A review by onemorepagecrew
Will by Will Smith, Mark Manson

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 
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