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hannahslit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
As someone who’s always been quite fascinated with Will Smith and his journey, I was excited to pick up his story and give it a read. For me, the start of the book which covers his youth and rise to fame as The Fresh Prince was the most interesting and vulnerable. He went to a place that I don’t think he revisited for the latter half of the book, which I felt was more self help/preachy. As a result of that change of voice, the pace changed too and I felt the overall story suffered for it. His life is interesting enough that him just telling his stories is inspirational without an added heap of self help speak.
His early foray into fame, experiencing the pitfalls and having to claw himself back up, his cast of family and friends, the friendship between him and a notorious drug dealer, the forming of he and Jazzy Jeff’s crew (Charlie Mack is hilarious), Melanie Parker, his beautiful and mysterious high school sweetheart who saw something in him that made her never speak to him ever again, was SO interesting it could honestly be a movie. After that point, all the stories he told have already been told in interviews over the years (even the personal stuff like Jada hating the birthday he planned for her so much they separated) so it was rehashed for the book without much added information.
I did really appreciate his insight into acting and how to work Hollywood to your advantage and actually wish there was more of that than the heavy handed attempt to be inspirational.
I was engaged throughout (even though I enjoyed the start the most) and have recounted the things I’ve learnt to others so I would say it was a good read.
His early foray into fame, experiencing the pitfalls and having to claw himself back up, his cast of family and friends, the friendship between him and a notorious drug dealer, the forming of he and Jazzy Jeff’s crew (Charlie Mack is hilarious), Melanie Parker, his beautiful and mysterious high school sweetheart who saw something in him that made her never speak to him ever again, was SO interesting it could honestly be a movie. After that point, all the stories he told have already been told in interviews over the years (even the personal stuff like Jada hating the birthday he planned for her so much they separated) so it was rehashed for the book without much added information.
I did really appreciate his insight into acting and how to work Hollywood to your advantage and actually wish there was more of that than the heavy handed attempt to be inspirational.
I was engaged throughout (even though I enjoyed the start the most) and have recounted the things I’ve learnt to others so I would say it was a good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Death of parent
chinomi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, and Death of parent
melsage1823's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
Disclaimer: I chose to borrow this off a friend before I was aware of Will Smiths harmful views on what is happening in Palestine. I do not endorse these believes at all.
A Dazzling Memoir That Slams You Head First Into The World Of Will Smith And Makes You Understand Him.
Wow this memoir was a long but very interesting read. Its not even a memoir more an autobiography of Wills life layed right in front of the reader. Do not read the book without grabbing the audiobook to listen alongside, it made the experience so much more lively. This book will feel like a slag if you don't have it. I loved every second despite its flaws and it got me very reflective about love and happiness.
I'll start with the negatives before I go into the positives.
One of this books main weaknesses is that it doesn't know what it wants to be. Although I appreciated some of the lessons given I couldn't tell if it was meant to be a self help about the meaning of happiness or a recap of Will Smiths life and him dealing with his rising fame. A good memoir should have an overall tone or theme which this novel does not have at all it's just balancing from life story to story with random lessons thrown in. It made things very messy and made me wonder the purpose of some of the stories told.
Secondly the lack of acknowledgement about how abusive Will's childhood. Its very interesting learning about Will's childhood and the struggles he faced but it gets a little tiresome and dangerous when Will openly promotes child abuse being okay because his Daddios lessons shaped him as a performer and how to survive. I feel like it's people's choice if they want to forgive their abuser but justifying it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Other than these two things though I generally enjoyed this novel and felt like I learned a lot especially about how the industry works and what appears to the higher ups.
As I mentioned the audiobook adds a lot of colour but isn't it's only strength. Alot of memoirs feel lifeless and bland but here its colourful thanks to Will putting his personality into the novel. Every page screams Will and doesn't feel artificial. I found myself feeling the weight of every story Will recounted from the sad to the happy ones. It also helps that he encoperates raps into the novel and in the audiobook has music. It's not everyday that you find someone rapping an outro to a novel about their life. The charm and personality is what keeps the long memoir intriguing and engaging. Only Will Smith can make a long autobiography fun.
Another strength is the raw honesty that is woven throughout the entire novel. Will through the help of Mark Manson has managed to tip his most vulnerable side into the entire novel. From violent intrusive thoughts to honest feelings about certain relationships, Will doesn't hold back at all. Others have said it feels like a big ego trip but to me it feels like pride that Will as a black boy in philly was able to overcome so much trauma in order to become successful. Without all the honesty about how he felt during certain memories it would have felt souless. I think Will mentions being the biggest movie star multiple times because he can't quite believe it himself.
Finally as much as the balance of identity is frustrating the moral lessons Will passes on through recounting stories of his life it's highly entertaining. Each story is filled with genuine love and care with the lessons they have. The parts about his rise in the music and acting industry are especially informative and hopeful for those who want to be future actors and writers. Through the structure it shows that Will wants to help inspire readers. The Epilogue and Prologue chapters have especially resonating lessons about not giving up and overcoming our fears. From the lessons to learning about Will, I promise you that you will get something out of this.
Overall a honest, fun, raw and ambitious memoir that is very informative and educational. It really does help unmask Will and humanise him. The slap makes alot of sense once you read it. It's a memoir I definitely might revisit in the future.
Highly recommended.
A Dazzling Memoir That Slams You Head First Into The World Of Will Smith And Makes You Understand Him.
Wow this memoir was a long but very interesting read. Its not even a memoir more an autobiography of Wills life layed right in front of the reader. Do not read the book without grabbing the audiobook to listen alongside, it made the experience so much more lively. This book will feel like a slag if you don't have it. I loved every second despite its flaws and it got me very reflective about love and happiness.
I'll start with the negatives before I go into the positives.
One of this books main weaknesses is that it doesn't know what it wants to be. Although I appreciated some of the lessons given I couldn't tell if it was meant to be a self help about the meaning of happiness or a recap of Will Smiths life and him dealing with his rising fame. A good memoir should have an overall tone or theme which this novel does not have at all it's just balancing from life story to story with random lessons thrown in. It made things very messy and made me wonder the purpose of some of the stories told.
Secondly the lack of acknowledgement about how abusive Will's childhood. Its very interesting learning about Will's childhood and the struggles he faced but it gets a little tiresome and dangerous when Will openly promotes child abuse being okay because his Daddios lessons shaped him as a performer and how to survive. I feel like it's people's choice if they want to forgive their abuser but justifying it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Other than these two things though I generally enjoyed this novel and felt like I learned a lot especially about how the industry works and what appears to the higher ups.
As I mentioned the audiobook adds a lot of colour but isn't it's only strength. Alot of memoirs feel lifeless and bland but here its colourful thanks to Will putting his personality into the novel. Every page screams Will and doesn't feel artificial. I found myself feeling the weight of every story Will recounted from the sad to the happy ones. It also helps that he encoperates raps into the novel and in the audiobook has music. It's not everyday that you find someone rapping an outro to a novel about their life. The charm and personality is what keeps the long memoir intriguing and engaging. Only Will Smith can make a long autobiography fun.
Another strength is the raw honesty that is woven throughout the entire novel. Will through the help of Mark Manson has managed to tip his most vulnerable side into the entire novel. From violent intrusive thoughts to honest feelings about certain relationships, Will doesn't hold back at all. Others have said it feels like a big ego trip but to me it feels like pride that Will as a black boy in philly was able to overcome so much trauma in order to become successful. Without all the honesty about how he felt during certain memories it would have felt souless. I think Will mentions being the biggest movie star multiple times because he can't quite believe it himself.
Finally as much as the balance of identity is frustrating the moral lessons Will passes on through recounting stories of his life it's highly entertaining. Each story is filled with genuine love and care with the lessons they have. The parts about his rise in the music and acting industry are especially informative and hopeful for those who want to be future actors and writers. Through the structure it shows that Will wants to help inspire readers. The Epilogue and Prologue chapters have especially resonating lessons about not giving up and overcoming our fears. From the lessons to learning about Will, I promise you that you will get something out of this.
Overall a honest, fun, raw and ambitious memoir that is very informative and educational. It really does help unmask Will and humanise him. The slap makes alot of sense once you read it. It's a memoir I definitely might revisit in the future.
Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
unfxckwhittable's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I’ve always appreciated how introspective and self-aware Will Smith is. I think that this is a really great book and everyone should listen to the audiobook if you get a chance because it’s an amazing production. There were some really good gems and quotables. I was surprised by how much I already knew about Will’s life and which stories I’d already heard from him but it was interesting to hear how he started in the game and the many relationships he cultivated along the way. AND he had some really great book recommendations throughout the books that I will be adding to my TBR
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
chaitai00's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder