From Under the Truck: A Memoir

3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars | 159 ratings

Price: 22.04

Last update: 12-23-2024


About this item

“Josh Brolin’s out to catch his breath between the slant-eyed suggestions and irrefutable evidence of his past. He hears voices, and he listens, reminding us with brutal honesty that our surroundings were never there to be carried, rather woven into the fabric of the freedom to be who we are.”—Matthew McConaughey

From Josh Brolin, a unique and decidedly un-celebrity memoir, by turns affecting, funny, uncanny, and unforgettable—read by the author, this edition features exclusive intro and outro music by Chris Stapleton.

Weaving a latticework of different strands, moving back and forth through time, Josh Brolin captures a life marked by curiosity, pain, devotion, kindness, humor. He recounts an unconventional childhood far from Hollywood. Raised on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, he was surrounded as a child by the wolves, cougars, and other wild animals gathered by his fearless and explosive mother, Jane Agee Brolin. Her tragic, early death haunts this book, and the force of her unforgettable personality is felt throughout. Brolin also brings to life his career in the film industry—from his breakout role in The Goonies to the set of No Country for Old Men—and the professional and personal ups and downs in between and since. With unflinching honesty but also great humor, he shares insights into relationships, addiction, love, and fatherhood, while letting the white space in between words speak for itself. Grappling with the mysteries of life and death in a way that will catch listeners by surprise, From Under the Truck is an audacious and riveting memoir from a born writer.


Top reviews from the United States

Brad Sherrill
5.0 out of 5 stars Demons and angels.
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
First things first. Josh Brolin is a terrific writer. UNDER THE TRUCK is a tough, honest, elegant memoir, whose overarching theme is of a life touched and transformed by healing grace.

Through short vignettes (occasionally written in screenplay format, poetry, or told in third person) Brolin wrestles with demons and embraces angels. His lyrical prose takes us from planes traveling at 35,000 feet, to punishing long haul Harley rides careening at 80 miles per hour, down to the very asphalt and ground itself, with Brolin’s cheek firmly planted upon it in a blacked out, hungover haze.

The beating heart of the book, however, is found in Brolin’s relationship with his mother Jane and his four children.

This is by no means a typical Hollywood centric actor’s anecdotal memoir, moving from film to film.
(In fact, Brolin is subtle and sly in referencing those with whom he’s worked or his romantic relationships. I don’t think he mentions his father’s name once, calling him “pops” instead). Rather Brolin is chasing something much deeper, more intimate. In focusing the lense on himself, his “close up” candidly reveals all the flaws and virtues, reckonings and awakenings of a quite extraordinary human being.

Highly recommended.
JKJ
3.0 out of 5 stars Not sure
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2024
I don’t know how to rate this book because I’m not sure if I liked it not ! I guess I will go with a 3 as it’s somewhat in the middle. Josh’s style of writing does not appeal to me … he jumped around in years and subject matter and I’m not sure if he was trying to be different on purpose. He spoke about his Mother quite a lot but very little about his Father. He glossed over his marriages and I don’t think he mentioned his marriage to Diane Lane , perhaps he did but I had checked out and I don’t remember it. This didn’t keep me engaged , rather the opposite ! I kept with it hoping to change my mind but it just didn’t land … I couldn’t wait to finish it !
I see there are several glowing reviews on his style of writing … I’m happy for him as I know this was quite an undertaking, wish I liked it better !
M. Griffith
4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Biography - But Buffet of Literary Anecdotes from Josh's life
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2024
I am giving this 4 stars for the raw honesty and quality of the stories that are in this book. However - this is not your traditional linear biography - but it is a raw telling of many anecdotes from Josh's life. I listened to it on audible and it was sometimes hard to tell when he was reading which were italicized (demonstrating memory/poetry etc) vs. other more straightforward telling. I also listened to a bunch of long podcasts with Josh that likely filled in my understanding of a lot of his stories. But the timeline jumps back and forth and the literary style is stylized and thus not going to be for some people. So really I think its more like 3 stars for me as a book.
Jean Katherine
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this Beautiful Memoir!
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
Josh Brolin, who opens his book with reminiscences of his mother Jane, has noted that she was, along with being a mad alcoholic mess, a great cook.
This book is like a crazy cookbook of his own wonderful recipes. You never know what year he is going to write about next, and you don’t know what sort of concoction he will blend for you of his memories. Will it be something about one of his movies? Will it be some sort of unbelievable (but true) childhood tale? Will it be a story of his love for his family? Whatever it might be, it will be consistent in its honesty, dazzling in it’s passion, and beautiful even when it’s ugly.
This guy can write. He’s brilliant.He’s fascinating. I couldn’t believe how unaffected this memoir is. It’s no holds barred.
A totally great book.
Karen L.
2.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Typical Memoir/Autobiography
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2024
First, let me say that I am a fan of Josh Brolin and enjoy his acting. I hesitated to give a review because I don't like saying anything negative. That said, I do want to warn people that this is not your typical memoir/autobiography. I read a LOT of celebrity memoirs and this one wasn't so much a memoir as just snippets of writings from various memories. It started off good, but after that, I didn't understand a lot of what he was talking about, and a lot of it was negative experiences. I think he could have done so much better writing a straight memoir from birth to present rather than mixing up the time lines making it hard to keep track of when anything happened.

Granted, a lot of people really seemed to enjoy it so I'm not going to write it off as a bad memoir. I guess since it's not what I'm used to when it comes to reading memoirs, it just wasn't my cup of tea in the way he wrote it. I hope he considers writing another one as I really am interested in learning about his amazing life experiences. I wish him nothing but the best.
suzanne
1.0 out of 5 stars Really sad
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
Never before have I read such a sad account of someone’s life. It was hard enough to plow through the short chapters, each of which focused on a particular year (and not in chronological order), but the disfunction detailed was overwhelming. Josh and his brother were raised by a woman who needed a great deal of help. His father was largely absent and appeared to have very little involvement in the raising of his two sons. Josh made it through by the skin of his teeth, but I don’t believe the same can be said for his brother. This book was a disappointment and I.
jennifer
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, poetic, inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
And hilarious. This book will perhaps surprise you, being that its author is a movie star, not a well-known literary star. It’ll catch you off guard and remain with you. In fact, I also went and bought the audio book.
It’s poetic, written in snippets, reminiscent of how our actual memories work (which is rarely in chronological order.) The detail and imagery are vivid, so much so that you feel you’re there, with your old pal Josh. And ultimately, that’s what it is: you’re there with your old pal Josh.
I found this book to be a daring masterpiece; he did it his way, that much is obvious. And it worked. 5 stars, hands down.
More books please, Mr. Brolin!

Best Sellers in

 
 

Citizen: My Life After the White House

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 63
19.69
 
 

Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 71
13.12
 
 

Sonny Boy: A Memoir

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 807
19.69
 
 

The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 45
17.5
 
 

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7262
13.78
 
 

Dinner for Vampires

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1217
16.4
 
 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 35907
15.75
 
 

Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 28
19.69