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Trejo  By  cover art

Trejo

By: Danny Trejo, Donal Logue
Narrated by: Danny Trejo, Donal Logue
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Publisher's summary

In this “celebration of a life fully lived” (Reyna Grande, author of The Distance Between Us), discover the full, fascinating, and inspirational true story of Danny Trejo’s journey from crime, prison, addiction, and loss—it’s “enough to make you believe in the possibility of a Hollywood ending” (The New York Times Book Review).

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.

An honest, unflinching, and “inspirational study in the definition of character” (Kevin Smith, director and actor), Trejo reveals 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 that proves “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, filmmaker and producer).

©2021 Danny Trejo. All rights reserved (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved

Featured Article: The top 100 celebrity memoirs of all time


The best celebrity memoir audiobooks are in a league of their own—there is no greater listening experience than a memoir performed by the celebrity behind the title. Their charisma and authenticity greatly enhance the experience, making it all the more engaging. Many listeners who would never think to read a celebrity memoir in print gravitate to the genre in audio. There’s something magical about hearing, in their own voice, the nitty-gritty of a star’s path.

Editorial Review

Danny Trejo is a cultural icon, described as one of Hollywood's most recognizable native Angelenos. It doesn't take long to trek around his hometown of LA to find different eateries with his name or a mural with his face. Troubled from his youth, Trejo beat the odds to become an American treasure.
Danny Trejo once said, "Everything good that's ever happened to me came out of helping others." This audiobook details the bad before the storm and the good after it passes. From becoming the owner of Trejo's Tacos and Trejo's Coffee & Donuts to starring in Desperado, Spy Kids, Breaking Bad, and countless other projects, you wouldn't have guessed that the life of the star of Machete Kills started as rocky as it did. But fate and will congregate with his Chicano upbringing in Echo Park and in Trejo, he reminisces on what it means to be Mexican-American in Los Angeles, California. He recounts his story with authenticity and passion in his first-time audiobook.
From being a drug dealer in his early years to spending time in San Quentin and other state prisons, Danny's life wasn't always the glitz and glam of Hollywood— and that past has helped him become the badass that he is today. Danny Trejo narrates the book with an authentic voice as he revisits stories of his youth. He takes you for an autobiographical ride as he overcomes drug addiction and abuse. While this audiobook can get emotional, it helps listeners to connect with him as a person, not just as an actor, making his story all the more inspiring, if anything.
Danny's redemption is even more profound considering the statistics around recidivism, especially when exposed to a life of crime at such a young age. With recidivism rates at 50%, Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood shows those with similar life stories that a breakthrough can happen for anyone at any time. —Audible Latino Editor.

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What listeners say about Trejo

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absolutely fantastic

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. best autobiography I've ever read. and to have the narration done by Danny Trejo himself was perfect. I knew he was a wonderful person, but to hear the stories of how he touched lives, sacrificed of himself for the betterment of others, and constantly shares a message of live, truly demonstrates how much of a national treasure he is. Excellent book, excellent story, excellent person.

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A reformed soul's story of Faith, Hope and Love.

You are being told true memories of pain and anger from one of Pop Cultures reformed talents. The toughest part of Danny's exploration through his life was finding peace and redemption. Best Biography I've ever invested my time with.

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Respect His Voice

Danny Trejo doesn't have a career in being a narrator in audiobooks, but I respect his voice.  There is no one better other than the author reading their own biography.  Without Trejo's performance, his story of his life would have been an echo of many other lives that we heard before.  His broken voice makes his book that much enjoyable and his message of recovery is that much more powerful.  

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good story told by a great actor

Danny tells his story so it can be hard to follow at times do to his personality but it's I very interesting look into his life and his perspective. I like him even more as a person than I did before.

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couldn't put it down.

fascinating redemption story of a very interesting character. he made his life matter. glad that he read it too.

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So inspirational

Just wow! What an amazing life! Great story of redemption. It gave me hope that I too can change

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My first review Excellent listen

Having Danny Trejo read this made it real and it was obviously from the heart. Uplifting and positive story.

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The BEST read/listen

Danny Trejo is an amazing actor, we all know that. But he’s an even more amazing human being! His passion for his fellow human is evident in ever line, word and chapter of this book. I didn’t know about a lot of his life story until I listened to this reading. And hearing his story come from him made it even more amazing. As an adult child of addicts who worked their recovery when I was growing up I felt his words to my core. His work in recovery is what really stands out. He still does recovery work, goes to meetings and works his program. The insight into what it’s like for a parent in recovery watching their child go through addiction gave me a greater understanding of my own parents struggle with my brother’s addiction. Thank you for such a wonderful book!! Blessed Be!!

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Danny Trejo is an inspiration

A man who completely turned his life around to live a life of service to others. Loved it!

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This book is amazing

I love the fact that he tells this story from his heart, it makes you feel like your there in the book with them! Highly recommend to anyone who wants a good read

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