I believe this was a work of heart for the narrator. He was able to add to an already great memoir. Being a fan of the sopranos it was amazing to hear and read about his off camera persona.

This book ran me over like a truck. It is devastating. Gandolfini's life is so like life affirming. We should all aim to be as charitable as him.

Very good examination of Gandolfini and what made him tick. He was a complicated man, but a genuine artist, and the author gets this across very well.

Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend by Jason Bailey and narrated by Edoardo Ballerini was one of the best Biography I have hand the pleasure to listen to.
WoW! This was so powerful and a must listen to, about a man who was a fantastic actor and a man with a massive heart. I loved watching Him in Sopranos I just loved his character Tony. One of the finest actors there ever was and taken too soon!!!! RIP James Gandolfini You was one of the best and If you listen to this Yes you will need tissues from chapter 24........Such a shock when he had a heart attack in Rome while he was on Holiday with his son, his son found him.and he was only 51 in the prime of his life and acting area.

The author Jason Bailey wrote a wonderful book, which was based on extensive research and original reporting, including interviews with Gandolfini:;s friends and collaborators, Gandolfini is a detailed and nuanced appraisal of an enduring artist.

James wrote about Gandolfini: rise, from the very beginning of James Gandolfini:s career, to his famous and most loveable ❤️ Tony Soprano, this was his breakout role that would make him a legend, and onto a post-Sopranos career in which he continued to challenge himself and his audience.

This is a must read or listen to if love to read about famous people I am so glad I spent my day listening to this audiobook.
Superb audiobook and the narrator Edoardo Ballerini was excellent.

5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I highly recommend Gandolfini:: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend by Jason Bailey

This is how you write a biography. James Gandolfini was a complicated and troubled man, while at the same time being a disciplined and passionate actor. This book showcases all his positive qualities without shying away from his flaws and struggles. The role of Tony Soprano seems to have nearly eaten him alive, but his dedication to his craft wouldn’t allow him do anything less than fully inhabit the role.

Very much enjoyed learning more about James. I had really only known him as most people do from the Sopranos. This was a great way to get some more insight into the complicated and interesting man that he was. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to dig a little deeper on a man who changed television for so many.

As a big Sopranos fan, I was really interested in learning more about James Gandolfini, not just as Tony Soprano, but as a person. This book gives such a thoughtful look into his life, his career, and the people who knew him. You really feel how much he meant to so many.

I’m used to audiobooks where the subject narrates, so it felt a little different at first, but of course that wasn’t possible here. The narrator still did a great job and kept me engaged the whole time.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for this audiobook!

I am currently rewatching The Sopranos for the second time, so this was perfect timing for me to come across this book. I really liked the narrator, and enjoyed learning more about James Gandolfini. I have always been heartened by descriptions of what a great guy he was, and this just added to the lovely picture of a complicated but kind man.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, and Mr. Bailey for providing me with this Arc.

A really good biography on James Gandolfini, a largely misunderstood person and an actor living perpetually in the shadow of his most famous character, people couldn’t separate the character from the actor.

One cannot underestimated the amount of research done for this book, dozens of interviews were conducted with almost every Sopranos cast-member and even Gandolfini’s family members who have remained largely out of the public’s eye since his untimely death way back in 2013. This is definitely the one-stop book to read on Gandolfini and even “The Sopranos”.

A great and at times emotional read.

4/5; definitely check it out.

Gandolfini Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend by Jason Bailey
Audio Version
Overall Grade: B+
Information: B
Writing/Organization: B
Narration: A
Best Aspect: Lots of information I didn’t know, personal and factual. Made me want to watch The Sopranos again.
Worst Aspect: Some personal sections made me feel they were guessed and that is why I am not as much a fan of personal stories written by anyone but the person themselves.
Recommend: Yes.
Available Now. Thanks NetGalley for this audio book.

Rating: ★★★★½

Let me tell you what initially drew me to Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend: Edoardo Ballerini. Full stop. I would listen to that man read the terms and conditions of my internet provider and be totally captivated.

Jason Bailey's Gandolfini is an emotional, thoughtful, and fairly thorough portrait of a man many of us knew best in a robe and gold chain, yelling about the ducks in his pool. James Gandolfini was already someone I admired as an actor, but Bailey reveals a flawed, passionate, sometimes troubled, often generous human being who never quite fit into the Hollywood mold, even as he became one of its most iconic figures.

The book moves beyond Tony Soprano's mythology (though don't worry—there's plenty of Sopranos info for fans) and dives into Gandolfini's early years in working-class Jersey, his late start in acting, and the heavy crown that came with his fame. It's not just a highlight reel of his greatest hits; it's a reflection of the man as both an artist and a human being. And Ballerini's narration is, as always, perfect.

By the end, I didn't just want to rewatch The Sopranos—I wanted to track down everything else I might've missed. Bailey has that effect; he makes you want to revisit, rewatch, and remember.

If you're even slightly interested in Gandolfini, The Sopranos, Hollywood stories, or just well-written biographies, this one belongs on your list. And if you're an audiobook junkie? Ballerini seals the deal.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The audiobook really comes alive with this narrator’s voice. A true highlight of a richly detailed biography. As a fan of The Sopranos, I’ve recommended this book to many friends and will continue to do so going forward. I really love the attention paid to each performance at a craft level.

Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend

Format: Audiobook - ALC
Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Genre: Biography

📖 - 5 ⭐
🎙️ - 5 ⭐

Thank you, Net Galley, and RBmedia for allowing me the ALC of this audiobook. I do NOT normally listen to or read biographies or autobiographies. Honestly, I cannot think of a celebrity I would want to spend 15+ hours of MY life listening to, about THEIR life. To me, most are not interesting enough and tbh, I kind of find it strange. That being said, back in the early 2000's, I was obsessed with a television show called, The Sopranos. I loved everything about that show including the talent of the main character, played by James Gandolfini. I loved the show so much, I may have named my son after the main character😏. So, when I saw that the audio was possibly available, I applied, and it was approved.

I smiled and even laughed while listening to his many struggles in the business. All the little 'behind the scenes' antics really proved what kind of person James really was. I think I was intrigued by the fact he never wanted fame. It was stated several times that he performed because he loved it, not for the fame. He passed on several roles because it was nervous about his life changing. I just remember watching a few premiers where he was so bashful and shy, didn't care for the attention he was thrown in to; which I find absolutely adorable. He goes from portraying this this violent mafia guy to this big teddy bear and I loved it.

I have never recommended a biography before and truthfully this will most likely be the only one I ever do but I absolutely recommend this one. If you want a change of pace or to learn a little more about a very talented, charismatic man who had a heart of gold, give this one a listen.

Do I recommend? Yes

As a Sopranos fan I was so excited to listen to this audiobook. In general I am not a huge audiobook listener, but this is one I could not stop listening to! It was so clear how much research went into this book and James had a fascinating life!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was so well done 😭

I saw this was being offered on NetGalley and just knew I had to scoop this up!

Gandolfini has an interesting story and was for sure an interesting man — he had a complicated life.

If you’re interested in biographies, this is a can’t miss.

PS — I still haven’t recovered from the last scene of The Sopranos — IYKYK.

Thank you so much to RBmedia & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Intro mentions family declined to be interviewed. So I went into it feeling a little uneasy, it not having the blessing of his family, however I found it respectful and well done.

Compiled mostly of interviews with colleagues and old friends as well as pulled interviews Gandolfini had done over the years.

The writing felt a bit stilted but overall a great look into the life of the actor.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

James Gandolfini guarded his privacy, which the author does a good job of reminding us often throughout the book. It made me feel a bit uneasy the first time because we want to respect people's wishes, when it's a reasonable request. But in certain cases, for the greater good, it's OK to look behind the curtain because some people are so talented that they make everything they do look so easy. I came to "The Sopranos" late and had only seen Gandolfini in supporting roles. In those roles, he made it look as if he was just himself hanging out on set pretending to be someone else. In fact, he was an artist who put a lot of thought and work into all his roles. He cared about the product and the people he worked with that he expected only the best from himself. All the people interviewed, and there are lot, have wonderful things to say about Gandolfini. They talk about his struggles and addictions, but they all agree that he was a generous and talented person. This is not a hagiography, but there are no anonymous sources saying anything to dispute Gandolfini's bighearted reputation. This book made me feel sad for the loss but happy for what Gandolfini left us.

The narrator does an excellent job with all the different voices. I could picture the people quoted as I was listening to the narrator.

#Gandolfini #NetGalley

Brilliantly told, an in-depth look at the life and career of the generous James Gandolfini. Told though interviews and other reliable sources, the reader gets introduced to the authentically kind hearted man behind Tony Soprano and so many other important roles, This is a must read for any Gandolfini fan!

Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend
Author Jason Bailey
Narrator Edoardo Ballerini
Formats: Audiobook - 9 hrs. 42 mins. / Hardcover- 352 pgs.

Audience = Biography readers, actor aficionados
Insightful, meticulously researched exploration of James Gandolfini’s life & work; from childhood in New Jersey throughout his career up to his unexpected death by heart attack in 2013.
Edoardo Ballerini— superlative narrator of the audiobook edition
Excellent research into his early work experiences, all that shaped him as an ‘actor’s actor’; a “well-respected character actor.”
Balanced content & analysis of film work meld with Gandolfini’s personal feelings about each performance; added are his friendships, family & deep working relationships.
His sensitivity to his own work, self-criticism is clearly delineated via various roles
vulnerability as an actor, essential to all great performances &, as a person, as displayed through his never-ending insecurities.
- However, in no way to suggest Gandolfini was easy with authority; he was able to push back when he felt it was needed in work & life.
- Use of The Method elucidates G’s hungry early years but never crossed into “method madness.”
- “His most unforgiving critic” = himself.
- Not until chapter 8 = Tony, the character that genius writer David Chase created with his iconic series, cast “The Sopranos.”
- Steven Van Zandt = “a character actor in his heart.”
- Screening of “The Sopranos” “his family was proud of him” & his father expressed this to him (his mother died in 1997, before the extraordinary success of “The Sopranos”) ; this meant everything to Gandolfini who was always very hesitant to portray typical monsters because of his Italian-American ethnicity & non-traditional looks.
- David Chase’s creation came out to rave reviews, an unqualified success.
- Gandolfini always shied from “the fuss,” unsettling to this introverted man.
- He felt it was “an ensemble thing” in truth & was very reluctant to do press.
- It was most interesting in the dissection of the Sopranos years. Largely because G’s life & further career was cut short by untimely death at age 51 in 2013.
- “Overnight sensation at age 39.”
- 2004 “Inside the Actor’s Studio” hosted by James Lipton = a great reference source from Gandolfini himself
- Gandolfini did films during off season shoots & after “The Sopranos” wrapped.
- Bailey’s dissection of the Soprano years is extremely well-done, season by season, with cast & crew member interviews & quotes. Added are the multitude of public & professional accolades Gandolfini, cast, and crew, led unwaveringly by the ultra-talented David Chase, received throughout the run of the HBO series.
- Bailey intricately dissects his numerous film roles. He explores each film with care & craft. Added are interviews with costars & various reviews. Also was a description of the more vicious, shameful reviews aimed at Gandolfini personally, both throughout his career and at the time of his death in Rome, Italy and his public memorial service. However the acting & arts community never wavered in their utmost respect to Gandolfini,, both throughout his life & after his untimely death. Tributes and public awards are well deserved & described by the author.
- author highlights Gandolfini’s extreme generosity & his less than exemplary follibles (drinking, etc. along w/ his marital issues) w/ respect & a lack of sensationalism. He shows the huge pressure the actor was under during the mid to latter seasons (w/ late or not attending set on filming days.) He was suffering but also had an obligation to the HBO show. It was a sad, difficult situation.
- Ultimately, what’s the reader of Gandolfini: Jim, Tony and the Life of a Legend comes away with is a very rich, well-written (& if listened in audio format, well-told) examination of a “genius” actor: sometimes troubled, complex, fiercely loyal, extremely generous, greatly intelligent and always striving to be better. For any reader who admires James Gandolfini & “The Sopranos” (as is this reader), I would highly-recommend this stellar biography.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #RBMedia for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review
Pub. Date April 29/25 So, look for it on shelves now!!
#Gandolfini by #JasonBailey and narrated by #EdoardoBallerini
2025-netgalley-arc excellent-narrator
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Really interesting to learn more about Jim outside of his Tony role. Particularly hearing more about the impacts on his mental health. Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC!