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brookey8888's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this one! I’ve always loved Will Smith and it was interesting to read about his life because apparently I didn’t know anything about it really. It was interesting to learn about his rap career because that I had no clue about. This did make me laugh and cry which is always a good sign of a book. I do have to say sometimes it was a little cringey. The audiobook was really good and I recommend it! It includes music and then that one scene in Fresh Prince(which I say a Reddit post or something like that one and it wasn’t factual information, so I’m glad I know the truth).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent
davey_edmo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Forget Will Smith’s Oscar incident. This is one of the best biographies I have ever read, such a good insight into the the life and mentality of one of the greatest ever entertainers. I could read it over and over again and again
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs
onemorepagecrew's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I have found celebrity memoirs to be hit or miss over the years and the hits for me are the ones who delve deeper into their inner growth, and don’t rely on their celebrity lifestyle to sell copies. The glimpse at a fame-touched life are fun and definitely interesting, however the way a person navigates that journey is where it’s at for me.
In Will, the authors, Will Smith and Mark Manson, bring readers back to Will’s early days in West Philadelphia (yes, I am hearing the song in my head now, too) during his middle and high school experiences. They go into his home life, his friend circle, when he met Jazzy Jeff, how they found their place in music – this was BY FAR my favorite part of the book and led me to many internet searches for their old videos. 90s hip hop will always pull me in.
We also see Will’s relationships, family life, and his transition to television and movies through the lens of his inner processing. His ego was on full display and not always appealing to me but was also understandable given his industry and his talent. What I truly loved about this book was his willingness to look at his choices through the lens of personal growth. He has CLEARLY had therapy and I am always impressed with someone brave enough to examine their life that way, let alone share it publicly. If you were on the fence with this book, I highly recommend giving it a go.
Content warmings: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks, Racial slurs
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
emmykyhil's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Will it wasn't funny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Wow. Anytime I read a memoir, I always listen to the audio as well. 99 percent of the time, the face behind the words narrates as well. I'm so glad I made the decision to do so. Will Smith is raw, vulnerable, humorous, and brings to life the words he penned about his life and career. His personality shines as he narrates, making us understand even more how he managed to achieve his stardom. All I can say is you will not regret listening to this. It's a little wordy but Will makes sure to put in a few twists and doesn't just straight read word for word. In a similar fashion to the improv tv style, he jabs a few other thoughts that veer away from what is written. This showcases his humanity in a way that I didn't think possible. Book of The Month made this an add on but I really wish this was the main pick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
nahlaaly56's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Loved it, it gets so personal and deep at some points where you have to stop and re-evaluate your own life and choices. I have always loved Will Smith as an actor, but I've never thought I'd relate so much on a human level to him when we have nothing in common.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Racism
kayceeraereads's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
I grew up at the height of Will Smith's career. Fresh Prince was on Nick at Night and he had a different movie coming out every few months. He's probably my favorite actor. If he's in it, I'm probably going to watch it. Or in this case listen to it.
I have never been able to make it through an audiobook, but when I saw that Will was going to be reading his own memoir, it was an instant purchase. It's like listening to your favorite podcast or talking to a friend. He is excellent at telling his story, which is rather heavy, with such levity and humor.
This was written about one of the most famous men in the world, but was very much a story about the human experience. Sure, when he had his midlife crisis, he got to bungee jump out of a helicopter and visit Trinidad on a private jet, but the feelings he felt where very relatable. It was vulnerable and very raw. He told stories about a lot of times in his life that he was not particularly proud of and that did not paint him in a good light (you will need to check trigger warnings for this).
With all that being said, it was not a perfect book. Sometimes it got a little repetitive. I know he was trying to connect something later in the book to something earlier in the book, but in all honesty it just got a little tedious. I don't know how long it would have taken me to actually read this book for that reason, so I highly suggest listening to this one.
I have never been able to make it through an audiobook, but when I saw that Will was going to be reading his own memoir, it was an instant purchase. It's like listening to your favorite podcast or talking to a friend. He is excellent at telling his story, which is rather heavy, with such levity and humor.
This was written about one of the most famous men in the world, but was very much a story about the human experience. Sure, when he had his midlife crisis, he got to bungee jump out of a helicopter and visit Trinidad on a private jet, but the feelings he felt where very relatable. It was vulnerable and very raw. He told stories about a lot of times in his life that he was not particularly proud of and that did not paint him in a good light (you will need to check trigger warnings for this).
With all that being said, it was not a perfect book. Sometimes it got a little repetitive. I know he was trying to connect something later in the book to something earlier in the book, but in all honesty it just got a little tedious. I don't know how long it would have taken me to actually read this book for that reason, so I highly suggest listening to this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
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