Rodriguez, creator of Spy Kids, Desperado, and Machete""

From ex-con to icon. Danny's incredible life story shows that even though we may fall down at some point in our lives, it's what we do when we stand back up that really counts. -- Robert Rodriguez, creator of Spy Kids, Desperado, and Machete I've long recognized Danny Trejo as an American icon. But what I didn't know is that he's also one hell of a storyteller. Brimming with heart and generosity, wicked humor and hard-won wisdom, Trejo reaches across generations, cultures, and borders to leave readers with a righteous, inspirational high. -- Francisco Cantu, New York Times bestselling author This is more, much more, than a celebrity memoir. It's a gutsy, wrenching, inspiring account of personal redemption and one man's discovery of a higher purpose, written as though Trejo's life depended on it. And once you read his story, you'll know that it does. -- Walter Kirn, New York Times bestselling author

Author Information

Danny Trejo is one of Hollywood's most recognizable, prolific, and beloved character actors. Famed for his ultra-baddie roles in series like AMC's Breaking Bad, FX's Sons of Anarchy, and director Robert Rodriguez's global, billion-dollar Spy Kids and Machete film franchises, Danny is also a successful restauranteur. He owns seven locations of Trejo's Tacos, Trejo's Cantina, and Trejo's Coffee & Donuts in the Los Angeles area, and is expanding his Trejo's Tacos franchise nationwide. Visit DannyTrejo.com to learn more. Danny Trejo is one of Hollywood's most recognizable, prolific, and beloved character actors. Famed for his ultra-baddie roles in series like AMC's Breaking Bad, FX's Sons of Anarchy, and director Robert Rodriguez's global, billion-dollar Spy Kids and Machete film franchises, Danny is also a successful restauranteur. He owns seven locations of Trejo's Tacos, Trejo's Cantina, and Trejo's Coffee & Donuts in the Los Angeles area, and is expanding his Trejo's Tacos franchise nationwide. Visit DannyTrejo.com to learn more. Donal Logue is a Canadian-born, American film and television actor, producer and writer. He starred in the film The Tao of Steve and has had roles in the TV series Sons of Anarchy, Vikings, Grounded for Life, Copper, Terriers, and, as detective Harvey Bullock, Fox's Gotham.

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