Never Grow Up

by Jackie Chan

Overview

A candid, thrilling memoir from one of the most recognizable, influential, and beloved cinematic personalities in the world.

Everyone knows Jackie Chan. Whether it’s from Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, The Karate Kid, or Kung Fu Panda, Jackie is admired by generations of moviegoers for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and mind-bending stunts. In 2016—after fifty-six years in the industry, over 200 films, and many broken bones—he received an honorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievement in film. But at 64 years-old, Jackie is just getting started.

Now, in Never Grow Up, the global superstar reflects on his early life, including his childhood years at the China Drama Academy (in which he was enrolled at the age of six), his big breaks (and setbacks) in Hong Kong and Hollywood, his numerous brushes with death (both on and off film sets), and his life as a husband and father (which has been, admittedly and regrettably, imperfect).

Jackie has never shied away from his mistakes. Since The Young Master in 1980, Jackie’s films have ended with a bloopers reel in which he stumbles over his lines, misses his mark, or crashes to the ground in a stunt gone south. In Never Grow Up, Jackie applies the same spirit of openness to his life, proving time and time again why he’s beloved the world over: he’s honest, funny, kind, brave beyond reckoning and—after all this time—still young at heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982107239
Publisher:	Gallery Books
Publication date:	12/04/2018
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	906,873
File size:	70 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Jackie Chan is a martial artist, actor, film director, producer, stuntman, and philanthropist. He has appeared in over 150 films, including Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, Kung Fu Panda, and The Foreigner.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 Cannonball 1

Chapter 2 The Boyfriend 9

Chapter 3 My Deepest, Only Regret 13

Chapter 4 A Decade of Darkness 21

Chapter 5 First Love 33

Chapter 6 Number Nine 43

Chapter 7 My Big Breaks 49

Chapter 8 Welcome to Australia 59

Chapter 9 Australia, Round Two 65

Chapter 10 Becoming the Dragon 73

Chapter 11 Overnight Success 81

Chapter 12 The Ghost of Bruce Lee 89

Chapter 13 Welcome to Hollywood 97

Chapter 14 The Fling 105

Chapter 15 Free Fall 115

Chapter 16 The Gritty 129

Chapter 17 The Love of My Life 137

Chapter 18 So What if I Die? 153

Chapter 19 Wild Things 167

Chapter 20 Fatherhood, Part I 177

Chapter 21 One More Shot 187

Chapter 22 My Flashback Highlight Reel 203

Chapter 23 More Dollars Than Sense 219

Chapter 24 Costars 225

Chapter 25 Fatherhood, Part II 237

Chapter 26 Vintage Jackie 251

Chapter 27 Taken for a Ride 257

Chapter 28 Give 263

Chapter 29 The Karate Kid's Dad 273

Chapter 30 Sing 277

Chapter 31 The Real Kung Fu Star 283

Chapter 32 My Three Fathers 287

Chapter 33 National Treasure 299

Chapter 34 Four Houses in Singapore 305

Chapter 35 For the Fans 317

Kicker 329

Editorial Reviews

11/15/2018

Chan, an international star known for doing his own stunts, recounts his life, beginning with his intense martial arts education at China Drama Academy. He faced difficulties early on, including being told that he wasn't attractive enough to star as the lead and learning English for U.S. roles. Film buffs and anthropologists may be interested in Chan's analysis of the cultural differences between Hong Kong and Hollywood movie sets. His message is positive and meant to inspire. While this is a quick, conversational read, it's longer than it needs to be. The memoir presents Chan's experiences in chronological order but lacks a strong narrative thread. VERDICT For those curious about the action film industries in China and America from the mid-1970s to the present, as well as fans of Jackie Chan.—Emily Butler, Deerfield Academy, MA

Library Journal

10/22/2018
This autobiography from action movie superstar Chan is not unlike a blockbuster film from Chan’s native Hong Kong: occasionally cheesy, sometimes questionable in quality, but undeniably fun. Born in 1954, Chan began appearing in martial arts films before the age of 10. Though his career proceeded by fits and starts, he found major stardom by the late 1970s and has appeared in more than 200 films. This book is marked by functional prose, a shambolic structure, and several sections (such as on Chan’s love of red wine, or his restoration of old Chinese homes) that go nowhere. Fortunately, Chan’s tone is winningly upbeat, and the pleasure he takes in his own success story is infectious. The author doesn’t hide his personal flaws, admitting to acting arrogantly when he first found fame, and in subsequent years to having been an insensitive and unfaithful husband. Despite the title, the book shows him eventually maturing into a person newly respectful and considerate toward his family and friends, even as he continues to make action films well into his 60s. This book isn’t going to win any awards, but like Jackie Chan himself, it provides a heck of a lot of entertainment. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"The legendary action star gets candid telling his life story – in particular, recounting his many brushes with death both on and off screen. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Hollywood memoir with this much blood and (broken) bone. Chan’s stories are too fascinating to ignore." —Entertainment Weekly

"This life story, as told in the star's impossibly colorful memoir Never Grow Up, (Gallery Books, 333 pp., 3 stars out of four), would have Charles Dickens speed-dialing Chan's film agent for movie rights—with tales of Chan's impoverished youth (from age 6, enrolled in the abusive China Drama Academy), lost loves, undying ambition fueled by his insecurity over his upbringing, true bravery and eventual glory." —USA Today

"Like Chan's best films, his memoir is engaging and entertaining." —Shelf Awareness

"The book is definitively warts (and cracked skulls and broken bones and gallons of blood) and all... but Chan also reveals a soulful, thoughtful side—just one you wouldn't want to mess with." —Kirkus Reviews

"Undeniably fun... winningly upbeat... it provides a heck of a lot of entertainment." —Publishers Weekly

"This is a worthy addition to library collections not only because of Chan’s worldwide fame but also for the value of a non-Western Hollywood success story." —Booklist

"With 200-plus films, an honorary Oscar, and countless mind-blowing stunts to his credit, the martial arts master reflects here on his remarkable acting career. Chan shares how through the ups and downs, he was able to keep his grace, poise, and humility." —CBS Watch! Magazine

"A legendary life, with many fascinating stories waiting for you to discover." —Jet Li

"I was always a big fan of Jackie and working with him was like a dream come true. His innovative and creative ability was unmatched." —Chris Tucker

"Jackie reminds me to make every summer count and to think with my heart, he leads by example and lights the way." —Adrien Brody

"Working with Jackie Chan is maybe the most fun I've ever had working on movies." —Owen Wilson

"Jackie Chan is one of the great and iconic movie stars of our time." —Jeffrey Katzenberg

"Jackie Chan is my favorite person to duet with." —Kenny G

"If you’re a fan of Jackie and even if you’re not, it’s a great look at the man’s life and the entertainment industry. And he is brutally honest, which is refreshing from someone in his field." —Red Carpet Crash

From the Publisher

Daxing Zhang beautifully narrates this candid in-depth biography, translated from Chinese, of martial arts master and actor Jackie Chan. Zhang’s Chinese inflections sound natural and bring pathos to the story, which is moving and personal. The work explores Chan’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as his foibles such as spending lavishly and gambling to excess. Career breaks and setbacks are recounted with identical passion, though detail is at times excessive, for example, accounts of specific obsessive fans. Brief behind-the-scenes stories are narrated by the energetic Jennifer Lim, whose sudden appearances peppered throughout the audiobook can be jarring as they differ so much in tone from Zhang’s presence. This is a fascinating life story that may be a bit too lengthy. But it’s likely that fans will immensely enjoy it. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2018 - AudioFile

Daxing Zhang beautifully narrates this candid in-depth biography, translated from Chinese, of martial arts master and actor Jackie Chan. Zhang’s Chinese inflections sound natural and bring pathos to the story, which is moving and personal. The work explores Chan’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as his foibles such as spending lavishly and gambling to excess. Career breaks and setbacks are recounted with identical passion, though detail is at times excessive, for example, accounts of specific obsessive fans. Brief behind-the-scenes stories are narrated by the energetic Jennifer Lim, whose sudden appearances peppered throughout the audiobook can be jarring as they differ so much in tone from Zhang’s presence. This is a fascinating life story that may be a bit too lengthy. But it’s likely that fans will immensely enjoy it. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2018 - AudioFile

2018-10-15

Hong Kong-born Chan (I Am Jackie Chan, 1998), action star and the world's best-known martial artist, outlines his life story in this (mostly) amiable memoir.

"We can't beat blockbusters like Black Panther and Wonder Woman, but they can't beat us when it comes to kung fu films or pure action—and no one, but no one, can top my huge collection of sticking tape!" So proclaims Chan, who is nothing if not competitive, though he's usually good-humored about it. He was born into the middling rungs of territorial Hong Kong society, his father a martial artist who worked as a chef in a consulate, which landed Chan in a school among rich kids. Chan soon learned to defend himself with his fists, which led him to a school that blended martial arts and acting—just the recipe for the career he carved out for himself, landing his first starring role not long after Bruce Lee's death in a movie called New Fist of Fury, "a major work that would herald the arrival of a new kung fu star," as Chan was promised. He worked his way from contract player to star, always with an eye on the bigger prize of Hollywood. On that note, the memoir begins with his being awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar in 2016. "After fifty-six years, making over two hundred films, and breaking many bones, I never thought I'd win one," he allows, before adding that he wouldn't mind winning another for a film in which he starred or directed. The book is definitively warts (and cracked skulls and broken bones and gallons of blood) and all: The author confesses to all kinds of bad behavior, though he writes that his greatest regret is not having been a better student. He warmly praises friends and colleagues such as Michelle Yeoh ("not many people can match me in my willingness to go for it"), Chris Tucker, and Sylvester Stallone.

There's plenty of chopsocky goodness here, but Chan also reveals a soulful, thoughtful side—just one you wouldn't want to mess with.

Kirkus Reviews