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Yes I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis, Jr. Paperback – August 3, 2012

by Sammy Davis Jr. (Author), Jane Boyar (Author), Burt Boyar (Author)

64 customer reviews

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YES I CAN is the self-portrait of one of the extraordinary men of our time, who became a figure of controversy because he dared to live his life not as a Negro but as a man. "I've got to be a star like another man has to breathe," write Sammy Davis. "I've got to get so big, so powerful, so famous that the day will come when they'll look at me and see a man, and then somewhere along the way they'll notice he's a Negro." YES I CAN is: "...one of the most candid, engrossing and important American autobiographies of our time," wrote the N.Y. Herald Tribune Book Editor and Critic Maurice Dolbier. "One of the really great autobiographies ever written." Brother Judd . Audible.com

Yes I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Product details

Paperback: 672 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1477611924
ISBN-13: 978-1477611920
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4450 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Actors & Entertainers
- #4572 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Movies > Biographies

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

5 star		77%
4 star		19%
3 star		3%
2 star		0%
1 star		1%

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Top Customer Reviews

What a Life!

ByFrancie Nolanon March 1, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I love Sammy Davis and loved the beginning of his book. He was a very good writer, but less than halfway through--the book becomes almost entirely conversation. It was too much for me so I give the first part 5 stars and the second half 2 stars. He's great at narrating the conversations, but it quickly became too too much for me.

That said, What a life!! What perseverance!! And strength and talent and heartbreak and dazzling achievement. Oh man.

What is absolutely disgusting is the racism he received. When he was in the army, some of the white soldiers did something so abhorrent, it made me sick. What is wrong with people? Of course, it goes on today, and not only to African Americans. But because of people like Sammy Davis, Jr., it is perhaps not as prevalent as it was.

God bless Sammy Davis.

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Timeless Lessons in a Great Read

ByWilliam E. Stroupeon April 5, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

YES, I CAN by Sammy Davis, Jr., and Jane and Burt Boyar set a landmark 50 years ago by telling the daunting struggles and monumental successes of this multitalented African-American (though Negro was the preferred word then) who refused to take No for an answer. Nothing came easy for the singer-dancer-comedian-impressionist-actor called "the world's greatest entertainer," most notably at a Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth. From his birth in Harlem and his show business baptism as a child entertainer in the Will Mastin Trio (also featuring Dad, Sam Davis) through his verbal and physical abuse in the Army, mellowed by mentoring from a Sergeant Williams, Sammy would have been stunned to know his toughest challenges lay ahead. A grisly car wreck left him with one eye but grateful to be alive. At the height of his fame and fortune he faced discrimination based solely on the color of his skin. Although his marriage to Swedish actress May Britt added spark to his performances, noted by friends and admirers, he braved bomb threats and warnings from anonymous nut cases who said they would shoot him - not to mention fearing for May's safety. That their marriage survived this distress at all is remarkable. Through it all, Sammy could have sung "I Did it My Way," like the crooner who befriended him early in his career, Frank Sinatra, his best man at the wedding. Sammy converted to Judaism as an adult. Though he supported John F. Kennedy, partly from loyalty to Frank Sinatra, Sammy was a Republican.Sammy Davis, Jr., is the unquestioned hero and fountain of information for this volume, but Burt Boyar and his late wife, Jane, deserve honors for enticing readers to flip through the 630 pages of this flowing narrative. The details of this book are rooted in our history. The lessons, however, are as timeless as today. One can only hope that a wise literary house will re-publish YES, I CAN.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Good, eye opening read.

ByKindle Customeron October 13, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Even though I grew up during segregation and remember "whites only" signs I never realized what they went through. I don't remember any blacks until at least junior high school. This is when busing started for desegregation. I am from the south (Texas) and grew up with prejudiced parents; my dad more so than my mother. Because of this I made sure I didn't have the same hangups and that our son would also be "color blind". This is a great story of the entertainment industry in the early part of the last century. It shows what a fine man that Frank Sinatra was and how good of a friend to Sammy he was. The Kennedy's are only mentioned in passing as is the rest of the "Rat Pack". I think that it is more importantly a book on racial segregation and the horrible things the blacks were put through in the 60's. Skin color doesn't mean anything, we are all Gods children. What is more important is what is in your heart and mind. I do wish it had touched on the rest of his life after the birth of his and May's daughter Tracey.

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More than a history of entertainment, this is a lesson on preserverenece, hard work, and race relations!

ByPaul Croteauon July 5, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is an amazing read for anyone interested in the entertainment industry, or for those in love with Hollywood history. This book covers Sammy's life from Vaudeville in the late 1920s to his top of the world status in the mid-1960s. He holds nothing back and provides deep insight and self analysis about his motivations as an entertainer, his struggle with fame and spending problems, and the deeply personal reasons why he became a Jew. For me though, the most important aspect of this book is how Sammy so eloquently describes his constant battle with racism starting as a child, into the Army in the 1940s and on through to his Rat Pack status. I will never watch his videos again the same way knowing how horribly he was treated even while being recognized as the greatest entertainer on Earth. Every American needs to read this book because it so clearly portrays his struggles to fight racist white bigots as well as the black community that turned its back on him after he became successful. At a time when the word 'racism' is used so frequently and a generation of Americans seems to have lost touch with history, this book can deliver a sobering dose of perspective to those that think that we have problems with racism today. But, the book primarily serves as a riveting account of the glory days of Hollywood while illustrating the greatness of Sammy's rise to the top. And, his writing style is as entertaining as his shows. I found it very hard to put this book down at night, literally staying up until 2 or 3 am to find out what happened next.

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A great book and a great man!

ByV. P.on May 5, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I really enjoyed reading about this true entertainer. It's just a shame that he had to deal with so much extra mess because America was/is so racist and hateful not to mention that his own race criticized and disowned him many times. I will say that Mr Davis was a fighter, he never gave up. I felt bad for he and his wife May. They couldn't live their lives the way they wanted to because interracial marriage was illegal in many states. Once I started reading this novel it reignited my interest in this courageous man so I bought one of his CDs, and wow what a voice! I don't care how broke this man was when he passed on, he will always be a great man in my eyes. I wish that someone would make a movie about Mr Davis, I'd love to see this gentleman's life depicted on the big screen.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

You know what the name of this book should be ...

You know what the name of this book should be called? "Yes I can if Frank Sinatra says it's ok" cause Frank calls the shots for all those guys.....

Published 1 month ago by Pete phimphavong

Five Stars

Enjoyed the read.

Published 6 months ago by Chickman

Wonderful. Couldn't put it down

Inspiring. Wonderful. Couldn't put it down. What a life Sammy led. High recommend it.

Published 10 months ago by Amazon Customer

And he did!

A first person account of his life, the book also tells the story of racism in America ,from someone who lived thru and was directly affected by all the changes.Read more

Published 11 months ago by santo mollica

Four Stars

I have always loved his voice - now I see where it came from.

.

Published 1 year ago by Mrs Gillian Davies

Five Stars

Loved the first person interview! Beautifully written!

Published 1 year ago by Lisa Tillman

Fascinating

This book is very candid, one of the most revealing celebrity memoirs I have ever read. I really don't care for Sammy Davis Jr.Read more

Published 1 year ago by Andrew

Yes I can

Read this book when I was in high school. It's interesting reading it from a different perspective.

Published 1 year ago by chipmunk53

Heart warming read.

I found myself looking at Sammy Davis in a different way . Throughout his story you learn about a very compassionate
, loving man who just wanted to be equal .Read more

Published 1 year ago by Ruth Barber

is an excellent account of the life of Sammy Davis Jr

Yes I can, is an excellent account of the life of Sammy Davis Jr. and his family,

Published 1 year ago by robert michaels

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