THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN A Memoir

Paul Newman and his friend Stewart Stern, a screenwriter, decided to compile an oral history of the Newman family. The only rule for contributors was complete honesty. They worked on the enormous project from 1986 to 1991. In this extraordinary oral-history-autobiography, Newman’s family, friends, and colleagues provide insightful anecdotes and observations, some narrated by the contributors, others by professional narrators. Best of all, actor Jeff Daniels makes Newman’s first-person remembrances funny, poignant, sexy, and always sincere. Daniels captures the essence of Newman’s self-deprecating honesty as he recounts details of Newman’s privileged yet terribly unhappy childhood; deep love and admiration for his wife, Joanne Woodward; guilt over his son Scott’s suicide; love of high-speed racing, and reflections on his stage and film roles. What better way to experience this exceptional oral history? S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2022]