Play Book Tag discussion

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
5 Stars
Print and Audio

From the Academy Award®–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction

I’ve been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.

I was given this book as a Christmas present in December of 2020. I am sad to say I did not get around to starting it until right before Christmas in 2021. It truly is one of those book where I regret not getting to it sooner, but at the same time it is a wonderful way to start of 2022.

It is rare, but with this book I had both the paper copy and the audiobook version. Although more expensive, I highly suggest this approach. If only doing one or the other, I would suggest the audiobook as McConaughey reading it himself is spectacular. However, the hard copy of the book is so wonderfully experimental you really miss an element not being able to see it first hand.

As for the book itself, it is imaginative and unique. It is a constant ride through hilarious stories, wonderful insights, and stirring reflection. If you pick up the book expecting it to be all stories about being in the movies you will be terribly disappointed. There is very little focus on the life of a movie star and far more focus on living as a person in a difficult and confusing world.

One of my favorite thoughts shared in this book is the concept -- we should be less impressed with our lives and more involved. I find his explanation of this concept to be applicable to any person at any stage of life.

Overall, just a simply wonderful book to read and listen to.

I really want to get to this on audio this year. Everyone I know who has read it recommends it highly.

Glad you had a good start to your reading year!

I have the print book and was thinking of doing the same thing where I both listen to it and read it. I had a feeling that his reading of it would be amazing. I bought the print when it was released and the year got away from me and I never started it. I did pull it off my shelf and plan on starting it soon!