Scan barcode
melyssa57's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Alright, alright, alright ... let me tell you all about Matthew McConaughey's memoir, Greenlights. Full disclosure - he is one of my favorite actors, and I admire his public persona and the causes he supports. I had this book on my TBR literally since it was published, and this year I am listening to my fair share of audiobooks so I snagged a copy from Audible, and it did not disappoint.
The book is read by McConaughey, only as he can. He is, after all an actor. He makes his stories come to life just like he does on the big (and small) screen. Throughout the telling of his life, he shares what he labels as "green lights". And while I may not have agreed with all of his conclusions, I appreciated the creativity in which these were shared. The author provides many back stories to some of his famous films like how unlikely it was for him to get cast as the lead in A Time to Kill, how Dallas Buyers Club almost didn't get made and how "alright, alright, alright" were the first words that launched his career. McConaughey does a great job reflecting back and looking forward.
My only criticism is the varying volume levels. I found that sometimes he was yelling rather than acting and it became distracting. Additionally, I think this is part of his true character; however, personally, I didn't care for all the very colorful language. I don't think it really added to the stories he shared.
Recommendation: In summary, McConaughey has taken his passion, acting, and made a successful career of it, but more importantly he has made a well-rounded life for himself and his family. This book is another feather in his cap. I found it to be spiritual, thoughtful and methodical. At just under seven hours, it's a quick listen that provides private depth and knowledge to an otherwise very public person. I would recommend this for mature, adult listening and reading.
Until next time ... Read on!
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.
Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Alright, alright, alright ... let me tell you all about Matthew McConaughey's memoir, Greenlights. Full disclosure - he is one of my favorite actors, and I admire his public persona and the causes he supports. I had this book on my TBR literally since it was published, and this year I am listening to my fair share of audiobooks so I snagged a copy from Audible, and it did not disappoint.
The book is read by McConaughey, only as he can. He is, after all an actor. He makes his stories come to life just like he does on the big (and small) screen. Throughout the telling of his life, he shares what he labels as "green lights". And while I may not have agreed with all of his conclusions, I appreciated the creativity in which these were shared. The author provides many back stories to some of his famous films like how unlikely it was for him to get cast as the lead in A Time to Kill, how Dallas Buyers Club almost didn't get made and how "alright, alright, alright" were the first words that launched his career. McConaughey does a great job reflecting back and looking forward.
My only criticism is the varying volume levels. I found that sometimes he was yelling rather than acting and it became distracting. Additionally, I think this is part of his true character; however, personally, I didn't care for all the very colorful language. I don't think it really added to the stories he shared.
Recommendation: In summary, McConaughey has taken his passion, acting, and made a successful career of it, but more importantly he has made a well-rounded life for himself and his family. This book is another feather in his cap. I found it to be spiritual, thoughtful and methodical. At just under seven hours, it's a quick listen that provides private depth and knowledge to an otherwise very public person. I would recommend this for mature, adult listening and reading.
Until next time ... Read on!
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.
Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Cursing
dinnelca's review against another edition
It came off as very braggadocio. I could not get behind the off hand comments about women, his parent's violent marriage that he defends right off the bat, though he still includes a photo of his elderly mother's battered hand from years of abuse from his father, whom he adores and looks up to. Sick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
If you are sensitive to domestic violence, DO NOT READ.melist6's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
peacefrog's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
I don’t like to rate biographies as they are someone’s life story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From the beginning to the end. Oddly enough I have never been a fan of Matthew McConaughey, yet I was captured by his story telling!
Part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much was that it wasn’t a brag fest of who’s who. It was modest, fact based, and fun. I could envision Matthew travelling across the states with his dog, the European road trip, and the Vegas trip. I loved how he laughed at himself at all the funny parts.
Part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much was that it wasn’t a brag fest of who’s who. It was modest, fact based, and fun. I could envision Matthew travelling across the states with his dog, the European road trip, and the Vegas trip. I loved how he laughed at himself at all the funny parts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
kelsie_reads_books's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
1.0
I was able to be on board with the book up until he described pursuing his now-wife. I was so disgusted by his smug and arrogant retelling of the way he aggressively ignored her boundaries, her “no”s, and her requests to go home throughout their first 24 hours together that the rest of the book felt deeply gross. He literally tricks her into coming home with him, forces her to stay the night, tries to get into her room multiple times throughout the night, congratulates himself on still kissing her despite her attempts to avoid it, and brags about it all in his book.
They’ve been married for 15+ years, so clearly it worked out for them, but his pride in how outright predatory and inappropriate his behavior was only serves to normalize some of the worst types of male entitlement.
They’ve been married for 15+ years, so clearly it worked out for them, but his pride in how outright predatory and inappropriate his behavior was only serves to normalize some of the worst types of male entitlement.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Drug use
reads2cope's review
1.0
Wow I regret reading this. Read as an audiobook on a roadtrip at the request of the driver, but still. By the end, both of us agreed that if he'd dedicated the book to Jordan Peterson at the beginning rather than thanking him in the acknowledgements at the end, we could have saved our ears from a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
elizlizabeth's review
challenging
funny
medium-paced
2.0
It was entertaining and made me laugh a lot, except not because of the book but at it. The disconnect between what he's advising and the stories he tells is so big that it has to be a joke. He's a good actor so I won't dispute that but the whole thing is a libertarian manifesto told by someone who I would very much never like to meet in person. The writing is decent but mostly mumbo jumbo I didn't care for.
Also RIP to earphone users because this man will do whatever to that mic to get a dramatic effect.
Also RIP to earphone users because this man will do whatever to that mic to get a dramatic effect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Racism, Misogyny, and Confinement
savvyrosereads's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Rating: 5/5 stars
Thanks to my friend Hannah for buddy reading this one with me! It was a wild ride and definitely a phenomenal memoir, which Matthew performed SO WELL on audio. There is so much that I never knew about this man and his life/childhood, and even though I think I probably disagree with a lot of his political and other opinions, I REALLY enjoyed hearing his perspective. I honestly could have listened to this all day.
Highly recommend if you want a super entertaining memoir with a sprinkling of life advice.
CW: Abuse (physical, sexual, abuse of children); drug use; death of parent
Thanks to my friend Hannah for buddy reading this one with me! It was a wild ride and definitely a phenomenal memoir, which Matthew performed SO WELL on audio. There is so much that I never knew about this man and his life/childhood, and even though I think I probably disagree with a lot of his political and other opinions, I REALLY enjoyed hearing his perspective. I honestly could have listened to this all day.
Highly recommend if you want a super entertaining memoir with a sprinkling of life advice.
CW: Abuse (physical, sexual, abuse of children); drug use; death of parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual assault
Minor: Drug use
anna_maria_wirth's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Cursing
skyleetux's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Cursing