To the Temple of Tranquility...And St..., Ed Begley Jr.
To the Temple of Tranquility...And St..., Ed Begley Jr.
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To the Temple of Tranquility...And Step On It!
A Memoir

Author: Ed Begley Jr.

Narrator: Ed Begley Jr.

Unabridged: 6 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/03/2023

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

Beloved actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. shares hilarious and poignant stories of his improbable life, focusing on his relationship with his legendary father, adventures with Hollywood icons, the origins of his environmental activism, addiction and recovery, and his lifelong search for wisdom and common ground.   Ed Begley Jr. is truly one of a kind, a performer who is known equally for his prolific film and television career and his environmental activism. From an appearance on My Three Sons to a notable role in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman to starring in St. Elsewhere—as well as films with Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and mockumentarian Christopher Guest—Begley has worked with just about everyone in Hollywood. His "green" bona fides date back to 1970, and have been the topic of two books, a reality show, countless media appearances, and even repeated spoofs on The Simpsons (in one episode, Begley's solar‑powered car stalls out on train tracks, but is saved when the train is revealed to be an "Ed Begley Solar‑Powered Train”).

In To the Temple of Tranquility...And Step On It!, Begley shares a fountain of hilarious and poignant stories throughout his life. The memoir is candid and endearing; in one chapter, he is summoned to Marlon Brando's house to discuss the practical uses of electric eels. In another, he tells the story of taking Annette Bening to the Oscars in “an oddball kit-car that had gull wing doors, and was nearly impossible to get in or out of, unless you were a yoga master, which fortunately she was.” Not to mention insightful and surprising tales about The Beatles, Monty Python, Richard Pryor, Cesar Chavez, Jeff Goldblum, Tom Waits, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carrie Fisher, and so many more luminaries.

Begley’s unmistakable voice is honest and revealing in a way that only a comic of his caliber can accomplish. Behind all the stories, Begley has wisdom to impart. This is a book about family, friends, addiction, failure, and redemption.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Read By Kyle on April 25, 2023

This memoir was pretty boring. It read exactly like listening to your dithering grandfather haphazardly telling you about his life. Begley isn't a gifted storyteller, he told most of the interesting things in his life in a very un-interesting manner. Found myself skimming the second half.......more

Goodreads review by Andrea on July 05, 2023

I give this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars since Ed seems like a pretty nice guy. This book was mainly him rambling on about who he knows and how he is friends with everybody including his ex wife. I thought the book didn't really have a point or any substance to it. I still don't know why or how h......more

Goodreads review by Jim on March 09, 2024

I learned a lot more about Mr Begley Jr than I had ever thought I would want to know. I only found out about this book via Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast interview, that I almost skipped listening to, so.. glad that I didn’t, and also that I picked up this memoir and gave it a read. I had no idea about Ed......more

Goodreads review by Mark on April 17, 2023

This book was provided to me from Netgalley, so I can read and review it before it’s published. Hey, I know who Ed Begley Jr. is, but I have to be honest and tell you, I can only remember his appearances in several Christopher Guest movies. I know. So, by the title of this, I thought it was going be a......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on May 06, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Im so glad I read this book! Not only did I get a deeper understanding for a performer I've always liked but to see the innermost moments of his past and hear some vulnerable thoughts from him made me love this book as well as him all the more. At first i was hesitant because it was 40+ ye......more