The Bottom Line: This was a quick weekend read. Although not for sensitive readers, I appreciated the author's candidness. Trejo's ability to turn his life around is inspiring. He has faced plenty of adversity, and besides reaching fame, he has reached out and helped many along the way. This autobiography is an interesting read; enthusiastically recommended for anyone who enjoys books about celebrity life.
Book Club Notes: Our group rating averaged around 4.5 on a scale of 1 - 5. This book was readable and engaging. The author tells it like it is and isn't shy. Highly recommended for groups that enjoy celebrity autobiographies. We also took a look at Danny's cookbook, Trejo's Tacos. He's a very busy man, who has ended up doing great work in the area of addiction and recovery.
At the time of our discussion, there weren't any discussion questions available online. Thus, as the facilitator, I created a list of questions which are available below. You are free to use these questions for your personal use, but please credit this site. Thank you!
Discussion Questions:
Did you know anything about this person prior to reading this
book?
Family:
Discuss Danny’s relationship with his father? How did his father treat
others?
Discuss the family secret. How did that affect his relationships with his parents?
And how did the secret affect the way Danny thought of women in his own
relationships.
Was his family a good influence on Danny? Or bad? What was the family legacy?
Danny talks about a culture of destructive machismo. What did it mean to be a
Trejo man?
Why was Trejo a disappointment to his father?
How did the birth of Danny Boy change his life?
How does Danny Boy moving to live with his mother affect Danny?
What impact did it have on Danny Boy? Did it give him opportunities his
siblings didn’t have?
What kind of a father was Trejo to his own children?
How did his father’s death affect his relationship with his mother?
Prison Life:
Discuss Danny’s time in prison. How did he survive?
Talk about fighting fires. How did it make them feel?
Danny describes San Quentin as the most Right Now place on Earth.
What does he mean by that?
How did boxing benefit Danny?
Discuss the two types of people in prison: predator & prey.
How had the world changed while he was in prison?
When he got out, his own parents didn’t want him at home. How did that make him
feel? Was he going to be able to handle the outside world? Had too much
changed?
Discuss the first time he robbed a store?
How did movies help Danny in prison?
Women:
Discuss his relationship with his wives/partners.
What was his relationship with women/girls like as a child?
How did Danny view marriage?
Discuss “one in the house, one in the street.”
How did he finally lose everything to Debbie Shreve?
How did his daughter Danielle make Danny rethink how he thought about and spoke
to women?
Faith:
How did faith help Trejo overcome his addiction? He writes on p. 57, “Faith
shoves fear out of the room. There’s no room for fear if you fill your soul
with faith.”
Discuss his first attempt at morning prayer/meditation: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.
Discuss forgiveness. Danny talks about the magic of forgiveness. What makes
forgiveness so profound? How does one start?
Addiction:
Discuss trying drugs for the first time. How did Uncle Gilbert influence him?
Was Danny influenced by genetics or environment?
Discuss the turning point for Danny. What made him want to get sober and
stay sober?
Discuss his work in rehabilitation.
Danny writes that the one thing people are surprised about when it comes to recovery
is the laughter. How is laughter a great healer?
Discuss Danny’s work in the field of treatment and recovery. How did it change
him?
Danny writes that he was able to get more done than the average therapist or
social worker. Why is that?
Celebrity:
Discuss his start in movies?
How did he learn to act?
What roles did he play?
Do you think for some of the roles he was hired as an actor? Or as an
ex-convict?
What influence has he had in the industry? What influence has he had with
Latino actors?
Discuss Machete. How did that film/role affect his celebrity status in
children? How did he handle that responsibility?
What do superhero or fantasy movies give the audience? (Hope & strength)
Has Danny been a positive influence overall?
General Questions:
Did your opinions change after reading the book?
Let’s talk about the writing style and language of the book, in particular,
the use of profanity.
What are the book’s strengths & weaknesses?
How thought-provoking did you find this book?
What was the main theme of this book?
Did you learn anything new from the author? Please share.
Was there a specific story that stood out for you? Or a quote? Something
memorable? Impactful? Shocking? Or surprising?
What are some of the social implications of the book? How does it
challenge or support your beliefs?
How did Trejo portray the other people in his life in this book? Who influenced
him the most? How did women influence him (childhood, relationships, daughter)?
Discuss some of Danny’s poor choices? What were some of his good
choices?
How did Trejo discuss his relationship with his parents? And how did
this change over time?
Did this story make you reflect on your own life & experiences at all?
How so?
Is Trejo a reliable narrator of his own history?
Discuss the photos included in the book.
Why do you think the author was motivated to share his life story? What was his
goal? Do you think the author was trying to elicit a certain response? Has
the book changed how you view the author?
Were there any instances in which you felt the author was not being truthful?
Why? How did you react to these sections?
What is the author’s most admirable quality? Is this someone you would want to
know?
How does this book compare to other memoirs you have read?
Is there anything you like or dislike about the book that we haven’t
discussed yet?
Trejo talks about the 1950s, 60s, & 70s. What are your thoughts
about life during those decades?
What was the most challenging or difficult part of this book to read.
How did you overcome it?
Would this make a good movie? Who would you cast?
If you could ask Danny one question, what would it be?
Danny drops many celebrity names, what did you think about including
other celebrities?
How much do you think Donal Logue contributed to this project?
Details: Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood by Danny Trejo with Donal Logue. Paperback published by Atria in 2021. 288 p. ISBN: 978-1982150839
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