Autobiography

Dying of Politeness

Dying of Politeness

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-11-05 00:19:41
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Geena Davis
  • ISBN：B09V3GKQK7
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Summary

From two-time Academy Award winner and screen icon Geena Davis， the surprising tale of her journey to badassery--from her epically polite childhood to roles that loaned her the strength to become a powerhouse in Hollywood。

At three years old， Geena Davis announced she was going to be in movies。 Now， with a slew of iconic roles and awards under her belt， she has surpassed her childhood dream--but the path to finding yourself never did run smoothly。 In this simultaneously hilarious and candid memoir， Davis regales us with tales of a career playing everything from an amnesiac assassin to the parent of a rodent， her eccentric childhood， her relationships， and helping lead the way to gender parity in Hollywood--all while learning to be a little more badass， one role at a time。 Dying of Politeness is a touching account of one woman's journey to fight for herself， and ultimately fighting for women all around the globe。

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Reviews

Chelsea Kertesz ，

This started off a little slow， but then I really enjoyed hearing about the behind the scenes of Hollywood， and I especially loved hearing what big name actors and actresses are really like。 I adore Geena Davis and love all of the movies and shows I've seen her in。 This started off a little slow， but then I really enjoyed hearing about the behind the scenes of Hollywood， and I especially loved hearing what big name actors and actresses are really like。 I adore Geena Davis and love all of the movies and shows I've seen her in。 。。。more

Nikki ，

So interesting and loved hearing the background of some of Geena Davis’s movies。 What’s most intriguing is Geena’s experience being raised to be exceedingly polite and unobtrusive and then how she needed to change， esp having a career as an actor。 Loved her narration。 She certainly is an quirky person， but I adore what she’s done with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender In Media。

Renee Fraser ，

I really enjoyed this memoir and like her even more for it。

Joanie ，

Great， funny， honest memoir。 Loved it！

Julie ，

Wonderful listen on Audible！

Michelle ，

I really admire GD’s work on gender equality， and I would highly recommend her Netflix documentary to learn all about it。 I was hoping there would be more details about that in this book， but it kind of skimmed over that part towards the end and just gave the highlights。 She does go major movie by movie and sprinkle her experiences of them and how Hollywood treated women， and her specifically。I will say I am a casual fan of hers with beetlejuice， and a league of their own as favorite movies。 I w I really admire GD’s work on gender equality， and I would highly recommend her Netflix documentary to learn all about it。 I was hoping there would be more details about that in this book， but it kind of skimmed over that part towards the end and just gave the highlights。 She does go major movie by movie and sprinkle her experiences of them and how Hollywood treated women， and her specifically。I will say I am a casual fan of hers with beetlejuice， and a league of their own as favorite movies。 I will definitely check out some of the other films she starred in after hearing the recaps and reasons she took the roles。 Overall it was actually pretty humorous at times， and I can confirm she is pretty badass。 。。。more

Scott Martin ，

（Audiobook） （4。5 stars） A good and candid memoir about one of the top actresses in modern Hollywood， this work follows the life of Geena Davis from her New England upbringing， to Scandinavian adventures to modeling to the start of her acting career to her evolution as advocate for women in film。 Davis uses the theme of balancing her New England reserve and politeness with the increasing demands of being a modern actress and facing the various challenges that it presents to women。 It is not too g （Audiobook） （4。5 stars） A good and candid memoir about one of the top actresses in modern Hollywood， this work follows the life of Geena Davis from her New England upbringing， to Scandinavian adventures to modeling to the start of her acting career to her evolution as advocate for women in film。 Davis uses the theme of balancing her New England reserve and politeness with the increasing demands of being a modern actress and facing the various challenges that it presents to women。 It is not too gossipy， and there are aspects that the author presumes that you either know about or can research on your own， but it does offer significant insight into her mindset in life and profession。 Recommend the audiobook （rate that higher than if this was hard copy）。 If you like Hollywood， a good read。 。。。more

Megan Hawley Steinfeld ，

Great account of her major career moments and life milestones， told through the （very effective） lens if learning to care about how other feel less and how she feels more。 I thought that journey was the most interesting and relatable anyway。 There are honest accounts of her career experiences， and about her personal journey and emotional development， but she doesn’t delve deeply into any personal relationships/marriages/children。 I didn’t feel like that was a missing piece though; instead it was Great account of her major career moments and life milestones， told through the （very effective） lens if learning to care about how other feel less and how she feels more。 I thought that journey was the most interesting and relatable anyway。 There are honest accounts of her career experiences， and about her personal journey and emotional development， but she doesn’t delve deeply into any personal relationships/marriages/children。 I didn’t feel like that was a missing piece though; instead it was a clearly defined boundary of what she was and wasn’t willing to share。 The development of her career in recent years was particularly interesting， I had no idea about the work she was doing， and it’s amazing！ 。。。more

Katie Kelly ，

4/5 Stars Geena Davis is iconic， an actor， feminist， and overall awesome。 I enjoyed reading her autobiography as she covers her childhood， determination at a young age of being an actor， and experience in the film industry。I was surprised to learned that she was married to Jeff Goldblum from 1987 to 1991。 I was unaware of their relationship which was interesting to read。 Movies thatbI need to watch now after reading her book， "The Fly，" "The Accidental Tourist，" and "The Long Kiss Goodnight。" "D 4/5 Stars Geena Davis is iconic， an actor， feminist， and overall awesome。 I enjoyed reading her autobiography as she covers her childhood， determination at a young age of being an actor， and experience in the film industry。I was surprised to learned that she was married to Jeff Goldblum from 1987 to 1991。 I was unaware of their relationship which was interesting to read。 Movies thatbI need to watch now after reading her book， "The Fly，" "The Accidental Tourist，" and "The Long Kiss Goodnight。" "Dying of Politeness" was an enjoyable quick read that I would recommend if you're a fan of Geena Davis！ 。。。more

Janet ，

Maybe it is the shared New England， Massachusetts specifically， upbringing but the title grabbed me instantly。 Love Geena’s work， and thoroughly enjoyed this memoir。

Ann O'Leary ，

I gave up about a quarter through。 On and on about her not particularly interesting childhood。 Moves to NYC and just gets discovered as a model， blah blah。 Just couldn't handle any more of this。 I gave up about a quarter through。 On and on about her not particularly interesting childhood。 Moves to NYC and just gets discovered as a model， blah blah。 Just couldn't handle any more of this。 。。。more

Kelly Riker ，

I did not find her to be very likeable。 The book leaves many things hanging。

Tracey ，

In 1991 Thelma and Louise was released and I saw it so many times that I had most of it memorized before I even owned a copy。 Thirty one years later， I can still recite most of it right along with the characters as I watch。 There was something specifically about Geena Davis as Thelma that made me love that film。 Since then， I have followed Davis' career but I never really knew much about her upbringing or personal life outside of what has made headlines。 This memoir is great because a） Davis has In 1991 Thelma and Louise was released and I saw it so many times that I had most of it memorized before I even owned a copy。 Thirty one years later， I can still recite most of it right along with the characters as I watch。 There was something specifically about Geena Davis as Thelma that made me love that film。 Since then， I have followed Davis' career but I never really knew much about her upbringing or personal life outside of what has made headlines。 This memoir is great because a） Davis has written it at a point in her life where she's got enough life experience to genuinely reflect on things and b） she's honest about what was hard for her to learn， about change taking time， and that doing what's right can be hard。 She reads the audiobook and the voices for her mom and dad are a hoot （& Penny Marshall - LOL）。 I loved learning that she was also diagnosed with ADHD later in life （like me） and that her work with her foundation to create equity in representation in television and movies has been at the center or her life for almost two decades now。 She's smart and funny and apparently a bad ass archer IRL。 Enjoyable read。 。。。more

Renee ，

Geena Davis is an amazing actress and I loved reading her story！

Shirley ，

I found this book fairly boring， a bit all over the place and probably skimming over what would be most interesting。

Shannon ，

I love Geena and it was so fun to listen to her read her own memoir， sharing stories about the various movies/shows she's worked on， including Thelma and Louise， A league of their own and Commander in Chief。 She also talks about her life growing up a bit and various relationships as well as being diagnosed later in life with ADD/ADHD。 Definitely recommend this on audio！ I love Geena and it was so fun to listen to her read her own memoir， sharing stories about the various movies/shows she's worked on， including Thelma and Louise， A league of their own and Commander in Chief。 She also talks about her life growing up a bit and various relationships as well as being diagnosed later in life with ADD/ADHD。 Definitely recommend this on audio！ 。。。more

Mark Farley ，

I wasn't that fussed about Thelma and Louise。 I know， right？ Cancel Farley right now， the heathen。 I dunno。 It's certainly a groundbreaking classic。 No doubt about that。 It just wasn't for me。 It was a bit rapey and the ending was a bit of a disappointment。 Don't shout at me， I just thought they shouldn't have died。 Spoiler。 A League of Their Own on the other hand was my jam。 Such a great film and often re-watch。 I haven't bothered with the TV re-make， because I read a review that it was just wa I wasn't that fussed about Thelma and Louise。 I know， right？ Cancel Farley right now， the heathen。 I dunno。 It's certainly a groundbreaking classic。 No doubt about that。 It just wasn't for me。 It was a bit rapey and the ending was a bit of a disappointment。 Don't shout at me， I just thought they shouldn't have died。 Spoiler。 A League of Their Own on the other hand was my jam。 Such a great film and often re-watch。 I haven't bothered with the TV re-make， because I read a review that it was just wall to wall lesbians and has no original characters。 But the film is excellent and Farley cries a ton at the end。 EVERY TIME。 Fans of either of those films will love DYING OF POLITENESS， because ol' Geena is not afraid of giving away juicy tidbits， gossip and insider stories。 As well as with the rest of her filmography。 The journey to her first film is particularly fascinating。 I mean， what a break for your first film。 Tootsie with Dustin Hoffman？！The book is candid and honest and you find yourself beggaring belief at how easy her journey was from shy New England beanpole to Oscar winner。 Her recent work as an advocate for gender balance within the industry is both commendable and eye-opening。 It's a great read。 I'm going to have to watch Tootsie now。 I've never actually seen it before。 。。。more

Thomas ，

I respect her honesty about how much she wants to share her life。 As a fan of her though， I am disappointed how little she shares about her failed marriages。

Shoshana ，

Overall enjoyable just very short。I'd have liked to hear more about her advocacy project and she also really skims over most of her career except for a few movies like Thelma and Louise。 It was interesting hearing that in her experience with her advocacy organization that people she interacted with were biased without realizing and responded positively。I think more diversity in so many areas can only happen when the creators are diverse。 Or with writing when the publishers are diverse。 It's not Overall enjoyable just very short。I'd have liked to hear more about her advocacy project and she also really skims over most of her career except for a few movies like Thelma and Louise。 It was interesting hearing that in her experience with her advocacy organization that people she interacted with were biased without realizing and responded positively。I think more diversity in so many areas can only happen when the creators are diverse。 Or with writing when the publishers are diverse。 It's not necessarily something people are doing on purpose but because it's human nature to see things from your own perspective。 。。。more

Nicole ，

I love when a memoir helps me realize someone I love is even more interesting than I already knew them to be。

Anne-Marie ，

Audible

Jen ，

This book was a little heavy on discussing her big movies but I found her personal stories and relationship with her parents to be absolutely charming and laugh out loud funny。

Mick Brewer ，

Wonderful book。 Candid and inviting， and you’ll finish knowing she’s even more of a badass than you thought before~

Adriana ，

I'm a massive fan Geena Davis as an actress and just as the kickass human being she is， so I came into this predisposed to love it。 I'm glad to say that not only did it not disappoint， I laughed out loud several times and walked away with an even greater appreciation of her movies。It's not a celebrity tell-all and there aren't any major truth bombs dropped， and that might just be why I enjoyed it as much as I did and why I continue to look up to Davis as one very classy lady。 I'm a massive fan Geena Davis as an actress and just as the kickass human being she is， so I came into this predisposed to love it。 I'm glad to say that not only did it not disappoint， I laughed out loud several times and walked away with an even greater appreciation of her movies。It's not a celebrity tell-all and there aren't any major truth bombs dropped， and that might just be why I enjoyed it as much as I did and why I continue to look up to Davis as one very classy lady。 。。。more

Shelby ，

4 stars

Sonali ，

Audiobook

Amy Phelps ，

I love her movie Long Kiss Goodnight。

Amy Schroeder ，

Loved it - I have a new found respect for Geena Davis。。。。and I loved her before this memoir！

Tara Richmond ，

I absolutely love memoirs and autobiographies read by the author。 I can hear the emotion in their story and Geena Davis is wonderful against all the odds， including herself。

Jim ，

It seems that people often think celebrities are just like the characters they play （although logically， you know that's not true）。 Enter Geena Davis， an accomplished actor and resident bad ass when it comes to some of her movie roles。 Davis pulls back the curtain on this， and reveals herself in her accomplished memoir "Dying of Politeness"。 She examines the start of her career， from modeling to jumping into "Tootsie"， and then on a path to the iconic Thelma of "Thelma & Louise"。 Underneath it i It seems that people often think celebrities are just like the characters they play （although logically， you know that's not true）。 Enter Geena Davis， an accomplished actor and resident bad ass when it comes to some of her movie roles。 Davis pulls back the curtain on this， and reveals herself in her accomplished memoir "Dying of Politeness"。 She examines the start of her career， from modeling to jumping into "Tootsie"， and then on a path to the iconic Thelma of "Thelma & Louise"。 Underneath it is， Davis is transparent and reflective on her journey， and occasionally really funny。 She sets firm boundaries of what she will not discuss， and the book is not lesser because of it。 Her writing on the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media is incredibly inspirational。 A great book to spend some time with。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Dying of Politeness

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Dying of Politeness&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Dying of Politeness&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0