A review by read_al_about_it
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

fast-paced

I don't even know how to rate this, so because it's a memoir I won't. What I will do is tell you that I am a white woman listening to this at the age of 29 in 2021 and it was a difficult thing to hear. There was abuse that was glazed over, and many moments where I felt like McConaughey wasn't recognizing his privilege for the first two thirds of the book. The last third was pleasant, and ultimately I do think that I learned something from it. It's not my job to judge what someone gleans from the life that they've lived. However it is my job to take what I can from what others choose to share with me. Its undeniable that McConaughey is an amazing storyteller because it's exactly what has made him so popular in the film industry. I think this is absolutely worth a read, even if it's just to see life from a completely different perspective. This was a good lesson in setting aside my beliefs for a moment to listen to someone else's experiences and how they handled hard situations. I don't agree with much of what he said, or how he dealt with many of his experiences in the moment. I think he is privileged beyond comparison, and has had many of these experiences because he is a traditionally good looking white man. I also don't think that discounts any of the good he has done, or how he got to where he is. I wish it was openly recognized by him in the book, but we can't make people do things just because we want them done. All in all, it was a rollercoaster I am happy I went on, and I am also glad is over.