

Audio was definitely the right choice for this! An enjoyable read.
For March my best read (well listen) was Will.
I really felt like I got to know the man behind the persona.
And while I enjoyed the book, I can't say Mr. Smith is a nice person. Extremely self-centred and egoistic.
Let's just say I was not at all surprised when the famous slap took place...
#12BooksOf2022
@Andrew65
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⚡️
Let me preface this by saying that I do not condone slapping the living crap out of someone for making a joke...but I also don't believe doing so negates everything else about a person.
This memoir was introspective and insightful. Smith laid it all out there, including moments that he could easily have kept out to make himself look better. He wraps up his life so far in a way that can be difficult when writing of a life in progress.
Oh my gosh! Is Will Smith famous? If you didn‘t know before, you definitely will after reading this memoir. I listened to the audiobook, and in typical Will Smith fashion it was entertaining. I did enjoy it, and while he spent a lot of time tooting his own horn, he was also authentic and vulnerable. Overall a pick. #bigjunereadathon @Clwojick
This book should definitely be enjoyed as an audiobook. It was incredible! It made 17 hours feel like a breeze. Will is the ultimate entertainer. I felt like we were best friends by the end of it. Praying for him to truly heal, I have a deeper understanding of his emotions and his desire to protect after listening.
#BookNookBuddies2022 #BookSpinBingo
An interesting read. I enjoyed the audiobook very much. I‘d recommend for sure.
Huh. I finished this but *just barely*. I got the audio before the infamous slap and was looking forward to it. I don‘t think my feelings about his attack on Chris Rock actually affected my reading of this. Instead I think it just needed a lot of editing that it didn‘t get. Way too long. I would have rather read a biography of Jazzy Jeff. Oh well.
The life up to this point of musician/ actor Will Smith. I learned a lot of things I never knew.
#nonfiction2022 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa #pantone2022colorchallenge @Clwojick
Not sure how I feel about WHAT I read or how to fit any of it into the context of the now-infamous Oscar slap. And I‘m skeptical of Will Smith‘s take on some events because it differs from the public record. I feel sorry for Jada—it can‘t be easy navigating his giant ego. I don‘t like Will Smith any better for getting through this. But I have to say it was a helluva read. I couldn‘t put it down.
#Nonfiction2022
Prompt: I‘m a Rule Breaker
I mean, everyone brings two hardcovers and a fully stocked iPad with them to wait for service at the car dealership, right? 🤷🏻♀️
I listened to this one on audio (as I usually do in the case of celeb memoirs/biographies because I find it much more entertaining hearing them read it). I always loved Will Smith and he told a lot of stories I had never heard before. It was interesting getting a read on his philosophy on life. The audio was a highly entertaining experience and I recommend going that route
Interesting timing for me to listen to this shortly after the infamous slap. I only knew him as the fresh prince of bel air so it was interesting to learn more about his career and almost insatiable drive to succeed. #book66of2022
I don‘t usually go for books about entertainers but recent events brought this to my attention. It‘s a very thought provoking and honest look at life at the top.
After the Oscars, I almost cancelled my hold on this one, but I'm glad I didn't. I wasn't blown away by it, but I did enjoy the stories and his openness about himself.
I definitely do not condone his outburst at the Oscars. However, having read this I understand more of what might have pushed him to act that way. Like all of us he's a flawed individual with lots to work on to be a better person.
#BookSpinBingo for March 🤩
With all the free spaces I managed to get one bingo! 🎉. Finished my #BookSpin (Will) and my #DoubleSpin (Broken Ground) and 4 more books.
Not bad, but not my best.
@TheAromaofBooks
Thought about quitting this book after the Oscar event but then voted against it so I finished this book but did not enjoy it very much.
This is a good lesson that don‘t easily believe in what people say (and write) and don‘t blindly worship someone because of what he/she said because what matters is what they do. Especially no one is flawless. That said thank this book for introducing me the poet “I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day”.
An interesting time to be reading this book, in the context of the Oscars. I was really enjoying it, and about two thirds in, when Sunday happened. I was so disappointed that I nearly bailed, but listened to the end.
Two interesting points come out of this. Firstly, his constant refrain that he has always felt like a coward that he didn‘t protect his Mum from his Dad‘s abuse. Secondly, when his daughter shaved her head as he wasn‘t ⬇️
I haven‘t seen many Will Smith films, which makes this a strange pick for me. About a quarter of the way through I thought about bailing. I don‘t love the story structure, but enjoyed the crazy and outrageous stories of Smith‘s life. While I didn‘t love the book's structure, the uniquely Will Smith experiences made it worthwhile.
The last couple of chapters are the gem. Will was so open, honest, and real about his struggles off the big screen between family and success, and the journey finding what love really means…
Audio book is also the way to do it, if you wanna hear him rap, sing, and imitate various people he encountered in his life!
As many others have said, this was one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to! Will reads, and there are snips of his hits interspersed as he takes us past those moments in the timeline. I bought the book because there are so many great quotes that I wanted to have easier access. Learning about how he got there and the choices he made was fascinating.
I love this book. I love this book so much that I bought myself a copy of the hardback. This book is so inspirational and motivating. I liked hearing Will‘s struggles and realizations through his own life. The #audiobook is probably one of the best audiobooks I‘ve listened to in my lifetime.
I just started this #audiobook last night, and listening to Will Smith read his own book is quite a gem.
#BookSpinBingo board for March 🤩 looks like an easy one.
📗#BookSipn - Will
📙#DoubleSpin - Broken Ground
@TheAromaofBooks
It took me a couple chapters to get into this audiobook. There were definitely sections where I was wondering what all the hype was about, and thinking maybe this just isn‘t for me, and then I‘d hit sections where I‘d be completely consumed by Will‘s story. I learned a lot about him, his family, and his career that I didn‘t know before, and overall I‘m definitely glad I read this one! #Nonfiction2022 #ImAdventurous @Riveted_Reader_Melissa
PSA: read as an audiobook! I have no idea who told me to do so but I am so glad I listened (pun intended). Y‘all. This was an experience. He sang, he rapped, he mimicked each voice (Will Smith‘s Arnold Schwarzenegger impression had me rolling…at work). Was this full of important life lessons? Not really. Did I have a great time? 100% yes. His natural gift for comedy combined with luck and hard work has led to an impressive list of hit movies. ⬇️
I‘ve always had respect for his acting chops, but now I have immense respect for the man behind the scenes as well. Fabulous autobiography. There‘s a lot of “there there” with Will Smith!
I wasn‘t a massive fan of Will the rapper, as a DJ myself back in the day, it was Jazzy Jeff who drew my interest. He was, & still is, one of the best scratch DeeJays & listening to his cuts was the reason to buy a Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince record. So, the first half of this book is good, charting the duo‘s rise to fame. The 2nd half (Hollywood years) is disappointing. His journey of self discovery was boring and lack of gossip was a let down
Currently reading. Has anyone read this one? I‘ve always been a fan of Will Smith so I‘m excited to read this.
Though I‘ve never thought of myself as a particular “fan” of Will Smith‘s, I‘ve enjoyed many of his movies. As a kid, I knew *all* the words to the Fresh Prince theme song, & my husband shares knowledge of the complete lyrics of Big Willie Style with his younger brother *&* his dad. In January, I learned that I could be happy listening to Will Smith talk for (almost) forever…which is fortunate because I spent 16hrs & 16minutes doing just that. 😅
Phenomenal book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@MidnightBookGirl , @kimmypete1 - my #swoonathon swap hits the mail to @StayCurious tomorrow
I thought this was pretty good. A bit bragging at times, but also honest.
I just want to laugh about the fact that I started Will Smith‘s memoir in 2021 & I‘m *still* listening to it. 😂
Don‘t get me wrong: it‘s delightful. But he‘ll never be accused of being succinct.
This vulnerable and unique journey from the streets of Philly to stardom is a reflection on standard life lessons and his personal reactions. As a reader we get to reminisce or be introduced to his iconic talent in music, tv, & movies. The audiobook provides clips of actual music and dialogue along with Will‘s famous quick whit, timing, and timber.
Maybe I saw too many rave reviews and had a high expectation, but I thought it was only ok. There were some inspirational parts as he learned lessons about life and himself, but he also spent what felt like a loooong time talking about making Ali, which was a bit much. Lots of bragging. I don‘t like him any less than I did before, but I also don‘t like him any more. 🤷🏻♀️
One of the best memoirs or autobiographies ever. Will seems to be transparent and vulnerable, sharing his journey of being human and having inner childhood issues that ran his life-like many of us if we‘re honest. If you thought about reading his book, it‘s a good one. Not because it‘s Will Smith, but because his soul is like ours. He wrote about being on a journey of spiritual transformation an interesting and complex subject.