The Extraordinary Life Of An Ordinary Man: A Memoir

by Paul Newman Century, 320pp, £25 The late Hollywood actor Paul Newman began working on a memoir before his death in 2008, but it was his children who turned the raw material into a finished book, resulting in a candid reflection on a life filled with insecurity. The book feels confessional – covering his alcoholism and the death of his son Scott – while also introspective, as Newman attempts to understand what others could see in him that he neglects to see for himself. It traces the life he enjoyed but still brought him pain, and he owns his mistakes and discusses his flaws openly. The main narrative is supplemented with first-person accounts from people such as his first wife, Jackie Witte, and his second, Joanne Woodward. Throughout, Newman’s voice is heard, offering a glimpse into the heart and mind of the Hollywood great we thought we knew, but didn’t.