Glimpses: A Comedy Writer's Take on Life, Love, and All That Spiritual Stuff

by Matt Williams

From the award-winning creator of Roseanne, Home Improvement, and several blockbuster films, comes Glimpses, a collection of stories filled with hope, humanity, and humor and an invitation to see goodness and grace in our everyday moments. Matt Williams never focused on red carpets and glitzy parties during his successful Hollywood career—writer/producer of The Cosby Show and A Different World, creator of Roseanne and Home Improvement, producer of successful movies and plays. Looking back, Williams realized that throughout his life what sustained him, guided him, and inspired him were divine glimpses of goodness and grace. Williams says, “When I started my quest to find little glimpses of God in everyday life, the clouds didn’t open, and a voice like rolling thunder didn’t call down to me. But I did start noticing simple acts of kindness, moments of grace that reflected God’s loving presence in the world. . . . This practice of noticing these glimpses changed my life. Instead of blasting my way through the week—competing, hurrying and scurrying, fighting for my personal space, my self-care, and my ego-based impulses—I started consciously looking for God’s goodness. And I found it everywhere.” From a stranger in a casting office predicting Matt would succeed at a time when he felt like giving up, to deciding to work with Tim Allen after vowing not to work with another comedian after Roseanne, to learning what love really meant after “Spirit” told him he would marry Angelina—Williams realized that these “glimpses of God” have served as the loving, quiet providence that watched over him. Our job, then, is to pay attention to our lives. Regardless of your beliefs, Glimpses will inspire you to look for and find God in your daily life.

Genres: Nonfiction

399 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[September Withers]

Glimpses is a warm, thoughtful, and genuinely engaging collection that brings together humor, personal reflection, faith, and the unexpected moments that shape a life. Matt Williams draws from an extraordinary career in entertainment while looking beyond professional success to explore the quieter experiences that offered him perspective, encouragement, and a deeper sense of meaning.

What makes the book especially appealing is Williams’s ability to approach spiritual ideas without losing his natural storytelling voice. His reflections on recognizing kindness, grace, coincidence, and unexpected guidance turn ordinary experiences into meaningful observations. The humor keeps the narrative accessible, while the sincerity behind the stories gives the book an emotional depth that stays with the reader.

Glimpses ultimately encourages readers to slow down and pay attention to the goodness that can easily be overlooked in everyday life. Whether someone approaches the book from a place of faith or simply appreciates stories about humanity, gratitude, and personal growth, Williams offers an inviting reminder that meaningful moments are often closer than we realize. It is an uplifting and memorable collection with a message that deserves to reach a broad audience

[Gary]

As a fellow Evansville native, I couldn’t wait to hear about his experience growing up here. Like the authors father, my father also worked at Whirlpool (I wonder how often they may have crossed paths) I worked with Matt’s brother Brad for several years in Evansville. Brad always talked about how hard Matt worked. This book shed light on that hard-working path.
Being a very stubborn atheist, I must admit, I nearly stopped listening to the book after a few sentences. I thought, here comes another book that reinforces why I became an atheist.
Instead, I found value in its storytelling, and the way he addresses human experiences and emotions. His ability to connect with readers on a deeper level, really opened my eyes. Not necessarily to the existence of a God, more so to the beauty of living and appreciating the rare “glimpses” I tend to dismiss.
I recommend this book to anyone with a heartbeat who may need encouragement to look past the mundane and instead find value in the smaller things in life.

[Justine Janora]

If you would like to know the life of a comedic writer and laugh as you turn the pages then Glimpses is your next book. Matt Williams, who created the television series Roseanne and Home Improvements has invited you into his life and world into what made him the man he is today. With spirit, Glimpses, kindness,and laughs this book will be one you will laugh along with until the end.

[Sheila]

Matt Williams does a fantastic job of sharing his personal life experiences in short stories giving the reader “glimpses “ of God in his daily life. He has inspired me to actively look for the display of daily acts of kindness and God’s presence all around us.

[Kenneth Burke]

Interesting, easy reading, sometimes entertaining enlightening. Really would give it 3.5 stars.

[Denise Lehman]

3.5-4