The acclaimed actor profiles his turbulent relationship with his father and discusses his 2010 appearance in a celebrity genealogy show to solve the disappearance of a WWII hero grandparent and his discovery of astounding family secrets.
There is no logical reason for my current life path, which diverges sharply from what my nationality and class suggested. Yet, living is an art, not a science. Writing my first memoir, Not My Father's Son, was liberating and empowered others to confront their own traumas. I realized the impact of my words and the importance of authenticity. However, one never fully recovers from the past; instead, we learn to manage it. Believing you've triumphed over trauma—be it abuse, addiction, or personal flaws—can lead to complacency and denial. This book serves as a reminder to resist the allure of a Hollywood ending. Much of my narrative unfolds in Hollywood, where, following a nervous breakdown at 28, work has often pulled me from personal crises to stages around the world. It also explores my marriages, beginning with my first breakup and culminating in my second marriage, with many misadventures in between. Through each failed relationship and encounter with icons like Liza, Gore Vidal, and Kubrick, I reflect on the lessons learned and how they shaped me into a happy, flawed, and vulnerable middle-aged man—carrying a lot of baggage.
There's a lot of joy in this book and a lot of laughs. You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams is the best part of experiencing New York nightlife: all the gossip without the hangover. - New York Journal of Books The pictures-and stories-are intimate, mischievous, funny, and poignant. It's a rare self-portrait by an actor in an era when most are wary of revealing too much. -Town & Country Magazine ...a fun, heartfelt, adorably catty collection of anecdotes and accompanying photographs from the entertainer's personal and professional life. -Edge Media Network A passion for photography has stayed with Cumming, all his life, and stage, film and television actor, has just released a book of 45 short essays accompanied by his photos. -San Francisco Chronicle Cumming's delight in life's unexpectedly joyful experiences - of which he's had plenty in his fortunate career - runs throughout the 45 essays in You've Gotta Get Bigger Dreams , his third book. . . . Cumming's new book is rife with entertaining anecdotes, as well as personal reflections and at times shrewdly insightful commentary on his adopted country. -SF Gate Cumming's witty and incisive essays cover everything from a cross-country road trip with his beloved dog Honey to an unforgettable encounter with Oprah , whose one- line response to one of Cumming's friends became the title of his book. -Daily Front Row Alan Cumming is just plain old delightful. Instead of just writing another memoir book, he peppers his crazy life stories with his photographs to give them an extra visual punch most people don't have in their writing. -Ain't It Cool News Must Read selection:. . . 45 vignettes, with photos, name- checking Oprah, Seam Combs, and Elizabeth Taylor. - Harper's Bazaar Cummings says that as a photographer, hes just a snapper, capturing moments. -Pittsburgh City Paper . . . a brisk, entertaining read that makes the reader feel like Cumming is in your head relating each mischievous adventure. - Metrosource NY . . . 45 charming, naughty, thoughtful, and wickedly hilarious stories , all illustrated by Cumming's own memorable photographs. - Good Morning Washington / WJLA-TV If you're a fan of Cumming, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams is fun and lively enough to sustain interest. For those less familiar, it is a teasing glimpse into an impressive achiever's high life and downtime . - StageBuddy.com ...a charming mosaic of anecdotes and photos... - Out Magazine Flipping through feels like passing a couple hours with the scrapbook of your most fabulous older cousin. - Passport Magazine