A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce

Alec Baldwin

Sep 2008 · Sold by St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

"I have been through some of the worst of contentious divorce litigation," Alec Baldwin declares in A Promise to Ourselves. Using a very personal approach, he offers practical guidance to help others avoid the anguish he has endured.

An Academy and Tony Award nominee and a 2007 recipient of Golden Globe, SAG, and Television Critics Association Awards for best actor in a comedy, Alec Baldwin is one of the best-known, most successful actors in the world. His relationship with Kim Basinger, the Academy Award–winning actress, lasted nearly a decade. They have a daughter named Ireland, and for a time, theirs seemed to be the model of a successful Hollywood marriage. But in 2000 they separated and in 2002 divorced. Their split---specifically the custody battle surrounding Ireland---would be the subject of media attention for years to come.

In his own life and others', Baldwin has seen the heavy toll that divorce can take---psychologically, emotionally, and financially. He has been extensively involved in divorce litigation, and he has witnessed the way that noncustodial parents, especially fathers, are often forced to abandon hopes of equitable rights when it comes to their children. He makes a powerful case for reexamining and changing the way divorce and child custody is decided in this country and levels a scathing attack at what he calls the "family law industry."

When it comes to his experiences with judges, court-appointed therapists, and lawyers, Baldwin pulls no punches. He casts a light on his own divorce and the way the current family law system affected him, his ex-wife, and his daughter, as well as many other families. This is an important, informative, and deeply felt book on a contentious subject that offers hope of finding a better way.

Ratings and reviews

The book revealed alot of what most parents around the world wants to say. Regardless of the various cultures, those parents share the same pain elaborated in this book. Thank you very much, Mr. Alec

Having been through about as bitter a divorce as a guy can, with my kids being ripped away and moved 1500 miles away, given next to no rights but of course forced to pay and pay and pay, I applaud someone of Alec's stature standing up for father's rights. It's a shame that in divorce court the father's rights are typically trampled on. I just wish I had the financial wherewithal to fight like Alec. 99.9% of guys just have to take what they get because they can't afford lengthy legal battles.

An incredibly insightful work on the universe of divorce, child custody and access, and the intentional or misguided bias against fathers in the American judicial system. More than a compelling narrative of Mr. Baldwin's struggles, but a must-read for any father who may be seeing access to the children ebbing away.

About the author

Alec Baldwin graduated with a BFA from New York University. As an actor, he has been nominated for a Tony Award and an Oscar, and has received an Emmy. He stars in the award-winning television series 30 Rock on NBC.