Will

Will Smith

Nov 2021 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Will Smith

About this audiobook

One of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.

Will Smith’s transformation from a West Philadelphia kid to one of the biggest rap stars of his era, and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, is an epic tale—but it’s only half the story.
 
Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn't see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn't signed up for. It turned out Will Smith's education wasn't nearly over. 
 
This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one person mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world's biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself.


*This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF of music credits.

Ratings and reviews

When this book 1st came out, I had little interest in reading it. Even after "The Slap," I had no real interest. Not that I didn't enjoy the talent, humor, & overall Will Smith (we grew up in the same eras, understood the same challenges), but did not feel I would learn anything enlightening. But, when his wife released her autobiography recently & the nuggets that came out of it, I started to wonder, "What kinda life are are these people really lived!" I mean, to each his own; I'm not here to judge anyone's life & choices made. But, I got very interested in Will Smith, The Person. Someone suggested it would be entertaining to listen via audio book & hear him tell his story 1st hand (yes, my first audio book!). I was not disappointed by this book. Will is a master storyteller, of course. But, the relatability I find in the story is what makes it a book to read (or listen). Will has been fortunate in his life than most (& he knows that!), but he has been shaped by the bad too. He shows he makes bad decisions like us all & has to pick himself back up. Valuable life lessons & inspiration from this book.

The first half was nostalgia. Facts I was unaware of, a Will I never knew. The middle was a struggle that similar aged humans have had in some shape or form. The ending was pure knowledge and understanding. Beautiful.

I've listened to this book 3 times. Will Smith is a great writer and human being. I listened to it once and one week later he slapped Chris rock and it still didn't change my opinion on the book. Too many people judge him based on staying with Jada and now his slap. But those people are quick to judge and probably can't put themselves in other people's shoes. Anyone willing to listen to someone's point of view should love this book like i do. You don't have to agree with someone's point of view to enjoy 18 hours of story time. Will Smith has a ton of fans and I am one of them, regardless of a moment of bad character. No one is perfect.

About the author

Will Smith is an actor, producer, and musician, and an Academy Award, Grammy, and NAACP award winner, who has enjoyed a diverse career encompassing films, television shows, and multiplatinum albums. He holds many box office records, including the most consecutive $100 million–grossing movies (eight). He and his wife founded the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation to improve lives by providing invaluable resources to accelerate the growth of initiatives that focus on deepening individual and collective empowerment in the areas of arts and education, social empowerment, health and wellness, and sustainability.
 
Mark Manson is the number one New York Times bestselling author of Everything Is F*cked: A Book about Hope and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. Manson’s books have been translated into more than fifty languages and have sold over twelve million copies worldwide. Manson runs one of the largest personal-growth websites in the world, markmanson.net, with more than two million monthly readers and half a million subscribers.