Customer Reviews

Erik Estrada: My Road from Harlem to Hollywood

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I've been a fan of Erik Estrada's since the first season of "CHiPs", and am still an actively dedicated fan. I bought the autobiography in hardcover on sight without hesitation. The fan wanted the book immediately, and the amateur critic and aspiring writer have yet to regret the decision.

I don't read a lot of autobiographies because I lose either interest in the story or respect for its author. The conversational style and the honest and balanced telling of this story grabbed my attention on Page 1 and held it through a cover-to-cover reading. Aside from giving details not usually revealed through other means, this book presented itself as something special from the first moment. I wasn't reading an autobiography with stylized prose and a detached third-person feel. I was listening as someone I have long admired told me about who he is and where his roots lie. I felt the story as it was being told, from the frustration of Hollywood's own form of politics to the elation of true love and a treasured family. From triumph to tragedy, it's all there. It's a story of courage, determination, faith and love - personal, cultural and spiritual.

It's easy for celebrity autobiographies to become self-serving tell-all's, but this book maintains a straightforward perspective, allowing the story to be told with dignity and with class. It's a breath of fresh air, and an absolute pleasure to read. The fans who have remained devoted through the bad press and the "where are they now" stories have long held the hope that the truth would be revealed. It has in a compelling story, straight from the heart and well worth the wait. Thank you, Erik, for sharing your side of the story.

If you're a fan, this book is a must. If you're not, read it and you just might become one.

Erik Estrada's book is the best Hollywood bio I have ever read. He holds nothing back and is very honest about rough times and regrets in his life (i.e. failed marriages, his shaky relationship with Larry Wilcox). He seems like such a terrific person and great friend, too. God bless him, Nanette, and his two boys.

Also, wasn't Mr. Estrada so much fun to watch in "CHiPS '99:? :)

I always had a crush on Erik Estrada since I saw him the first time on "CHiPs". Now that I have read his autobiography, I know that he is not only the most handsome actor I have ever seen, but also a very kind, intelligent, honest and nice person in real life. I found his story of life so very gripping, that I could not put down the book until I had read it out. I did not know how hard the road was, Erik Estrada had to go until he finally found love and peace for himself, and I admire him and look up to him, because he never gave up hope, even in his darkest hours. I can highly recommend this book and think, you can learn a lot from it, although if you are not a celebrity but just one of the ordinary people. I have to say that this book has really touched me and even changed my life somehow. I think it is a little treasure and can help you to think positive about your own life and situation. To me it was a real comfort and great support and it made me hopeful about my own life. I spent more hours reading this book than I have ever spent reading any other book. I consider this book as very tastefully written and full of feeling, and to me Erik Estrada is and will always be a man of character and a real personality, whom not many other actors can hold a candle to. I wish Erik Estrada all the best for his future, that the love between Nana and him will never end and that all his hopes and dreams will come true. Erik, take good care of your family and yourself and stay the way you are. To me you will always be a very special person and will always have a special place in my heart.

I grew up watching Chips and my older brother Jose, who later actually worked for the CHP for 20 years, was often teased as being an Erik Estrada lookalike.
So this character had a place in my life. It was great as a teenager-twentysomething Chicano to have a role model that was so successful. Estrada was so popular that his success and presence blunted a lot of negative role models and rascism I faced growing up.
The book details his early life and early career. That was really helpful in fleshing out the larger than life image I grew up with. I love autobiographies to see how the person weathers the storms in their life. I love connecting the dots and stepping stones of their life. Estrada had a reputation for being difficult to deal with; his most touching admission is that the lack of a father figure prevented him from learning how to get along w/ difficult people, how not to burn bridges etc. I found that very insightful.
He was a serious actor who worked his way up. After Chips, his success in a Mexican soap opera gave him an insight to his Latino background. He grew up a New York Puerto Rican (NewYorican?) who had never fully grasped what the Latino world is. As a Chicano educator, activist, nationalist I am happy when I see "Born Again Chicanos" or in this case Born Again Boricua.
Read this book and understand part of the 1970's.

This book is extremely good. If you are a fan of 70's TV and CHIPS, you will want to read this deeply honest portrayal of the trials and tribulations of Erik Estrada. With so much working against him, he was (and still is) perhaps one of the most principled, sincere and honest actors in Hollywood today. With this book, he is a role model to many and I wish we would hear and see more of him today. Wherever he is, my family and I wish him the best. Erik, thanks for many years of entertainment and a really good book full of values, morals and lessons.

I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED ERIK, SINCE I WAS A TEEN AND NOW TO READ ALL ABOUT HIM, WAS GREAT, I REALLY ENJOYED TO HEAR HIS LIFE STORY, AND HOW HIS MOM RAISED 3 KIDS ALONE AND HE DID HIS BEST TO KEEP HIS MOM HAPPY, AND I LOVE CHIPS I WATCH IT EVERY MORNING ON TNT AT 6:00AM IN THE MORNING BRINGS BACK MEMEORYS OF HIM. I VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT HE FINALY FOUND THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. AND HE'S A GREAT DAD TO HIS TWO BOYS AND HIS DAUGHTER. AND GLAD TO SEE HIM BACK ON TV ON THE BALD AND THE BEATUIFUL. TAKE CARE

If you or a friend like Erik Estrada - you'll enjoy reading this book. It is written to keep your attention and interest to continue. WELL DONE! A great gift idea for an Estrada fan.

Erik's book is heartbreaking! An absolutely first-rate book. Don't miss this unforgettable story of an equally unforgettable man. Brimming with Splendor, Tragedy, and Drama, this is Erik Estrada. We have loved Erik's work for years and now we admire him even more than before!!! Erik's book is tastefully written, with rough, but affecting compassion ... and this book should become a movie of the week!! He's the 70's icon that captured the hearts of the world!!

I bought this book because I consider myself a big fan of "TV Trash." I loved CHiPs because it was goofy, overblown, and representative of lame 70's TV. I must say that I was stunned by the quality of this book. From the first page, this biography is interesting, insightfull, and honest. Erik is very up-front about his home and family life, and his career ups and downs. He acknowledges his mistakes with an honesty and openness that is truly refreshing. It was also obvious from the beginning of the book that Erik Estrada is a very intelligent man, not at all the disco boy we saw weekly on the small screen.

I came away with the impression that Erik Estrada is not so much the kind of guy I would enjoy poking fun at, but rather a good and decent man that I would be proud to call a friend. I wish him and his family the best. I also highly recommend this book.

I found this book to be very entertaining and very motivational. While reading this book I noticed that Erik Estrada poured his heart into his love for acting as well as his love for his family, especially his mother. I found it not only to be motivational but also encouraging for people of any race. I believe Erik Estrada proved to the world that if you put your mind to it, "You can do almost anything!" I believe he proved this to himself most of all. I give him credit for not backing down each time he was up against the wall. There were many times he could have given up, BUT HE DIDN'T. I am sure that out of all his friends, family, and fans, that Erik himself is the most proud of what he has accomplished given all his personal and professional setbacks. I wish him all the luck and happiness with his carreer and family. I know he is nice and friendly to his fans because I was one of the lucky ones to meet him at the Fox Theater in Detroit, MI. He was in the play Grease which was very entertaining. I kept telling my friends all day that I was going to meet Erik Estrada that night and none of them would believe me. My friends told me I would never meet him and if I did see him he would not stop to sign autographs. But that is not how it was at all. Erik was very nice, pleasant, and very willing to sign an autograph picture for me and he also was very willing to stand with me while my boyfriend took our picture.. I was so excited and beside myself that I am sure he thought I was a fool. I am however very grateful that he made my once in a lifetime dream ....of meeting him .....very pleasurable. He even shook my boyfriends hand after the picture was taken. My boyfirend mentioned later that he was glad to see that he was so nice to us and the others standing in line for an autograph. We both have had a chance to meet Movie Stars before, but none were as kind and patient as Mr. Estrada. I encourage all to read his very heart warming and encouraging book. I too ! am reading this book for the second time. Great work Erik!!!!!