Greenlights

Greenlights is a remarkable first book from an already renowned artist. Kind of a mashup of Anthony Bourdain with Ernest Hemingway, McConaughey tells stories with the aplomb of accomplished raconteur. Part memoir, part life guide and part ethic Greenlights is worth reading for many beyond McConaughey’s fan base; basically anyone who likes a good man’s man adventure story. Born into the lower middle class in East Texas, McConaughey looks back nostalgically at a childhood few would envy. His parents divorced and remarried each other twice, he was subject to corporal punishment and money was always an issue. Yet he doesn’t complain about disadvantage. In fact he honors his parents despite their shortcomings. He adheres to a philosophy of choosing to recalibrate what seems like the inevitable until it turns into a green light or way forward in life. After a rite of passage involving brawling with a barroom bouncer, McConaughey pursued acting with the drive and hard work ethic that was instilled into him. Finding early success, he choose to live in a way directly opposite to the Hollywood scene. Traveling the country with his dog, going off on expeditions to the middle of Africa and South America, McConaughey sees livin (drop the g to indicate it’s always a verb) as more than just the material success and creature comforts many of us settle on. Finally, after years of womanizing, McConaughey settled into a successful monogamous relationship and fulfilled his life long ambition of being a father. Nearly simultaneously he chose to walk away from lucrative rom-coms to focus on something more artistic. Initially successful in winning an Oscar for the Dallas Buyers Club, McConaughey admits that he hasn’t achieved the popular success he envisioned. But that is all grist for the mill, experiments in livin that are ongoing. If this is the kind of man you would like to read about, Greenlights will be an enjoyable and inspirational read. It’s rare that a successful actor has such a distinctive off air personality. But if you’re turned off by physical conflict, wild adventures and a man who brags about rarely showering alone than Greenlights is not for you. Personally, while not finding all parts of McConaughey’s biography admirable, I found enough of him to be so different than what Hollywood typically churns out that the book was worth reading. Recommended to all who feel they’re similarly traveling in unmapped regions and want to gather around the campfire to hear a fellow wanderer’s tales.

Worst book ever written. The only redeeming value here is that it gives you a glimpse into the mind of a Narcissist. The writing is, at best, at a Middle School level and the depth of content is yet another level below that. It’s so shallow that it’s laughable. Green light is a testament to the craziness our times - that we celebrate complete airheads like MM. The degree of arrogance and total lack of self-awareness by the Writer/Subject would be shocking if it wasn’t so amusing. If there is any order in this universe, 100’s of years from now someone will pick this book out of landfill and,after reading the first few pages, be absolutely convinced they have stumbled across one of the greatest parodies ever written about the 21st century.

All races matter. We’ve all experienced discrimination. But, this statement takes the cake. Wow! “All lives can’t matter until Black Lives Matter more” What? Does this make you feel better. This statement was written at the end of the book. I would not have proceeded any further had it been at the beginning.

Amazing book, clever and funny. Not your typical memoir, by design. As a huge fan, I enjoyed it very much. Also just got the audiobook because he narrates it and I wanna give it another round listening to him. If you like him, you’re sure to love it.

Already received and enjoying it immensely. Beautifully written with candor, humor and reflective insight. A great read.

Excellent book !! Matthew is far more complex than I ever realized. “ Y’all quit bitching about the dust jacket “ seriously cmon y’all

Disjointed thoughts. Pointless. I don’t get it. Rambling. Ridiculous waste of time. I can’t find 8 more words to describe this nonsense. Just disappointed

Question! Why is the dust cover at least an inch shorter than the book . Looks weird. Since it’s for a gift I’m concerned. And it’s a bit curled up at the edge.

The writing is entertaining, but the message is disturbing. Written by an abused, resilient, survivor who credits his abusers with his success. A better name would have been gaslight, because that's what he's done to himself to justify the horrors of his life. I'm sorry for the pain he went through, but this is not a playbook that anyone ought to follow.

He tells about a 100 foot high tree house built with stolen lumber. His brother hitting his father with 2 x 4 in the head twice. Talks about his mother and dad having a fight in the kitchen and finishs with "___" on the floor. Trip through Europe on three motorcycles where he says he rented three new hi end motorcycles for $400 each and the proprietor wanted $12,000. He says they wrecked one in Italy and the proprietor brought a new to them. The only good movie he ever made was MUD.

Greenlights is a remarkable first book from an already renowned artist. Kind of a mashup of Anthony Bourdain with Ernest Hemingway, McConaughey tells stories with the aplomb of accomplished raconteur. Part memoir, part life guide and part ethic Greenlights is worth reading for many beyond McConaughey’s fan base; basically anyone who likes a good man’s man adventure story. Born into the lower middle class in East Texas, McConaughey looks back nostalgically at a childhood few would envy. His parents divorced and remarried each other twice, he was subject to corporal punishment and money was always an issue. Yet he doesn’t complain about disadvantage. In fact he honors his parents despite their shortcomings. He adheres to a philosophy of choosing to recalibrate what seems like the inevitable until it turns into a green light or way forward in life. After a rite of passage involving brawling with a barroom bouncer, McConaughey pursued acting with the drive and hard work ethic that was instilled into him. Finding early success, he choose to live in a way directly opposite to the Hollywood scene. Traveling the country with his dog, going off on expeditions to the middle of Africa and South America, McConaughey sees livin (drop the g to indicate it’s always a verb) as more than just the material success and creature comforts many of us settle on. Finally, after years of womanizing, McConaughey settled into a successful monogamous relationship and fulfilled his life long ambition of being a father. Nearly simultaneously he chose to walk away from lucrative rom-coms to focus on something more artistic. Initially successful in winning an Oscar for the Dallas Buyers Club, McConaughey admits that he hasn’t achieved the popular success he envisioned. But that is all grist for the mill, experiments in livin that are ongoing. If this is the kind of man you would like to read about, Greenlights will be an enjoyable and inspirational read. It’s rare that a successful actor has such a distinctive off air personality. But if you’re turned off by physical conflict, wild adventures and a man who brags about rarely showering alone than Greenlights is not for you. Personally, while not finding all parts of McConaughey’s biography admirable, I found enough of him to be so different than what Hollywood typically churns out that the book was worth reading. Recommended to all who feel they’re similarly traveling in unmapped regions and want to gather around the campfire to hear a fellow wanderer’s tales.

Worst book ever written. The only redeeming value here is that it gives you a glimpse into the mind of a Narcissist. The writing is, at best, at a Middle School level and the depth of content is yet another level below that. It’s so shallow that it’s laughable. Green light is a testament to the craziness our times - that we celebrate complete airheads like MM. The degree of arrogance and total lack of self-awareness by the Writer/Subject would be shocking if it wasn’t so amusing. If there is any order in this universe, 100’s of years from now someone will pick this book out of landfill and,after reading the first few pages, be absolutely convinced they have stumbled across one of the greatest parodies ever written about the 21st century.

All races matter. We’ve all experienced discrimination. But, this statement takes the cake. Wow! “All lives can’t matter until Black Lives Matter more” What? Does this make you feel better. This statement was written at the end of the book. I would not have proceeded any further had it been at the beginning.

Amazing book, clever and funny. Not your typical memoir, by design. As a huge fan, I enjoyed it very much. Also just got the audiobook because he narrates it and I wanna give it another round listening to him. If you like him, you’re sure to love it.

Already received and enjoying it immensely. Beautifully written with candor, humor and reflective insight. A great read.

Excellent book !! Matthew is far more complex than I ever realized. “ Y’all quit bitching about the dust jacket “ seriously cmon y’all

Disjointed thoughts. Pointless. I don’t get it. Rambling. Ridiculous waste of time. I can’t find 8 more words to describe this nonsense. Just disappointed

Question! Why is the dust cover at least an inch shorter than the book . Looks weird. Since it’s for a gift I’m concerned. And it’s a bit curled up at the edge.

The writing is entertaining, but the message is disturbing. Written by an abused, resilient, survivor who credits his abusers with his success. A better name would have been gaslight, because that's what he's done to himself to justify the horrors of his life. I'm sorry for the pain he went through, but this is not a playbook that anyone ought to follow.

He tells about a 100 foot high tree house built with stolen lumber. His brother hitting his father with 2 x 4 in the head twice. Talks about his mother and dad having a fight in the kitchen and finishs with "___" on the floor. Trip through Europe on three motorcycles where he says he rented three new hi end motorcycles for $400 each and the proprietor wanted $12,000. He says they wrecked one in Italy and the proprietor brought a new to them. The only good movie he ever made was MUD.

I am not sure what I exp, ected, but I was so horribly disappointed. I did not even finish the book, and I never give up on one. It just made me feel like I was reading about someone I would never want to meet, and whose life I did not find appealing or interesting in any way.

I knew I needed to read this memoir. Didn’t know why though? But I think I do now. Just finished it. I didn’t grow up with a mentor. A baby needs it’s mother. A boy needs his father. I don’t blame my own for not being there. He was later in life... and that counts for a hell of a lot. Never felt comfortable around men growing up. Didn’t feel a part of the club. Had an incredibly strong mother though. She filled both roles best she could. Did a damn fine job considering. I found myself attaching to characters in films. Actors. They were the only teachers I could learn from that didn’t ask questions at the end of the lesson. I could be a silent student of how a man should conduct himself. I probably built my entire structure of self from a collage of characters in films circa 1983-2003. Of course I had NO IDEA who I was until I was 35. And let me tell you.... I didn’t like the guy that I “thought” I was. I was all the darkness and brood of all of my favorite lost, troubled characters with tiny remnants of light shining through the more redeeming, shiny honorable ones. Of course it would only make sense that I would need another actors book to lead me to the next ascension of my “manhood”. He made it basic with his approach. I’m going to tell you this story. You’re going to read along. You’re either going to connect the dots and apply... or simply turn the page and move on. I realized that I seriously lack the hard work and conviction to truly climb my mountaintop. Let me tell you... I have some high peaks set for myself. With absolutely NO climbing experience. Want to soar through the clouds like a hawk but I’m scared of heights. Of course I’ve learned a few tricks along the way. I’ve lived a damn fine life by some standards. A calamitous train wreck by others. Earned my scars. Tattooed my place like only a beating chest man can. But deep down inside I still feel like a boy. A boy in a rudderless sailboat. Seasick. Vertigoed. Virgo-ed. (See what I did there;) Back to the book. I read of a man that I had little interest in. Matthew McConaughey. Always seemed abit too cleancut for me. A bit too All-American. The quarterback. The outdoorsey, fisherman. Cool southern drawl with a laissez faire attitude. Crossbred with a stoned surfer So-Cal vibe. Nah, not for me. I like my actors to be a little rougher around the edges. Razor edges at that. Near death even. *im working on changing that appeal* But his work in True Detective especially perked my ears and eyes. Maybe there’s something more to this Hollywood cowboy. Speaking of Hollywood~ I lived there for 9 years and 8 months. I’m proud of that. Not so proud of my lack of productivity whilst living there but that’s another story for another time. Anyhow, the reason I write this is that I can’t say enough about “Greenlights”. I laughed, I cried, I thought a lot about my life and how it went all wrong. I mean... i don’t want anyone else’s life. I want my own. I just want to taste the sweet, cold mountain air of that damned peak I wish to summit. I just don’t have the tools yet. But I’m acquiring them. This year has been hell for many. But it’s been healing for me. I’ve let go of some serious flaws. Really worked on letting go of that boyish mindset. (While keeping some of the fun parts;) I guess the main truth that I took away from the read was that I have to be MY OWN HERO. The lead of MY MOVIE. Rooting for ME to conquer the mountain. Stop being a silent observer. Waiting for the perfect time. The time is NOW. J K LIVIN. Maybe for those of you that need the same thing in your lives.... That nudge in the right direction. This book can help put things into perspective. It’s written by a man who wants to help his fellow man. Yes, a man that’s lived an extraordinary life. But his story didn’t start out extraordinary. He MADE IT extraordinary. With a little help from some friends~ greenlights *one word*

Did not expect the author to be so foul mouthed. Very disappointing.

I am a UT Alum and a big fan of Matthew McConaughey, but if you were expecting some thought provoking philosophical masterpiece or anything groundbreaking, you will be disappointed. You can read the whole book in an afternoon. I already gave my copy to a neighbor. (sigh)

Let me start by saying that Matthew Mcconaughey is my favorite actor. Having said that, this is by far the worst book I have ever read in a life in which I have read thousands of books. It is filled with the most banal, worn-out aphorisms and trivialities, and stupid nonsense. Those "famous people" who provided bookjacket reviews must either be close friends of the author, want to be close friends, or just didn't read this terrible book.

Very disappointed. I guess I have watched his films which I enjoy and assumed things about the person.

Absolutely amazing! I have no been able to put it down since I’ve opened the box.

Im sorry not going to give this book a good review as much as i wanted to but not going to read a colorful adjective and cuss words on very first page returning it

Wow, the book was a big let down for me. Is he trying to set up residual income or what? I don't get the purpose of the book and I read it after watching interviews of him talking about it. It's like, Oh, oh look at me and what I have done? Notes that made no sense and had nothing to do with what was on the page or even the chapter plus making a big point of having a routine of masturbating, telling things that have no business being told about his family, for what purpose? I think it could have been much better had it not been written in such a child like manner starving for recognition and attention. And really, no lives matter until black lives matter? Hugh??? Really disappointing.

I like Mathew as an actor and a person. I believe we all could have written such a book except we are not Multi Millionaire movie stars. Expected a little more about people he worked with. He mention his Best Actor Award for Dallas Buyers Club but no mention about Jarred Leto winning Best Supporting Actor. At the end he mentioned George Floyd as a martyr but no mention as to what a criminal he really was like holding a loaded pistol to the belly of a former pregnant girl friend who had a restraining order against him for past assaults'.....why the mention in the first place. Was it really sincere or just a bone to through his lib friends in Hollywood. Is their no escape from politics?

1-1 Greenlights The first half of this is book is intresting although Parts of it are to silly to be believed. ONE example is the trip he made to Hollywood to try to get a part in a movie and the agent told him to become cool and suggested that he go to Europe for a while. We are to believe that he and two friends went to a stranger in Europe who sold motorcycles who rented them three upscale motorcycles for $400 each. One was eventually wrecked and the dealer comes, picks up the bike and gives the riderless guy a new bike to use. All this is hard to believe. Even harder, when he gets back to Hollywood he is suddenly “cool” and thus begins a successful acting career. I’ve taken several long motorcycle trips and yet, alas, when I came back I was no cooler than I was when I left. The guy mentions a book entitled “the greatest salesman who ever lived” which he tells us changed his life. It depicts Jesus as a leader of 12 guys who was a real salesman and busnessman. The author, like the book, is as deep as a potato chip. I hope he manages to read a real book on Christianity, e.g. Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis. I if he is obedient he may acquire some depth. As it is, he is a “cool” fellow without either principles or depth that are discernable in this book. I wouldn’t recommend it for my children. The second half is a waste of time and I was forced to skim it.

This is seriously the most AWFUL thing I have read. If I had to choose one word it would be rambling. I am sure it made sense to the writer and a few of his close friends but without that personal knowledge there are very few areas of clarity. Money wasted!

Not a very well written meaningful book imho . I don’t find this book interesting or insightful at all . I get the impression that he really traded on his famous name and acting ability to get this rather rambling and narcissistic book in a very strangely written way ,published. I really felt bad for him and his brothers as they all grew up in a dysfunctional crazy mess of a family. MCconnahey ( sp ? ) just rambles on in a very strange way and doesn’t seem to even begin to understand ( sadly ) that he grew up in an abusive very sad household and at times I was just as lost as he sounds . He’s a pretty talented actor in most of his movies and has boyish good looks but he is no author and the book is a bit of a rambling mess . Don’t waste your money . There are so many talented writers out there who have something meaningful to say who we can also learn from . I hope he will get some actual good therapy and look into what went so terribly wrong in his life and family.I could not finish his book because it was a mess and I’m so sorry he went through what he did and his brothers growing up . Very poorly written again with no learned insight. And nothing much to say

I bought the kindle edition and read it in two days. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are really a fan. Matthew was great in A Time to Kill and the Lincoln Lawyer but I liked him best in the romantic comedies. I know that actors want to stretch their wings but he lost me at Dallas Buyers Club. I am happy that he found the love of his life and is a family man, kind of unheard of in Hollywood. I don't know why he had to share so much of his personal life...for me I was turned off by that. Prepare for language and improper conduct but apparently he needed to share it. I felt sorry for his upbringing by both parents..I'm surprised he survived it!!! His faith in God is real and I applaud him for that.

Hey I love Matthew McConaughey as an actor. I don't know him personally but have seen interviews with him and he seems like a cool guy to sit down and have a beer with. That being said, I bought this book new for cheap on Amazon as I didn't want to pay $30 for it (and I'm glad I didn't). I am halfway through the book and I am done. Sure McConaughey is an interesting cat and he does have a few stories typical of anyone's life story. Except his story is NOT typical of anyone's life story. It's hard to relate to someone who, at least half-way through the book got about every break ("GREENLIGHT!") and then some. Good for him but the reality is that if he had grown up, say of a different ethnic background, I sincerely doubt he would be where he is today. The book is made up of stories of his upbringing in Texas, the good student, his HIgh School's "Most Handsome" guy, his travels to Australia, motorcyling across Europe and then every Greenlight to where he is today. Like I said, kudos to him, but "ho-hum." I can write my life story and include some of the experiences and insights I have survived with,and it is a helluva lot more interesting than this book, but no one would give a bleep. I just didn't get mostly GREENLIGHTS (mostly RED LIGHTS) but most of us don't and we are thankful when we do get a break. But hey that is REAL LIFE. Anyway I wish Matthew McConaughey all the best (like he needs it) but ths book is highly OVER-rated and I am pretty disappointed that I can't force myself to read the entire book. Anyway this is my opinion. I still think he is a marvelous actor. Thanks! A fan.

I was a fan of his since his movie, "Lincoln Lawyer". Truthfully I did not finish the book (quit after about 3/4 way through) as his self aggrandizement was a little too much for me. Hard to tell if he actually did all the stuff he claimed or was just making up stuff as he went along. He might stick with making movies, just say'in.

sophomoric narcissistic stream of conscious rambling he’s a pretty good actor but not a philosopher honestly felt i deserved a refund

I think Matthew should have allowed his ghost writer greater control in how the manuscript was developed. The book has a interesting spots,, but were overshadowed by the random, incoherent ramblings throughout.

Heard about the book on Gary Vees podcast Yesterday, place the order immediately after listening to the interview and received the book today. Got home from the office and four hours later I’m just now taking a break, I’m a little over halfway through the book and I’m forcing myself to pause and die just the first half. i’ve highlighted and tabbed and folded so many pages, wow. i’ve even pulled my 10 and 9 year old sons in to read a few things out loud. they have even asked a couple times “why are you laughing? why are you smiling”. such a great read. so humble and raw and transparent.

I have always admired his work and bought his new book right away! Lately his political views have taken over the man he seemed to be. Sad really disappointing.

Matthew is so much about himself it detracts hugely from a potentially excellent book. Did not go into some dark corners vaguely hinted at that could have added depth. Did not develop others in his life. Only all the wonderful accomplishments of Matthew. It all came just too easy. Matt....read “A pale faced lie” for some perspective on true accomplishment. Maybe some insight on what to do with the remainder of your life. GIVE BACK!

I like MM as an actor but clearly his “writing” style is not typical of most authors. I had so many instances (while reading this book) of “why did he include that?”.....it was not a typical memoir as I had hoped. I don’t think, based on this book, I would ever read another one of his offerings. I am glad so many people seemed to enjoy it, I was not one of them.

I had high hopes for this book because of so many positive reviews. This is the first time I have ever posted such a negative review on Amazon. I really like the author, his performance in Dallas Buyer's Club was stunning. This book was banal, boring. Comparing him to Bourdain and Hemingway?? You must be kidding. He is quite impressed with himself throughout the book and it shows. The "notes" of wisdom that he writes are trite. Someone else compared this to middle school writing, that is spot on. There were a couple of chapters near the end when he talked about his mother that were amusing. That was it. If you are looking for a good memoir, look elsewhere.

What a narcists. He should stick to acting as writing is clearly not one of his strengths. I also don't care for his book promotion tours as he dips in to politics labeling people and groups - poor form. I was going to donate this to Goodwill but decided a better place was in the garbage so no one else has to suffer through it.

This lame stab at a memoir quite frankly, sucks.

I bought this book with high hopes, and I was very disappointed. I read 41 pages and it is horrible I have no desire to finish the book and I have never not finished a book. It’s just so bad. I’m not interested at all in reading anymore of the book. I agree with most people on here the jacket on the book is to small and it’s a hassle when reading. I wonder if Amazon will give me my money back and I will return the book. I plan to call customer service and inquire about it.

I love Matthew, always had a school girl crush on him so the book was interesting in the fact that I liked to learn things about his up bringing, but overall the book was poorly written and the cut outs of this journals were not really legible. It was a tad hard to follow. I kept going back to re-read to see if I had missed something, I didn’t. It just simply wasn’t there. He came off as very full of himself. He certainly hasn’t had the struggles that most others have had. Looks like things have always just fallen in his lap. Overall. I’d say the book was OK, but definitely not anywhere near great. I saw this on someones review of the book and couldn’t agree more..... “The book has interesting spots,, but were overshadowed by the random, incoherent ramblings throughout.”

Look at the two pages I photographed. The scribbling is almost completely illegible and there are letters hidden in the middle because whoever was in charge of editing before final printing didn't do their job to be sure all could be seen to read. The thick black handwritten pages are a very poor choice of how to print something for consumers. Before I stopped reading, my impression of the book is that it is nothing more than an ego trip that Matthew McConaughey's movie actor fame made possible to be printed. His "advice" about life, about a lot of things is riddled with bible thumping B.S. Surprisingly, that superstitious stuff is combined with descriptions of debauchery, which led to my assigning one star instead of zero stars. Save your money. Even if someone gives you a copy, take it to the used bookstore for a credit and buy a better book to read.

The joke is on me because I was the fool who purchased Greenlights. It just felt like a self indulgent project. The more I read, the more I didn't care. However, when I commit to a book I will finish it, but what a waste of time. The last two pages of the book were odd; it felt as though they were just thrown in there to make it relevant to 2020. I'm sticking with books by Stephen E. Ambrose...that was a true storyteller.

Just finished this great read! Learned a few things along the way. #alrightalrightalright was unscripted and his FIRST words and movie, ever. What kinda gift is that!? Beautiful. Another quote that kind of stuck with me, "we were reminded that all lives couldn't matter until black lives matter more." Surely was a "McConaissance" read. Highly recommend. Thanks for sharing your story Matthew McConaughey A+ in a sea full of C's.

Don't bother. Just blew money to read this. What a waste . I love matthew mcconaughey but this was a rip off.

I had to return without reading, the kindle edition is illegible

Let me first state that I am a McConaughey fan ever since I saw him in "A Time to Kill". What woman could keep from falling into those dimples or swimming in those eyes. He is darn cute. That being said, I found his book to be cumbersome reading and I had a hard time following many of his existential thoughts. I think he is honest and unapologetic. I think he is a man searching still to be his best self as a father and as an actor. I can admire that.

Looks like a 2nds/surplus product ...not a full price First Edition. Very disappointed...a purchase that I eagerly waited to receive. The Amazon photo shows the gold 'book'....but leads you to believe it is a border of the dust jacket. Found a picture of the book in the author's FB page, based on an interview in UK...and it depicts a full book size dust jacket. Lends itself to sloppy work. Low star rating for presentation...haven't read the book yet. Disappointment overtook anticipation.

2.5 stars, I should have known better than to go in with high hopes. A few great stories but also a lot of rambling. Sometimes it felt like Hansel from Zoolander talking about doing ecstasy with tigers floating down the river in South America. Weird. And the bumper stickers... ugh. I’m sure it’s a good audiobook though.

I liked the book because it kept me going till the end. What I did not like was that I was offended by some of the book. I am glad he learned values from his parents, because some of what they did I thought abusive, as he acknowledged in the book. Some of his personal habits that he shared so freely were offensive. However, he is a man of great thought and will. I admire that. I wish him well, and hope his kids do not read this for a long long time.

I actually like this guy as an actor. That was the main reason I bought this book. This book revealed that the author is nothing but another self absorbed Hollywood actor who, with the exception of being an actor, has led an unremarkable life. I keep almost all my books after reading them. Sometimes I will loan them to friends. After reading the last line of this book, I walked immediately to the trash and threw it away. A total waste of time and money.

Was hoping would be insightful & readable (it is), but found shallow & offensive. Wish wasn't so, because bought a ton of copies. Returning now, as just can't giving this as an appropriate gift. Would point to Andre Agassi bio instead. Far better written.

Normal people go to therapy to deal with their issues, but I guess idiot celebrities get million $$$ book deals with intentionally incorrect dust jackets. I don't know why McConaughey opens the book trying to justify and explain away his parents' abuse -- this is NOT okay. It is truly disturbing that he and his publisher are trying to normalize domestic abuse and child abuse. This is DISGUSTING. You were abused Matthew -- go to therapy, accept it, but for the love of God please stop putting your abusive parents on a pedestal.

Look I am surprised as you are. I saw Mathew had interviewed with Tim Ferris so I read the sample and then the entire book and I really liked it! Mathew is a wonderful story teller and his life is very interesting. But here’s why I think it is very good—he is a disciplined, authentic person with great values. I love how he listens to his dreams, keeps himself balanced by eating heads of lettuce and Ketchup at 18 when he is an exchange student in Australia simply to do something difficult so his head could get cleared and then goes on and does it the rest of his life! Not the eating head lettuce but listening to his dreams and going to the Amazon by himself and then Africa. He clears himself of Hollywood and overindulgence and too many romcoms. He creates himself ready for Dallas Buyers Club because he knows himself and he prepares and deeply knows his “man”. I didn’t care for most of his philosophizing and ersatz poetry but I loved the meat of the book very much. Greenlight to Mathew: he really is a loving guy, a smart guy, and a wonderful actor.

I have been reading Kindle Books for years. First time this ever happened to me. Book locked up at the 4% point and took several calls to Help Desk. Had to archive and retrieve everything on the Kindle to continue reading. Happened a second time at the 45% point in the book. Tech support told me the Kindle was old and probably needed to be replaced. So I ordered a new Kindle and am awaiting delivery. Existing Kindle works great for every other function. Not sure why Greenlights is different. Gave me 15% discount and $15 rebate toward my new one.. I still don't believe my existing Kindle is defective. My name is Mike Kress and there is a ticket 80529820894 still open (I hope).

This book is one thing without a doubt: Genuine. Matthew McConaughey has lived an incredible life, and within this book he shares both the low points and high points of his life so far. This includes vulnerable journal entries he's written over the course of his lifetime. They were never meant to be immaculate revelations that were polished or edited. They are raw for a reason. Those journal entries are proof that this man has the courage to piece together a larger puzzle, to ponder his existence and self reflect on his actions. It's cathartic, it's something we should all do. Throughout the book Matthew is proud he didn't take on the role of victim despite certain misfortunes out of his control. He's mature enough to recognize he has his advantages, such as natural good looks and god given charisma. Throughout his life he's taken real risks and he shares those with the reader. To me if you view Matthew's earnest revelations, and willingness to share his personal journal entries as anything other than commendable you have a screw loose. Learn to love others for being bold and different. To anybody bashing this book relentlessly I ask the following: Have you traveled the world and experienced other peoples cultures (Matthew did before fame)? Have you ever taken a risk where you face total humiliation or certain glory? Have you ever dedicated your life to a craft with every ounce of your being on a daily basis despite the fear of failure? Did you eventually find success? Have you reflected again and again on why exactly you acted that way at the time only to admit you were wrong and needed to grow up? Are you striving to continuously better yourself on a mental, physical and spiritual level even though we're all headed toward a certain death? Matthew McConaughey is a commendable man and inspiration. Open your mind and heart. Go live a genuine life! You might only get one!!

His book was more than all right all right all right! It’s filled with some of the best story telling I’ve ever read. Lots of stories and experiences in his life. It’s different than any other book I’ve read as well. It’s like a mirror. It makes you look into your life and question who you are, what you’ve done, and many more without trying. It’s about balance and not trying to hard. It’s about being and living who you really. Not acting, not trying but simply being. Livin your truth! Check it out- Sincerely, Collin - just someone seeking their own truth

I have had a "mom crush" on Matthew McConaughey for a long time, so I was interested in reading this book. It's essentially autobiographical, but he has a lot of his poetry mixed in. Not a fan of that. HIs family is pretty unique and quirky, to put it mildly. I guess that's where he gets his from. Overall, interesting to read about his "outhouse to penthouse" story, but I found myself skipping through the "artsy" parts. Minister of Culture at UT, huh? Whatever.

To say I am disappointed with this book, is putting it mildly. I do not kn0ow what I was expecting, but THIS is certainly not it. The writing is disjointed, and, totally nonsensical in places. I found it to be more "look at me, what I accomplished", than passing on good vibes. His "mention" of GOD, was not Thankful or appreciation of what He had (has) done in the author's life; rather, acknowledgement THAT there is a God. I found it to be a TERRIBLE autobiography. Matthew should stick to ACTING and leave writing to the EXPERTS. Total waste of my time & money.

Did not meet expectations; this was mostly about McConaughey's adventures sprinkled with insights one might find in a personal journal. The early chapters were interesting and at times very funny.... but the post-it like personal insights through out the book lacked the depth of true life lessons..tied to nothing....floating out there in a reality only he understands. Seemed like McConaughey's looking to be cool AND deep but for me, came off as impressed with himself. Made it through chapter 6...too much affectation.

I know it’s a memoir, but I found the book too self-absorbed and overbearing even for one. Where are all the red and yellow lights Matthew talked about in all the promoting he’d done for the book? The book is riddled with feel-good sections about dreams coming true ending with “Greenlight” and the only instance where he delivered on the promise of countless red lights turning green might be his 20-month sabbatical when he doggedly rejected all romcom roles until he landed the hard-hitting drama movies he’d been craving. There were a lot of incidents and stories that he recounted that I did find fun to read, like the trips to Australia, Africa and South America and the unending RV road trip across America, but frankly looking back everything just seems a bit too overwrought and bombastic. And why does he have to say every time he had a life-changing wet dream? Just call it a dream, man. Nobody’s interested in your plumbing.

Love me some McConaughey. This book is a fun read, I could easily hear Matthew reading it to me since his writing reflects his speech so clearly. A fun biography of a young man making his own way and sharing the tenets he’s made for himself along the way. Not everyone will agree with his choices or his way of thinking, but it has worked well for him. There’s the magic. He makes that very clear, find YOUR way, know who YOU are and be true to THAT. Recommended for anyone looking for some inspiration. This book has a lot of heart when taken in as one man’s journey into himself.

This book has some bad language. I think I would of enjoyed this book more if he had somone help him write it.

I had a 12 hour drive to Florida ahead of me and I wanted to listen to a good book. I couldn’t decide but as soon as I brought up Audible, Matthew McConaughey's book, “Greenlights' ', was listed at the top of the biographies. I’ve read a number of good biographies, and I like Matthew McConaughey, primarily since he appeared in the movie Contact with Jodie Foster. "Contact" by Carl Sagan is one of my favorite books. His portrayal of the mysterious man of God, in that movie, was so good it launched his career. Apart from his good looks, he really sold the “Man of the Cloth'' to the audience. And maybe that’s because, after reading his book, in his real life McConaughey is a man of great spirituality. That said, you will not find his religion in any orthodox church. He is entirely unorthodox having created his spirituality in the church of life and penned his own belief system based upon the green light of a traffic signal. It’s all about how we avoid the reds and yellows and take the greens. This is what he based his premise for Greenlights…not disrupting the flow, but allowing what comes at you to continue. Compare that to the philosophy of “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, by Garth Stein, a book of tragic circumstance--that you must see in advance, that what manifests before you-- so as not to lose your grip on the road of life. The analogy to driving is there in both cases but in McConaughey's life, which is unlike most common people, after a few good turns and basket full of optimism, he was set up to avoid the red lights all together and thus blow though any yellows if it became necessary. Not that that’s a bad thing, it's just very uncommon. Most of us get traffic tickets. Despite a well crafted read (or listen) I was disappointed that it appears McConaughey has never read “The Great Gatsby”. Whereas Gatsby’s “Green Light” is a little different, to not mention the most famous green light in literary history, in a book called Greenlights, is a tremendous faux pas. Despite his talents he does not appear to be well read. Had he known, he would have included it...or least explained why it doesn’t apply to his life. I blame the publisher. From my perspective, McConaughey deeply believes in the Green Light. “The orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter. Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.” Come on!! This is exactly the optimism of McConaughey’s “Greenlights”. Maybe it was a fear of copyright infringement, however it literally entered the public domain on 1 January, 2021. Perhaps they didn’t want to wait. But the absence of reference is critical to me. Not to detract from McConaughey’s intellect. I was surprised that he is indeed a keen observer of life. He has enormous self awareness and introspection. So much introspection that he has been compelled to trek the world in search of the source for inspiration he finds in his dreams. Again, the common person does not have the means to go on these extended journeys of discovery on multiple continents. What’s amazing to me is he kept a journal and a scrap book for most of his life. He's traveled to Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, almost on a whim. He kept many journals as a deep record of his thoughts, feelings, and the inner workings of his soul. Anyone who reads it will be better for it. It makes me wish I had kept a journal. And because I’ve always been fond of bumper stickers he had me early with his call out to the importance of these early memes. We all have bumper stickers for our own lives...he just remembered to keep them...or write them down. The other thing I really like about McConaughey, apart from definitely being a man of letters, is that he is a poet. Perhaps his profession has trained him to be this man of words. Or perhaps, his ability to use words, has aided him in his profession. And he has grown in the role so fully that he is now a master. So can there be any doubt that he’s written his own book? What’s doubly appealing, that, as an actor, he narrates his audio-book. I can tell you, the time I spent listening to his story while driving to Florida, in his words, through his voice and characterizations, was as entertaining as any of his movies. However you do miss his scrapbook of pictures in the audiobook version. Had I had it to do over, I would listen and read the book in front of me. Alas. it is doubtful I will give Greenlights a second read. In today’s world, reading one book, and making it through, is a high complement with so many classics to read and reread. Alas I will not reread, but perhaps use as a reference and I certainly recommend it. I’m a fan of McConaughey, this book is for his fans, and will no doubt win some new ones. I will continue to be a fan and recommend this book to those who would like to see, feel, (and hear in the case of an audio-book) a man’s life that has been well considered and well lived. And he’s only 50. I’m going to start with 4-stars for Matthew. Deduct 1-star for missing the criticality of Gatsby’s Green Light, and then add 1-star back for his narration of the audio-book. Well done Matthew!

What kind of cheap hardcover book cover is this I’m sending it back just ridiculous

(It was a "design choice"; I know, I know). Such tall tales and such stupid, vapid "philosophy". Yes, men must fight it out and be hit in the head with a two by four to prove their manliness. Business owners in Europe often let people use their new motorcycles for the pure joy of seeing people happily touring Europe. When one crashes, they just take another brand new motorcycle to them - no charge. The tall tales go on and on. Seriously. Don't waste your money.

I thought the book was ok, the formatting, thought was terrible. This is the first book that I have not been able to change text font size. Font was very small and hard to read. The inserts were impossible to read most of he time, and now for a new twist, it seems you cannot exit the kindle book until a review is left.

This is a book you just can't put down. I plowed through it at a speed you would normally think of with a trash novel, but it isn't. It is brilliant, fun, unexpected, and a lot more. There are nuggets of gold in the life lessons and the convictions he was raised upon. But, mostly it is just fun. The poetry and bumperstickers just add to the whole experience. I would highly recommend the audio version with the written. I actually found myself going back and listening to sections I had already read just to hear him say it. It is outstanding and honestly I wish it would have just kept going... Maybe another book.... green light

I am going to keep this simple. I purchased this book with minimal expectations but to enjoy hearing about Matthews life and his ideas. I am about 3/4 the way thru and thus, minimal substance and not even that enjoyable. I find myself stretching to think that maybe there is more, I do not think so. Finished the book and the only positive comment is Matt introduced me to a reggae musician, Mishka. Thank you

The reading level is about middle school. definitely pass on this and dont waste time reading something that adds no value to your life - just a time drain. I like him as an actor but this book really makes me think twice about the guy. He has a lot of opportunity here to talk about important issues facing society today and instead really just puffs himself up for having pursued selfish interests.

This man wins at life, and it radiates throughout this books.

Like many others ... mine came with a ripped and very odd fitting dust cover. The cover doesn’t even fit the entire book.... I feel like I got a knock off. Returning.

Plowed through about 40 pages before losing interest. It is written in a very affected, self-congratulatory style.

Mathew McConaughey has lived a very fortunate life. Green light is a great metaphor for white entitlement and the assumption that things will be fine on the other side of some risky venture in this great US of A. Greenlight. Many anecdotes were well written. Surprisingly many anecdotes tied to his most important priority (aka being a father) were not that interesting or insightful. The book spent the most time focused on his most narcissistic passions. Moved fast in parts. Slow in others. Matthew tried really hard to show he went through some hardship in life and those early anecdotes were the most interesting. After that, annoyingly good things just kept happening and when they didn’t he’d take a break and - soon - things would return back to normal.

MM has lived an extraordinary life; great lessons come through in the stories he recounts. Unfortunately, he writes ad nauseam with lengthy philosophy that is repetitive and exhausting, with those interesting life stories intermixed. His editor should have cut out a third of the book, because I was constantly skipping large paragraphs just to keep my interest. He’s learned a lot of lessons, but apparently not “less is more” when it comes to conveying his thoughts.

I honestly believe what was said in the book, but I have a hard time believing that it could be inspirational to the average individual. Most people in this world can not take off work and experience the things that Matthew did. The average person does not have the ability to not work for 20+ months.

McConaughey is an amazing actor, but after reading Greenlights, which I finished in two sittings because it was so good, I think his storytelling ability might be the best thing he has going for him. He is one of those people who just knows how to live an interesting life. One of those people you would stay up until 6AM listening to tell you stories and sharing ideas and thoughts. One of those people everyone else just looks at and says, man, that guy knows how to LIVE. In Greenlights, McConaughey shares all of his insights and wisdom into how to live one of those lives. He can build an amazing page-turning story and interweave lessons to live your life by right into it. This is truly a book I know I will read more than just once or twice, which I did not think it would be going into it. There is some really valuable stuff in here once you get past the "I'm reading a book by an actor it can't be THAT good" idea. Yeah, he's a famous actor and yes, it really is THAT good. The guy knows how to live an insanely good and meaningful life and if you would like to learn a thing or two about that, I would highly recommend it.

Entertaining and funny. This book is probably exactly what you would expect- it is told in McConaughey's cool, laid-back style and is filled with interesting stories and anecdotes that will make you laugh out loud. He takes you through his life, highlighting the red, yellow, and green lights. He looks back on his past successes and failures and considers how everything led to where he is today. He emphasizes the importance of values and continually trying to improve in this life. The book is interspersed with his favorite bumper stickers and poetry that he has written along the way, a lot of it portraying his philosophic musings. Overall, he seems like a genuine guy, truly interested in life and livin, grateful for what he has accomplished and what life has to offer. This is a fascinating read and would make a great gift as I think most anyone will find it entertaining and enlightening. From living with a strange Australian family to accepting wrestling matches in remote tribal villages to preparing for his many memorable roles, this book is hard to put down and will you keep you wanting to know what happens next.

I hate this. Couldn't get through how wonderful he thinks he is.

Among all the Hollywood stars, M.M. has always seemed to have a deeper dimension than most of the other stars, sort of like a 'thinker', a person who thinks, observes things in life, and analyzes it. So, I was quite excited to give his book a try, but very soon it started to feel like a high-school girl diary. It is partly due to the format of using different colors for words, little pasted cut-outs which I don't quite understand what they are (something he wrote, something someone else wrote..?), his world travel photos, and partly due to the content of the book, which seems quite superficial (his dad's rights of passage, his world travels..). I don't know.. I suppose everyone who manages to pull off a full-length book deserves some praise. I think M.M. definitely has a potential to write a truly good book, as long as he finds a topic worthy of our time and as long as he stays away from 'high register' 'deep' words that seem out of place most of the time. Greatest writers wrote in a very simple language. Again, good try, but not very insightful and not really worth the time.

Interesting book, quick read. The last pages discuss COVID and other current issues in the US. Doesn’t fit well with the rest of the story. I’ve been reading as an escape from the drama.

So disappointed the cover (jacket) of this book is clearly the wrong size. It is too small and does not protect the hard covered book.Where is the quality control?

I love auto-biographies. This is not a one that I could even understand. He is unfocused and repetitive in vague details. Please just stick to acting. Clearly, you need a script.

Beautifully produced book, with lots of photographs and references to the author's journals. But it just was not as interesting. He is a really decent person and while that is good to know, it is not as interesting.... Also the book is a bit hard to follow due to the absence of a narrative. Good vibes though...

Pretty good book written by one of my favorite actors. Great job and good insight regarding his path to stardom. Stay humble.

This book brought me discernment, discipline, many joyful laughs, and my mindset to a changing point. Matthew conveys his values and themes in ways everyone can understand, and most importantly within thorough examples. Do yourself the favor and give this a read. It's worth your time. Literature like this really does make the world a better place, and has the tendency to bring us together as human beings.

I bought this for a gift. The edges on the pages are all warped and wavy. Not suitable for a gift. I reordered this item hoping the binding, etc. would be suitable for a gift. This time the book is better but still very poor quality. Very disappointed.

Someone recommended this book and now I know it was meant in jest. I like the author actor. This publication of his diary entries is nonsensical and without context. Sadly, there is no story to follow here. I regret making this purchase without reading reviews first.

I am sorry I bought this book. It was so highly reviewed but it was slow and plodding.

I loved the way Matthew wrote this book, using his journal and following him as he navigated his life journey. It wasn't what I expected but so much more. I laughed out loud a number of times, shed a few tears, was surprised often by how far he went to find out who he was. His commitment to wait once he decided the kind of people he wanted to represent as an actor and his wife's support was inspiring. The people he met a !ong the way were so diverse and interesting. His acknowledgement at the end of the book was such a tribute to those who made an impact on his life. I was deeply affected by his love of family and God. This book gave me introspective in my own life. I believe this is a must read book for anyone and each person will take away something different. This was an exceptional book. Thank you for writing it.

The story that unfolds in Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights is more than the actor’s autobiography. It is an intimate look into a person who truly made life his own. An educated and talented person, he certainly would have seen success following the safe and known path to a happy life. He chose a path that was more about being fulfilled and happy even if it meant taking risks and venturing down an unconventional path that could be a dead end. His term of greenlights for the times in one’s life when some action or event opens a new path forward is insightful. His life was not all greenlighted. There were many redlights and yellowlights. He took a path that most of us are hesitant and often downright unwilling to take seeing the possible outcome as being a setback. To me, the message in this book is to be the best that you can be at whatever you do. Take risks! Face the things that hold you back head-on. You may breakthrough or not. It’s a victory in either case. You become stronger especially when you don’t. You develop a strong desire to find the greenlight. I recommend the book to anyone looking to be a better person and live a better life. I would have never imagined Matthew McConaughey as a life coach. This book proved me wrong. The honesty and straightforward approach to telling his story will have the reader seeing life through a different lens.

Listening to Matthew McConaughey is like sitting in a small-town bar enjoying a beer with an old high school buddy while John Mellencamp strums his guitar through the speakers—familiar, real, and raw. I chose to listen to Greenlights because I wanted to hear Matthew McConaughey’s words in his Texan twang. Then I bought the hardcover for the pictures. Not knowing much about him, I didn’t have expectations other than thinking the book would be glamourous and glitzy like all of Hollywood. Boy, was I wrong. I had seen a few of his movies and enjoyed all of them—even the romantic comedies, which he chose to step away from to rebrand himself. I honestly didn’t realize how interesting Matthew was until listening to his book. Matthew (don’t call him Matt) writes his book based on his diaries he kept over the years and views life as catching a series of greenlights—signs that say keep going and carry on. “This book is about catching greenlights and realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green.” Growing up, he subscribed to outlaw logic—bar fights, rites of passages, cussing, concussions, and scars—making him appear a little cocky with a tough exterior. Yet he comes across as likable and down to earth with his Ram truck and charm that seduced all the ladies. He recounts many adventures through Australia, South America, and Africa, leaving the reader wondering how many of his stories are exaggerated. That aside, he is an incredible storyteller, interweaving nuggets of wisdom throughout like, “Sometimes we need to leave what we know to find out what we know.” I am a travel lover too, so I enjoyed how he packed up and left whenever he wanted. Ah, the sweet freedom. Not on a private jet or a yacht—he drove a van he named “Cosmo,” hooked up an Airstream to the back of it, and traversed the U.S., stopping at trailer parks. In my mind, celebrities travel in style with an entourage or a bodyguard, but Matthew set out on his own with his dog and took the dirt roads (cue up John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” song here). Many of the lessons he learned in life came from his travels, and he shares them in this book. After he became famous from the movie A Time to Kill, he traveled somewhere to find answers, and that somewhere made me gasp—The Monastery of Christ in the Desert in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Up until last year, my dad lived down the road from this monastery, and I had visited it in 1996. It’s secluded and in the middle of the desert. Matthew’s mention of Abiquiu, a town of 231 people, took me completely by surprise. This part of his journey brought tears to my eyes because I had experienced similar feelings that he divulged at the exact place he was feeling them, and around the same time! “Sometimes we don’t need advice. Sometimes we just need to hear we’re not the only one.” Although he talks about acting, it’s secondary to getting to know Matthew as a person. However, now I want to go back and watch his other movies. I think I’ll see him through a new lens of appreciation and understanding. Overall, this was an uplifting read with a lot of great takeaways from a man who has lived and traveled through many green lights.

This is the worst book I've ever read, and I regret my book club selecting this. Toxic masculinity ran rampant throughout. The writing style is like that of a rambling middle schooler. Half-baked ideas that are passed of as prolific and profound is the overwhelming theme. I truly regret reading and spending money on this piece of garbage.

This is an amazingly honest book written by a man who obviously has the self-confidence to not be too worried about what people think of him because he knows who he is. Sure, there are a few things I was not thrilled to learn but you gotta give the man credit for being so forthright. I read the book over the course of 24 hours. It did not disappoint. He is a man of values. He is philosophical. He loves his immediate and extended family. His priorities are in the right order. He is not perfect but he is working on it for he knows it is a process. The notes to himself and the photos he includes are great. The stories are real and relative. He is smart, takes risks, follows his heart, and is not afraid to get hurt. He has standards. He has made what society calls ‘mistakes’, But because he learned from everything he has ever done, he calls them greenlights. He proves that saying “I can’t” is not the way to live. I love the size of the book - it’s different from most hardbacks. I love the partial dust cover. I love the green lettering in the book. I truly believe that Matthew McConaughey has written a story about the modern Texas man that lives in Austin, a blend of conservative values and liberal politics, of Sunday go to meetin’ and communing with God in nature, a perfect gentleman and a barroom brawler, a lover of football and dancing under the stars in the moonlight, a man not afraid to get really dirty working or playing, but most of all a thinking man.

I’ve always thought MM was a bit of a flake so I didn’t expect this to be a typical memoir or even well-written. He is a flake, it’s not your typical memoir, and it’s not well-written. That said, I found it fascinating. I find many of the stories hard to believe, but maybe that’s just the way he remembers them. I was intrigued by his search for truth, by his journaling habit from a young age. I was inspired by his willingness to embark on wild adventures. Reading this book is a lot like mining for gold - you have to move tons of dirt to find a few nuggets. I did find a few, one of which is the need for brutal honesty if you want to know who you are, and where you’re going.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up a copy of Greenlights. Was it going to be a traditional memoir? Life lessons and wisdom that veered into self help? McConaughey philosophy? Wild, self-indulgent, crazy stories? What I’m finding is that it’s all of these and more. This book, at it’s core, is a love letter to life. ⠀ ⠀ One of my favorite sections of the book is a realization that McConaughey has after losing his father - the idea of being ‘less impressed, more involved.’ I love this idea that the sooner we become less impressed with ourselves, our accomplishments, our careers, our relationships, the prospects in front of us - the sooner we become more involved with these things and the sooner we get better at them. The idea that we must be more than “just happy to be here.” In the time and space in which we live (IRL and virtually) this really resonated with me.⠀

Matthew McConaughey's biography, Greenlights, is one of the great books of our time. It is perfect to read in light of the challenges we've all been through in 2020. Before I read the book, I thought he was a younger whipper-snapper who thought he knew way more about life than he could know. But I learned A LOT from his book. I'm really grateful for it, and glad I quieted my ego enough to listen to what he is talking about. (At age 69, I do know a thing or two, but not everything! LOL ) From now on, I am going to look at my life from the perspective I learned from Matthew McConaughey - as a life on a road, an autobahn, with yellow, red, and green lights as signals along the way. I prefer dirt and gravel, rather than smooth highway, and I'm willing to go slowly and meet people while I'm "out driving" my life. From reading this book, I know I am able to see and appreciate the green lights in a deeper and rewarding way now!

Book received with cover jacket ripped

Book reads like Matthew is right there sharing his life experiences with you. He learned life lessons that may help you.

I liked the book, and the man. Matthew grew up in a southern, red neck, one may call white-trash, family, but he learned the right lessons, made good choices, worked hard and became a successful and happy man. All of it while searching for meaning of life and happiness. The memoir is anecdotal life lessons and the folk philosophy Matthew developed. He is an adventurous man who strives to learn. This book follows unusual format and writing style. That didn't bother me.

This is an eminently readable autobiography-to-date. Filled with illustrations, including diary entries, poems, lists, and general reflections on life, the book is characterized by honesty, vivid details and philosophic reflection. It is the kind of book that fans would wish all stars would write (but precious few could). The most obvious thematic move is the distance between MM's life and the stereotypical life of the Hollywood actor. Taking a different route becomes a journey to a real route and the trip is never dull. While every writer seeks an audience I have the feeling that MM would have written this book anyway. That is the sort of seeker he is. Essentially a story teller he here tells his own story and it is a very good one. If there is a philosophic word to characterize his life it would be authentic—the one thing that Hollywood almost never is. Throughout, one has the feeling that this is a person who is quintessentially interesting, short on pretense, long on courage and a first-rate companion. The writing is exceptional. The reflections are mature, the experiences engaging and well off the beaten path—just as you would expect. Enjoy it.

Limited emotional vocabulary for one who places such importance on his feelings. Has some entertaining stories. While he ascribes much spiritual significance to pursuing what he wants, there’s not much evidence of spiritual humility — more like prosperity “theology,” or Trumpian “winning.” The avalanche of aphorisms was discouraging. Was any editor involved? If this is his writer persona, I’d advise sticking to acting.

Sorry Matthew but didn’t need to hear about your daily jack-offs repeatedly. And did not understand your narcissism until you had a desire to multiply yourself through children but not compelled to marry the mother first.

In all seriousness, this is a great book. If you are hitting a rough patch in your life or are looking for a different and refreshing perspective, pick this up. This book shows that even a man who is seemingly perfect who has all the fame, money, and good looks any of us could ever hope for. Is human just like the rest of us and has experienced many hardships just like the rest of us. This is literally a journal that chronicles this mans life and shows how he has evolved into who he is today and the overcoming of all the anxieties, roadblocks, and even abuse that he suffered. This book is a direct line into his mind and almost seems like an internal monologue at times. This is not just your regular big box self help book that says the same stuff over and over again and is the same book as all the other ones just with a different title. This book is way different, it feels genuine and not manufactured, and that is because it is. Real experiences, real problems, and real ways of thinking to solve these problems.

Arrived in perfect shape. 43 pages in and the only reason I am putting it down is because I need to go to sleep! I can't wait to pick up this book again tomorrow! So far it has been everything I have expected!

I did not enjoy Matthew’s biography- which is what this book feels like.

**update** I love the book about his life BEFORE he became famous, but after he became famous it's hard to read because it comes across very arrogant and cocky. He is still a great storyteller, but this book ended up being very disappointing. This book is hard to put down!! I was going to try to only read 1 book a month so I can get other things done in between family and work, but this book makes that hard to do! I'm also listening to the audio version while reading along because he is an AMAZING story teller!

Matthew McConaughey nailed this book. He poured his heart out with old-school lessons and stories that can be instilled into today's generation to help them navigate. We need to get back to being responsible for our actions and hold our virtue at a high level. It upsets me to see the haters or the radicals give crapy reviews and one star. The bad reviews are from people that think we should all conform to their way of thinking and their only goal is to dismantle this Country and the nuclear family. Thank you Matthew for telling your TRUTHS and stories with your honest and raw personality. I commend you for telling your story the way you wanted us to hear it. I also love your honest and candid attitude by sticking to your beliefs and life lessons. Keep it up, brother! Thanks again, Chris J. Hamilton

Given as gift to Husband. He was underwhelmed by the book and didn’t even finish it.

I ordered this book thinking it would shed some light on the actor's career choices and influences on the roles he is most noted for. Instead, the book is filled with scraps of "poetry", diary pages (?) etc, that he apparently accumulated for years and now means it to pass off as a book. It's a mess. Maybe you should just save your money.

I started out really enjoying this book but after awhile the preachy philosophy lacked sophistication and depth. His early life musings and adventures were very entertaining and funny but I started to lose interest with the Hollywood stories. Sadly there was an ego that came through that didn't work for me. And being a woman, I felt that he made excuses and waited WAY TOO long to marry the mother of his children. I feel for her. If you want a book about livin', try the Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer. Profound and on point.

Let's face it -- Matthew McConaughey is an outlier star. He's not a Hollywood type, and does not play that game. He marches to the beat of his own drummer. And this book marches to the beat of its own very unusual rhythm. I've never read a book or a memoir quite like it. And that's a good thing. It is outstanding. And McConaughey is a very good writer. Apparently writing is something he has done all his life. Recommended. Even if you aren't that much of a fan or haven't kept up with his career. This book is well worth it on its own terms. It's a great story, great writing.

Greenlights is a book that I wanted to savor, but instead, I finished in a day...because it was so good I couldn't put it down. MM tells stories that are at once relatable yet deeply remarkable. He's lived an interesting life and a privileged one, though he's also struggled. The way he writes, I often found myself saying, you too? His style is folksy/salt-of-the-earth, and there's a lot of wisdom within the pages. I loved this book, and after reading it, I have a great deal of respect for the author.

The book was an interesting story about a talented and intelligent actor's life. It was entertaining but not relatable. The pitched philosophy of greenlights and how to catch more of them wasn't apparent. I expected more than an autobiography. He is a good writer however and this is a candid telling of his story.

TOO MUCH OF A BIG EGO

Loved this book! As I was reading it I found myself reading it in McConaughey’s voice. Certainly a candid book about his life, sometimes a bit TMI, but that’s just McConaughey and I should have expected it. I enjoyed the unfiltered stories about his life. I’ve lived in the parts of Texas he has and could easily relate.

I read this book in a day. It happened to be a day of 'luxury.' A day where I had no place to be and no one to care for, least myself. The stories and life lessons shared in this memoir are personal, funny, colorful, hopeful, and filled with Divine Love. It was a pleasure to read, and I found myself re-reading many of the pages again the next day, looking for more insight and knowledge; something that I might have missed. I was eager for more. Although new stories did not miraculously appear overnight, I was lead to another book. The Greatest Salesman in the World. Both books contain a type of serendipitous magic with immaculate timing. The first, a sharing of memories. Like listening to a friend recount a grand adventure. And within that story you hear about places they traveled, the adventures they had, the people they met, the trials they overcame. You hear about moments they were guided and moments your friend felt lost. You sit in awe and wonder waiting to hear the outcome of fate (you know they made it through the fray that life can throw, and you see they are happy and healthy) so you wait, and listen. And as their story unfolds, you see similarities in the questions they too have about life and it's great mysteries. It makes you think. Then, your friend mentions a book, and this produces a profound curiosity in you. You are drawn to it. But the visit draws to a close. Your friend must continue on their path. So you say your farewells and smile as you close the 'door' and are thankful for hearing the recount of a life well lived, but you are also thankful for the Divine message you received via your 'friend.' And now I conclude my review of Greenlights. (Hope you have a lot of them.) If nothing else, I hope you find it to be a good read. All Good Medicine

Greenlight by Matthew McConaughey. Matthew has taken his collection of memories both hard-copy and recollections of his life, and woven them into a Best Seller. Greenlight describes the author's prescriptions for life, the day after lessons, and a guide post for living from lessons learned, a unconventional family life with it's intrinsic values, adventures, discoveries and many, many other surprises. The book itself is a collectable with it's unique design, structure and content. It won't disappoint.

This book is not a typical autobiography about a movie star. It's a book about a man who happens be many things, a movie star is only one of those things. Mr. McConaughey shares his background- where he comes from, what it was like growing up in his family, and the values he took with him from his parents and older brothers. He has led an exciting, successful life. But his focus is on more the spiritual rather than the materialistic. Three words he uses throughout the book about life choices are simple words but are effective- "Persist, Pivot, or Concede." As he writes, choices are ours to make. What Matthew McConaughey shares in this book is not a lot of fluff or details about girlfriends, co-stars, or other people as much as his views on life in general and how he learned to deal with adversity and find opportunity. The author also humbly shares his mistakes. The one romance he wrote about is the relationship with is wife Camila and his vital role as a father. One story in particular was both humorous and honorable. It was his year as an exchange student in Australia. It highlighted his conviction to honor a commitment in a difficult circumstance (the first exchange family was nuts!) and also to find humor at the end of the experience. If you are looking for a typical autobiography, this is not it. I think it's better because Matthew McConaughey writes about what is important to him, lessons he has learned in life. It's also a quick read with plenty of wit and wisdom.

I’ve read book by actors/actresses but they were not great. I was hesitant on this but happy I bought it and read. It’s similar to the secret, but one huge difference. The secret May tell stories but it’s an educational fashion. This book, it his life and his experiences and the choices he made to not limit himself. You want to feel bad for him with his childhood, but you feel the pride in him because of the lessons he learned to be who he is. Reading green lights gave me the perspective that the book the secret tries to teach but more reflective and in depth. It made me open my eyes to what I already knew just didn’t understand the how. Until now and I get it. Great book!

A fairly good book. As others have mentioned this is certainly not your garden variety autobiography. Matthew mixes stories of his life with his personal philosophy on life which may or may not turn some people off. He gives some insights into his life and why he is who he is. I particularly enjoyed the stories of his childhood growing up in Texas. Often with autobiographies, childhood memories are parts of the book I skip over, but not here. He led a quite different young life from what I experienced, and I found it remarkably interesting. If you are looking for insights into his film / TV show work, you are not going to find much in this book. He provides few details on his actual acting work and completely skips over some of his best-known films. Relationships with other actors don’t play much into the narrative here either. It is just not that kind of book. The guy has obviously kept himself in amazing physical shape, but other than occasionally talking about running, he does not go into how he manages to do that. He also talks about being a womanizer, but again does not go into details, so if you are looking for a tell all type of narrative, you won’t find that here. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it is not your typical autobiography.

Greenlights Matthew McConaughy 5 Diamond Review 💎💎💎💎💎 Greenlights, written by Matthew McConaughy is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read and listened to. I ordered it first on Audible. I enjoyed the book so much, I ordered a hard copy as well. The actor narrated Greenlights himself and hands down he has spoiled me for every other book I will ever listen to. His flow while he narrates his book is flawless. It’s as if he just called me on the phone and decided to tell me his stories. He narrates his book with such ease of voice you feel like you are just listening to a friend talk. This book, his manner of reading it to us and his over all story is amazing. This did not feel like a memoir but like a motivational book. It does not sound like he’s reading anything. He does a great job keeping the book fluid and you can easily follow the timeline he has laid out. I listened to it twice before I moved on to the next audiobook. It will be a book I will listen to again. He really just seems like a very down to earth and ‘normal’ person. I feel fame has not gone to his head. He is honest and brutal and captivating all at the same time. I have listened to it twice. Let’s talk about the actual content of this book. Matthew McConaughy has lived an adventurous life. He has had the means to do things that he wants to do financially as an adult and fortitude as a child and I am fascinated with his choices. He doesn’t sugar coat his words. From describing his parent’s tumultuous relationship and in the end accepting it as the only way they knew how to love to recounting memories of going to Australia or Africa. His stories are funny, sad, nail biters and anything in-between. I am enthralled with his great story telling ability. I am also impressed with his life. I believe that he is a ‘down to earth’ type man who accepts all people for who they are and what they can personally offer of themselves under whatever circumstance. He seems to always be open to learning something new. He does not seem to have the attitude that he knows ‘it’ all already. He seems to be the type of person who makes a commitment and he keeps it at all costs. He lives his life on his own terms and I absolutely appreciate that. He includes pictures and side notes with his tales and it really is fun to look at the pictures of him throughout his life. He takes the red lights and turns them green in his life. He is a progressive thinker and I admire that. Even if something seems to not be going right, he waits for the situation to produce something positive. Matthew McConaughy is true to himself and who he is as a person. He does not come across as arrogant or cocky. He tells his stories with gusto and with every lesson in life that he grew up with. He has chosen adventures that teach him something. He has followed his life journey with a passion. He isn’t stuck in a inflexible mind frame. As we read we can understand his thought process and some of what really makes him tick as a human being. He allows himself to adapt as he grows as a person. He is not rigid or regimented. He throws himself into his work when he works 200% and he allows himself to relax when he needs to. He draws on his past, present and future while he weaves his narrative. I am equally impressed with the people he surrounds himself with. Including his wife. He picked right. He describes her in a way that makes me believe that she is just as down to earth as he is. She was not impressed with his name and fame. She made him work for their relationship. I love the fact that even though he is a successful actor, he acts like a ‘normal’ person in situations he is faced with. He traveled around the country in an airstream, taking up residence in rv parks and campgrounds, and making friends with people all along the way. He doesn’t seem to think he is special just because he is an actor. However he knows he is special for just being human and he values other people in the same way. Of course, this is all my opinion from reading and listening to this book – he could be full of it. But I don’t think so. Although if he is, it’s okay – he really sells it and makes it believable and entertaining. Again, I give the book, both hard bound and audio, five diamonds. I recommend it for everyone.

I don't have power but I have a wonderful book on my phone to read. You should read it too. Stopped to read parts to my husband and grandson. Stopped for awhile to step out on the patio and video the rain blowing sideways and again when the eye of the storm passed over us. Like this book. Like a life well lived with storms and calm, but Matthew keeps on "livin" it. Good on him. And I'll take some inspiration from him and try to do more livin than living.

Matthew is obviously an extremely talented man in acting, poetry writing, and insightful/humorous writing. I gave this book 4 stars as I have only five starred 2 books in my entire life ("The Great Santini" and "To Kill A Mockingbird.") Funny and self deprocating but holding no glamorous punches. If you are looking for Hollywood gossip, you won't find it here. This is HIS journey-not a tell-all on movie making.

If you’re a fan of Matthew McConaughey, you will certainly enjoy riding shotgun as he drives you through what he feels are meaningful moments during his life. I liked viewing the journal entries, since these were essentially the source material for the book, but trying to decipher his handwriting became a major chore. Why the publisher chose not to transcribe the blurry scribble on the opposite page is a serious deficit and why I deducted one star. The book is fun, light and and he sprinkles enough “alright, alright, alright’s” throughout to remind you that he’s led a privileged life, first as an athletic, good looking kid and then as a well-known leading man. Having this “shine” has provided him with security, opened doors and afforded unique opportunities that mere mortals will never experience. It’s this feeling that ultimately left me a tad empty with this realization: While McConaughey easily glides through a life of greenlights, most of use are stopped at a red, waiting for a little break in the clouds of life, so we can just get home.

What a well written book! I was interested in reading this because it had good reviews (And because McConaughey is a fellow Texan). I was not expecting this but was pleasantly surprised. This book offers a front row seat to all the livin’ that McConaughey has done from his crazy upbringing in a Texas family (But very much loved), to his rugged acting in movies like “Dallas Buyer Club”. Reading the book was like listening to a good friend tell his life stories that would captivate you with unbound interest. He tells these stories, not because they make him cool, but because he truly believes (and the reader will too), that they reveal certain universal truths and teachable moments. I believe it was also written to shatter the myth that McConaughey thinks a lot of people have of him; “Gosh dang, McConaughey just eases right into everything — the guy doesn’t seem to have any bumps, doesn’t get hit crossing the road.” A corrective response to show how much effort it had taken him to get where he is today. There are a lot of interesting back stories of some of his famous roles. He even explains how he came up with his trade mark phrase “Alright….alright…..alright….” However, this is not a celebrity tell-all book. In that sense it is in good taste. There’s also a collection of poems that he’s written which he shares. He shares many stories of childhood and life as a young adult that is relatable yet fascinating. His experience as an exchange student in Australia was particularly fascinating and funny at the same time! His journeys to corners of the world to find himself was inspiring. Oh, and the "playing the congas naked" story is there as well. There are a lot of stories like that. In the end, his approach to living’ is to hunt for what is called green lights, the traffic signals in life which means go. In other words, life is not all luck. If that’s true you should run every red light. Instead, you make choices. Add this to your reading list!

I’ve always loved Matthew McConaughey, so I had to grab this book to check out as a book lover. His writing was so beautiful and unique to him. He’s truly a wonderful storyteller. It’s also always nice to read about how a celebrity got to where they are today. He is so humble in his accomplishments and I love that he’s such a family oriented man. The places he’s been and the things he’s been through gives him so much helpful advice to give others. I definitely pulled many truths from this book and felt so warm when I finished reading it. You should definitely read this book if you’re a McConaughey fan!

I read this thing wicked fast, it is a book about situations in his life that made him who he is today. By sharing these events, you reflect back on your past to see where the events happened that shaped you and gave you opportunity. Definitely worth the time to read it and learn a little more about yourself, gain some courage to take advantage of situations as the present themselves and just keep livin (without the g)!

I think that McConaughey is one of our great talents and reading his account of his life up to now was quite entertaining, educating, and exciting to see what a real down to earth man from Texas with the right upbringing could achieve. This is a book worth reading again on a regular basis for inspiration of what can be achieved at anytime in one's life with faith, integrity, and a li8ttle grit.

The Green light book is a reality of life that we all as human begins have to experience to grow into maturity. I like the honesty of Matthew’s journey to become and find himself as to be a better and renewed person. A person that loves who he is and has his family present in every second of his life. I recommend this book to someone who is having a difficult time trying to find their identity and learn from their mistakes to be successful in the future. People’s present doesn’t define the future, life can be a pleasure when people make positive choices and learn from their mistakes. I found that the experiences shared are a mirror of my own upbringing when parents believe they can control their children’s life by giving their own negative opinion of difficult situations trying to stop their children to feel pain or getting emotionally hurt by someone or something. Lessons are learned when you learn to fall and get back up learning from the mistakes and not doing it over again.

I got this because I admire Matthew Mcconaughey. He is a deep thinker and has American Values. I enjoyed reading about this life; although most the book is more about his message "Green Lights"; giving you the OK to be happy and accept bad as well because good comes out of bad sometimes. I just didn't like how the book was put together. He had copies of his journal and writing on many pages and they were difficult to read. The color was awful and pretty much unreadable. I think I would like his autobiography better, but this was ok. Not a keeper though for my library.

Just now received. Only part way and am loving it... bold yet charming, revealing and inspiring. I realize I need to review my life notes if I can gather..may even re-learn from them. P.S. Matthew is even more fascinating than I suspected.

Ever read the introduction of a book and are sure that this is going to really stink? That's what I did. I was almost ready to put it in the stack of books I've bought and will never finish and that is a big stack. Then, like his acting, he drew me into himself. As a retired performer myself I have gone through so many of the things he talks about but I know I never had the honesty of insight into what was going on while I was doing it. I think everyone who strives for more will enjoy how he got there. Buy the dang thing. You'll be glad.

OK, so I'm a McConaughey fan, have all his movies and when Greenlights (the book) was advertised I pre-ordered it. Naturally I had to have the CD version as read by him so I pre-ordered that before it was released. To me this book and CD is sheer fun. It didn't change my world but it was entertaining, made me laugh, made me think (a little) and made my day going to work every morning. I could listen to that drawl all day long no matter what he was saying but hearing him tell his own story in his own voice was much better than listening to someone else reading it. His voice just goes with his words. Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. But it was worth the money I saved by preordering it. Any McConaughey fan should get the CD just for the sheer pleasure of listening to him tell his own stories. It was almost like sitting down and having a conversation with him. Get it.

Of the written or musical remedies that would allow any of us to experience laughter, reflection, and ultimately joy in a challenging year, Greenlights is certainly one. Take it literally at face value, as a series of great stories that strung together comprise the midpoint of one’s life, or pause intermittently to consider the cornucopia of messages about choices made as a result of interpreting how life happens for-, not to-, any of us, there’s little way I see anyone not enjoying this gift of a memoir. Thank you Matt. Keep journaling. Keep reaching. You’re not remotely close to being done giving. Cheers.

In the age of COVID-19, we've all been taxed to our limits. Our favorite places have been haunted by our absence and every new restriction brought with it a new red light. But are these red lights really what they appear? In this book, Matthew McConaughey becomes our own personal guru. His riveting self reflections cover everything from family, friends, his career, and need for grounding / self care over the years were engaging and insightful. Whether he's negotiating with an acting professor to give him a C for the term so he could make it to auditions, or stealing boards from a lumberyard to build a childhood treehouse, McConaughey teaches us how testing your boundaries can create new opportunities for growth that we may never have seen. Even better, we learn that the purpose of the red lights and green lights are not all that dissimilar. They're all about managing the ebbs and flows of life. And sometimes when we are forced to stop, we might discover a little detour to get us to our destination just as well--or discover the place that we never knew we needed to be. A marvelous book from an extraordinary talent.

I enjoyed most of this book. It was crazy to see Matthew's upbringing. It just goes to show you can grow up with a dysfunctional childhood and turn out fine. I also like the advice and input that Matthew gave as well. Even though I didn't agree with some of the things he said, there was a lot that opened my mind up when, I myself, am going through a difficult time. I've always liked how McConaughey seemed to do what he wanted and not what everyone else wanted (especially Hollywood). I was impressed with how he thanked God at the Oscars. He was applauded for it and also berated. Yet, he held true. I found it a bit weird that when he did the appreciations in the back of the book, God was not of them. Makes me wonder if he changed his religious view or if big Hollywood actually swayed him. Who knows... still a good book and still think he is a class A actor.

I find it Rediculous that some comments have included...'Lives don't matter till Black Lives Matter!" ...DID YOU READ THIS BOOK? He is speaking from his Experience...as a White man! He never even once spoke about anything Other than How Important it is to be A Human Being ...a COLORLESS Human Being! He speaks of "His" Experience! He also talks about his Evolution into a transition from a Texas USA 🇺🇸 life to a Cultural experience...he speaks greatly of the "Lessons" he's learned of other cultures and people he has encountered! This is a book about 1 Man's encounter and his objective on it! He Does not try to invoke others...he simply is telling His Story! He sounds to me...like somone who's Loving n Compassionate! He is telling HIS STORY! I laughed and sorta cried..I found his book Human and Inspiring...The fact that he is a STAR...is why we all bought his book...ACT ACCORDINGLY!

This book will take you on a series of adventures but its most gripping focus is on the internal journey that we all take throughout our lives. This was written by someone who looked deeply at their own life, goals, and path and audited it at every intersection. We can all laugh at the ridiculous Hollywood stories, the family antics, and the travel logs but more importantly, we can all think deeper about the art of livin because this book exists. I’m glad I read it, and I’m already looking forward to rereading it.

Matthew McConaughey tells you everything about his life. It’s a wonderful tale of success and happiness, but the reality is there as well. In reading about Matthew, you are forced to think about yourself and the choices you’ve made. It makes you realize all that you can do and it’s a story that will stay with you for a long time.

This book wasn't what I expected, but ended up being even better. Includes accounts in Matthew's own words. Very inspirational and thoughtful. He talks about his family life, his road to success, his travels, and his career. I am a writer, I appreciate that it's an autobiography of sorts and enjoyed the rawness of it. Some moments are a bit TMI, cringeworthy, but thinking back... I appreciate the no punches pulled. It's like he's inviting you directly into his home and asking you to make yourself at home in this book. I caught myself reading it in my head with his voice, kinda cool! My poor fella said, "Listen to me woman! I could deal with sharing my bed with Stephen King every night... but not sure I want Matthew McConnaghey up in here too." haha (I always read at night) But I hear the audiobook IS narrated by him, so I'll be purchasing that too. I fell in love with the rom-com actor, fell much harder as his career continued to blossom, and this book is just the cherry on top of it all. Thank you to his precious wife Camilla, his momma, and his adorable children- for being patient and loaning their daddy, husband, and son to us for a while. My life is brighter because of it. #greenlightsfordaysbaby

I sent this as a gift to my mother. I listen to and read the samples they posted for the book. What it didn't demonstrate is how bad the language was. My mother was offended and embarrassed by how many times he dropped the *F* bomb. I was disappointed. I didn't expect the book to be "G" rated, but it wasn't good.

This auto-biography by Matthew McConaughey is really amazing. I had a hard time putting it down. I am thinking of giving it as a Christmas gift to others. What an amazing, laid-back guy he is with faith in God and admirable values! It's refreshing to know someone in his business has values. Unfortunately, I bought it for my Kindle and it was not always easy to read the journal pages. So, I will buy the book myself and notate things that meant a lot to me. I suggest that you buy the book rather than the Kindle version.

Honestly, I thought this book would focus more on his career, but it focuses more on life experiences and I like that about it. He seems like a pretty cool, down to earth, “Here I am, warts and all, take me or leave me,” kind of guy. Maybe the ONE person in the film industry who might be interesting to sit down and have a beer with. MAYBE!

Matthew's life has been interesting from the get go, not just since his Hollywood start. I had no idea he wasn't just a good looking actor. I wanted to read the book because I read somewhere that he said he'd been motivated/influenced positively at some of his life by Jordan Peterson. I am a very big fan of Jordan Peterson's and was surprised to hear a Hollywood person would support him in any way. Come to find out, Matthew is not a "Hollywood person", he is an actor with a soul and the need to create. Parts of the book were a little slow for me, so I'd have given them a 3-star rating, other parts I found very interesting and would give them a 4-star rating; I rarely give a book a 5 stars, most recent one was Gentleman in Moscow.

This was such a refreshing read! Matthew McConaughey is unapologetically himself and incredibly authentic despite his proximity to Hollywood. Some of his stories made me laugh out loud and they all entertained me. I appreciate and respect his realness, how down to earth he is, and how family oriented he is. He's a man who has learned and evolved with every opportunity and isn't that the point for all of us? He's never forgotten who he is or what he wants. I've heard rave reviews of the audiobook too since he reads it himself. And who doesn't love that "alright alright alright" southern drawl? Though I like to flip pages so I read a physical copy. Then you get the added bonus of pictures he includes. Worth checking out!

Matthew McConaughey has done a great job sharing his life and his stories. I learned a long time ago that everyone has unique experiences that shape who they are and McConaughey has a wonderful way of sharing his and keeping you pinned to your seat. I love that he uses his intuition to shape "his man" as he calls it when taking on an acting role and I loved that he is close to his family and converses with his wife to get the female perspective and make primary decisions. Good job!

My wonderful daughter-in-law who lives in Austin, TX with my son and g-baby referred this book to me. I read a few of the more critical reviews and nearly passed on the book. As soon as it arrived, we jumped on an airplane to Austin for a visit. I devoured 150 pages in a couple of hours. Keep in mind, I'm more of a Hollywood critic than a fan. Matthew is an exceptional man. He's an exceptional thinker. And he's a man with a bias towards action, not just fancy wordsmithing. And although he and I may disagree about the tragically unnecessary circumstances surrounding the death of George Floyd and the rise of BLM, he's right on the money that it'll be a green light for humanity someday. This is not a book for the naïve or swooning Matthew McConaughey fan. It's a book for any mindful person on their own path towards (or away from) being a better version of themselves. It's an imperfect book written by an imperfect man that couldn't have arrived at a more perfect time. Thank you Matthew.

Mathew McConaughey gained my deepest and greatest admiration. Through his writing – quite remarkable, he transpires the great human and spiritual being he is, very down to earth. With his stories and reflections, so many to count, he made me think about myself and initiated a path to recalibrate and get back on track. We all need to recalibrate when we get off track. We can discover our inner core, forgive and find ourselves so we can move forward, turn the page and enjoy living. Make red and yellow lights become green in our life. 2020 was a challenging year and the wisdom in his words through his stories and learnings gives comfort and hope to the soul. His book is more than just the story of his life. A must read!

Loved Matthews book! I wrote on social media “thanks for teaching me to be a better man, a better wo-man, a better Hu-man, but mostly a better man!” Sort of joking because I’m so woman. But getting his perspective and point of view of “Livin’” is huge for me and will only enhance my relationship with my husband, My MAN! This is a great read for anyone. Very enjoyable and will have you laughing, then a cry, back to laughing and more pondering! Thank you Matthew. I thoroughly enjoyed the book - whether you’re searching or know everything, this book is such an amazing book to melt into. YOU, sir, are much appreciated.

This book took me away from my usual genres but I liked the change. Matthew McConaughey is totally himself as he writes down his thoughts and feelings about life along the way. I laughed and smiled and found myself nodding in agreement through so much of this book. I appreciated all the pictures and learning how he got some of his movie roles. He is one of my favorites so digging a little deeper into his soul was eye opening as well as inspirational.

I heard you loud and clear although I didn’t have the audio version. What a great philosophy of life! I’ll read this one again, maybe right now. I am my own worst enemy, this author is not. I think our biggest enemy is fear. Fear to step out of your comfort zone, fear of conflict, fear of being laughed at, fear of living fully, my gosh, what the heck do we have to lose? Everything! We should all take a lesson and start catching the Greenlights! Hell yeah!

Highly recommend. It is a great book period. Only positive vibes welcome. Thank you MM for putting a book together. Much needed during present times.

Kindle version ordered by mistake.

So I got this book because I have always been a fan of his work. His movies are well made and make me laugh. With movies like ‘A Time to Kill’ and ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’, I knew I could have been right to buy the book. I had no idea he could write, of course, I had no idea about a lot of things until I finished the book either. Very uplifting and heartfelt. I love how honest he is and his love for life. Money well spent.

I knew Mathew was a quirky guy but after reading about his real life experiences I have a new and profound respect for him as a REAL person. He sure had a life like no other. He overcame many obstacles, set high goals for himself and others and had such a strong drive to be true to himself and his beliefs, I really respect him for that. This story is entertaining and inspiring. No one in these times can have the adventures and travels, like he has in his life. Times have changed that drastically, but we can all still strive to be real and true to our beliefs. I really enjoyed his journey. I hope he will continue acting. I am sure there is more to come. I especially like his commitment to his family, too.

It may be somewhat entertaining but not really a book I can recommend for capturing great examples....I wish I had purchased the Obama book better.

I understand that the author was trying to convey an uplifting message of life's ups and downs. I just couldn't relate to his methods and point of view. Other people will get a lot of good advice from this book. It simply wasn't for me.

While I was reading this, I kept hearing an old adage ringing in my ear: "when the student is ready, the master will appear." It is a challenge to find teachers, mentors, guides who are both willing to pour out, and available. What I have found for me personally, is reading (and re-reading) an autobiography can be somewhat like hanging out with them (especially if you do the audible version as well). Well, it was a pleasure hanging out with Matthew McConaughey. He reminded me not to take things too seriously, that it's OK and "good" to evolve and develop as a person, and just what the heck "is" a person? What makes you you? Some really cool questions, cool poetry, cool stories, might even get some bongos.

I'd like to recommend something for the publisher. Please be careful about paragraphs that are intended to represent notes from a journal. Many of those sections in Greenlights were unreadable for me. This is often true in many books.

This is one of the most interesting and uplifting books I have read in a long time. What an insightful beautiful real story of life. I could relate totally with everything Matthew shared. It is so real that most people could totally relate to it, even though we are not celebrities. Thank you Matthew for sharing your most intimate thoughts with us. This is the perfect time for this book to come out. It has given me hope in these unsure times and inspired me to be more aware, more alive and know myself better.

I am sure mr McConaughey probably deserves a higher rating however after riding shotgun on this literary journey ! I believe he understands the true meaning of... nothing on earth is PERFECT, thank you for the ride along and may you continue to have greenlights.

I have t read the book yet, but I just received the two copies I ordered to give to my sisters. Why are the dust jackets too short for the book? Very weird!

I enjoyed reading every adventure, every thought, and pleasure of an actor I've seen grow up on the big screen. Romantic comedies, laughs and fun. My real admiration was Matthews great performance in The Detectives and MUD. He just keeps getting better. Why? Because he's a decent, caring, loving, honest human being. Writing is his natural talent, I hope to see more as his story grows.

Matthew McConauhey has had a fabulous fifty years I’d say with out a doubt I really enjoyed the wisdom in this book I read I related I laughed and I cried I agree It’s not the destination it’s the journey

Some parts of this book are interesting, but it tries too hard to be deep and falls short. Some things are hard to believe, but I won't make any accusations of falsehoods. I had bought it with giving as a Christmas gift to a young adult in mind. After reading it myself first, I thought it didn't impart much that I would want a younger person to use as any kind of guide. Since it's kind of promoted that way, I found it disappointing. The short dust cover is odd.

Matthew McConaughey pulled out the stops with this book. There were times when my mouth was left hanging open and I was wide-eyed with "Really?" This book was a page turner and I could not put it down. Matthew shares the good, the bad and the ugly, the successes, the failures and the goals in this life. I like the idea of green lights and his expression that no matter what yellow lights or red lights come into your path, there is a green light. If you are a Matthew McConaughey fan, and you want to know more about him, then this book is for you.

For May bookclub we read Greenlights. It's a really easy read, packed with stories from Matthew's family, childhood and through his acting career. He's made some bold moves! The chapter on studying abroad was very entertaining! His visions that come at night. His love for music. Being a nomad and working on great projects were just inspiring, uplifting and refreshing from other books I've read lately. His mantras and affirmations are good stuff. We go through red and yellow lights to eventually get greenlights. Real talk. Enjoyed this one and highly recommend.

Good book. Matthew mixes personal stories, success and failure, with his thoughts, writings and poems. It’s a little American success story, a little wanderlust and a little Texas spirit all mixed together.

I never do audio I'm a reader always have been but a friend of mine said trust me you have to get this book and do the audio so I did, well I could listen to this book a hundred times and not get tired of hearing Matthew's stories what a writer, what a story teller, what a life. Here is a man who lived his life to the fullest and I wouldn't say I'm envious more like I feel like I woke up a little in my own life because hearing him makes me want that passion and drive those greenlights. Oh plus my daughter and I came to an agreement on my grandsons middle name (Levi) so she can thank Matthew Mcconaughey for that one. Not sure I'll do more audio books but this one was sincerely a real pleasure and I'll enjoy listening to it again.

I gave up reading this. I'm sorry Matthew. I love you as an actor, but I fear you should not give up your day job.

WOW! I love this chapter of the McConaissance! The Minister of Culture has raised his vibration far and beyond his Texas roots sharing wisdom I plan to read my daughter...though admittedly saving some parts for later. This is a handbook for living with authenticity and giving oneself the grace to screw up knowing those mistakes and imperfections are just character in your clay. I am beyond moved by Matthew's depth. One of the best parts of reading his story is having his distinctive, silky-smooth voice narrating the journey! The GI Joe-Kung-Foo grip of his storytelling won't let me put it down, so I'm reading it again and telling everyone I know they gotta read it, too. Bravo!!!

I’ve always enjoyed Matthew McConaughey the actor. He’s one of those acting personalities you see where you say, “I’d really like to know that guy for real, but he’s probably not that real in his everyday life.” After reading this book, I think he may actually be that fun, serious, thoughtful, crazy, and caring person I have seen in movies. He wrote something real here. Now I have to try and be just as real. It’s gonna be a hard act to follow, and I don’t wanna do it “half-assed”. Thanks for the challenge Matthew.

This is a really good read. The author comes at us with a positive outlook from inside the BS in Hollywood. He leaves the reader with a life's perspective on how to see greenlights. Loved it.

I believe the negative reviews come from people who "don't get it". McConaughey allows through this book to create a glass door into his intimate memoirs and life story. Full of passion, courage, fun and sadness, tears and laughter sprinkled with a good dose of courage to face the unknown and to adventure far away and beyond. This book is Matthew sharing his frequency and how he cracked his code for livin'... I feel like I read a humble and simple human walking among us. A crazy adventurous soul searching dude who through hard work, talent, bold moves and good fortune found himself running through greenlights. And Mat', thank you for sharing that with us.

Not at all what I was expecting and refreshingly so. I was drawn in early by curiosity and found that I had a hard time putting it down! What I thought would be just a casual read actually got me thinkin. I appreciate the challenge set forth by Matthew to find yourself. Find your values. Find your beliefs. See red and yellow lights in a new way: watch them turn green. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking to find themselves and their own Greenlights.

I really enjoyed this book. What is there not to like about an autobiography that is funny, yet tender, motivating, yet humbling. The story of the life of an American original and the best part is there is more of that life yet to come and experiences and stories yet to be told. I just hope Matthew has plans for more of the written word to share with us.

Storytelling at its best. The moments McConaughey shares are both enjoyable and impactful. I could not put this book down and would recommend it for its humor, insightfulness, and careful consideration of past, present, and future.

I paid for a new book, what I got was a used book with greasy fingerprints all over it!

If you can handle a whole bunch of truth, pick up this book. It's raw and kind of scary. You'll get to see pieces of Matthew that you've never seen before.

Another celebrity that thinks they are way more important than they actually are.....

The book was just ok. I am a fan of Mathew McConaughey but I felt like he was trying too hard to be a philosopher. I did like his reference to green lights and the book was readable. I walk away from the book still a fan of McConaughey the actor, however I wasn’t wowed by McConaughey the writer. It is only my opinion and I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading the book. Someone else may read it and feel a connection to the material that I didn’t.

Extremely enjoyable book. Excellent flow, wonderful humor, deep truths, and inspirational sentiment. Matthew McConaughey has entered into the world of NYT Best selling authors with the style and grace of someone who has clearly been comfortable in his own skin for a very long time. His ability to tell a story, craft moral teachings, and imbue joy, awe, and inspiration deep in the heart of his readers is indicative of a far more experienced author than he actually is. Plus, he’s got the mouth of an honest man who is I afraid to cuss, tell harsh truths, and admit to some seriously embarrassing stuff. Respect.

McConaughey did not disappoint. He has a unique way of story telling. It was an easy read, he could of went into more detail of this or that but I don't believe that was his intention. It is a book of recognizing and catching "Greenlights" in your life. A little uplifting and insight that you get what you put in. Would recommend.

McConaughey is more thoughtful and complex than most would give him credit for. A dreamer from a young age, he seems to have approached life with purpose and appreciating each experience along the way. Raised by parents who were a little off the beaten path he seems to have learned to be respectful and responsible in his life and adventures. His stories are fun and funny. His excitement about life contagious. This is an enjoyable look at life with suggestions and examples of how to learn to cruise through the greenlights. .

I read this book in two days. I bought it because I needed inspiration. I needed to feel something and this book gave me that. I have been struggling with hitting my head on my self made “roof” and relying on the meant to be mentality. I loved the memoir aspect of it and how he became self made. I’ve always been optimistic and feel I could relate to Mr. McConaughey because he was and is looking for his better. There are little notes, quips and full story’s along the way. They each give you something to think about, a little insight into his thinking and bringing out thoughts of your own. I am rather shocked with some of the reviews. I do not feel he was in anyway being narcissistic. He had to find out who he was and what he wanted from himself. He took leaps of faith, put himself and his career on the line to discover who he is and what he wanted. Narcissistic is an inflated ego. He not only wanted what was best for himself but his mother, his wife, his kids, his neighbors... he took all those people into consideration when he moved home to be with family while he was redirecting his own life. I recommend this book. It gives you something to think about. I have always read non fiction books, I want to know someone’s real, their struggle and how they overcame it and this book gives you that.

Haven't been much of a reader since high school (decades ago) with books like these, but I'm picking up reading again. Had tons of fun reading each chapter of Mr. McConaughey's life. The part with his brother and father in on the pissing contest to win the dirt bike was priceless. McConaughey does a great job of conveying his feelings at these particular times in his life. Many pleasant surprises with the diary notes sprinkled throughout the book. Well done Mr. McConaughey. Thank you for sharing your life with us. "Begin with the end in mind".

I like Matthew I thankful he is happy with his life. I can see why he doesn’t want to do the com rom movies anymore however that is when I liked him the best and Lincoln Lawyer. It is true he must be true to himself. Love his look on his wife and family. His has blessed him and he has helped others. Very interesting life he’s had. Beat part he doesn’t sound bitter. Many who grew up line him could be. We all have a past present and future. Follow Matthew and live yours the best you can

MM is an awesome performer and an inspiring activist. This is an entertaining book of his extraordinary life. While most of this most was entertaining there are sections filled with nonsense and mumble jumble that only superfans of the actor will appreciate. Its not a book that I would want to read again.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but this biography exceeds any expectations I might have had. Pointed, honest, very insightful, you can literally take a trip and be there in Matthew's life's experiences. My partner and I are both reading it and we both agree it is a book worth reading and very enjoyable!!

Written with Gravitas! An Entertainting look at Mathew's way of living, achieving clarity, finding self and seeking the path of ones calling. More than an actors vision,more humane perspective. A tale of his path, many aha moments. I say get both if you love his Texas accent, it very Scintillating!

This audiobook book oozes with charisma and contradictions. While i thoroughly enjoyed the book and was rarely bored, i found one of his final thoughts concerning. Mathew comments on BLM "All lives dont matter until black ones do!" Im sure he means well, but I personally found that to be a racist irresponsible comment that condones violent behavior. Another section of the book (part 5 turn the page) he mentions a African city of people (who fled from Muslim invasion), and moves on to discusses two men debating whether a muslim woman should be prostituting in the streets. They YELL over one another "Do you understand!" They Silence Mathews opininion , then Mathew suggest there is something America can 'learn' from these people, as though there was any room for arguement, 'justified'.

First quirk, the dust jacket is too short! It snags and tears easily. Second quirk, several pages of the author's notes are almost impossible to read-print is too small but even with a magnifying glass it is hard to decipher. The book does have some interesting life stories but not enough to warrant the price.

Though it was easy to read, towards the end I was tired of reading about Matthews good luck. I think it’s rare that we walk through life and even bad situations always turn out well. Every time he steps in dog poop, it turned into good luck.

More than worth every dollar. The writing style is so good. Such a great word wielder bringing you an in depth vision in your mind, as if you are experiencing these moments with Matthew. The Audible version is a must have! Listening Matthew speak his own experiences is just 'beyond' the norm.

I listened to the audiobook of this and the. bought the hardcover for my mom for Christmas because I liked it so much. The book has its own charm about it audiobook didn’t have (though listening to it from Matthews own voice also had its own charm I’m sure the physical book didn’t have), it includes photos and hand written blurbs he just describes and reads allowed in the audio. Very funny, some crazy wild stories, and inspirational. Matthew has a great outlook on life and his positivity is up lifting.

I always knew from what I’ve read and is now confirmed, that Matt was and us a free spirit. In his biography he throws it all out there and by that he pulls us in . Should we all be able to chase our dreams and listen to our inner self as it leads us to where we need to be in this life .

I mean book is somewhat entertaining but stories are beyond hard to believe. His dad revives a drowned bird with mouth to mouth resuscitation!!!??? . His 8 year old brother pisses and hits a target over 6 foot high ???his brother threatening the life of his golf couch . his parents brutally beat each other in the kitchen and then make love there ??Cmon !!! really????? This stuff sounds a little tall to me . To tall even for that kid to piss over .😀

I found the honesty refreshing & the humor highly entertaining! He had me with A Time to Kill. MM & I share many parallels. 🤗 The “completely illegible” scribble one reviewer whined about, is a total of 4 pages with inside cover inserts of the same. I had no trouble deciphering it. As far as the short-cut jacket goes – the photo is great & I always remove them anyways. Plus this particular book feels great in the hands...kinda like a new baby doll when I was a young girl.

I was not much of a fan of this person until season one of True Detective and Dallas Buyer's Club woke me up to his abilities. He is often portrayed in a negative way by the media, but his story explains that view. This guy won every top award an actor can in the same single year. He has an interesting background and I loved reading the unusual format. He sort of free-associates and creates poems that link to his life stage throughout the book. The "Green Light" concept is cool and makes sense if you read it.

I never would have seen that there was a book by Matthew McConaughey and picked it up because he wrote it… I am really not into that, hardly ever watch movies and have not watched any tv shows for over 10 years except antiques road show and the British Baking Show. This book… Insightful, funny, fun, inspirational and wholesome and wholeheartedly awesome! Thanks for the message and the belly laughs! Thanks for the reminders and the outlook!

As I have never cared for movie stars I don't know why I read this. I don't watch movies. Nevertheless, it was rather interesting to follow his decision-making.