While several books exist based on such material, there has never been a personal biography with a first-hand view of the inner sanctum such as George Englund's memoir. Englund started this memoir in earnest a few months before Brando died on 1 July 2004 in order to capture the real Brando behind the star.

Looking back in time, Brando writes down his incisive recollections from when he befriended the young Marlon when he was on the cusp of his meteoric rise in 1954 and from then on became a close confidant for almost fifty years from whom Brando sought frank advice.