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Greenlights
- Narrated by: Matthew McConaughey
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
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Greenlights
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Summary
From the Academy Award®-winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.
I've been in this life for 50 years, been trying to work out its riddle for 42, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last 35. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.
Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life's challenges - how to get relative with the inevitable - you can enjoy a state of success I call 'catching greenlights.'
So I took a one-way ticket to the desert and wrote this book: an album, a record, a story of my life so far. This is fifty years of my sights and seens, felts and figured-outs, cools and shamefuls. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away withs, getting caughts, and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops.
Hopefully, it's medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot's license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears.
It's a love letter. To life.
It's also a guide to catching more greenlights-and to realising that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.
Good luck.
The audiobook now includes an exclusive interview with Matthew McConaughey which was recorded during his book tour in 2021.
Critic reviews
"Unflinchingly honest and remarkably candid, Matthew McConaughey's book invites us to grapple with the lessons of his life as he did - and to see that the point was never to win, but to understand." (Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck)
"McConaughey is a talented actor and a fine writer, but a total genius at living. He attacks life with an exhilarating ferocity. This is a wildly unexpected and delightful book you can't just read, you have to experience." (Lawrence Wright, author of The End of October)
"It shouldn't surprise you that this book is good, but it will surprise you just how good it is. Wise and entertaining, this is an inspiring memoir and how-to from one of the great outlaw philosophers and artists of our time." (Ryan Holiday, author of The Daily Stoic)
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What listeners say about Greenlights
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Helen
- 20-10-20
Long Overdue Window to Sincerity
Beautifully written and narrated by Matthew McConaughey, I have both the audiobook and the hardback on release date so listening to the voice I was able to look at the images, scans, photos and handwritten notes contained in the book as well.
This account of a life being lived, enjoyed and embraced whilst not being for sale is filled with sincerity, warmth and humility.
In Matthew’s own words, it’s a love letter to life, and listening all the way to the end, I really felt that is true.
I do not fan celebrities at all, especially Hollywood ones or typical A listers, but this voice was played to me at a time in my life when I needed to hear it so I was excited to get to know the full soul behind that personal experience for me.
There are lots of motivational videos online featuring this man’s voice.
The book is fast pace and a true page turner, I finished it in the one day and feel nothing but warmth and uplifted.
Thankful to have had this experience today.
A great read / listen.
Five stars from me.
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117 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Larry Reacher
- 22-10-20
Read this book, Greenlight...
I suggest you check you preconception at the door, fasten your seat belts for the McConaughey show, exit a better version of yourself, Rinse, repeat if necessary, The books good, funny, painful, as is life... thanxs Matthew.
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78 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- RD Macken
- 27-11-20
Sickly, preachy and way too indulgent
Really looked forward to this, but found it dimmed my opinions of the man. More of a self help book than a memoir. The industry anecdotes are great, but the personal ones are so self gratifying and preachy that I cringed. Also had trouble believing a lot of it.
Don't meet your idols!
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60 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- K. J. Kelly
- 24-10-20
Open and insightful glimpse of a life well-lived
McConaughey is one of those actors, twinkly-eyed, easy-going, almost effortlessly buff and charming and likeable. And guess what? You'll probably think the same of him after listening to this audiobook of his life (or reading a paper version).
I wasn't after a tell-all-Hollywood-gossip memoir. And that's as far from this as you can imagine. This gives us a life of someone pretty normal in many respects - okay, a quirky family but one that gave a solid foundation. A lot of travelling and mind-broadening. Some lucky breaks but also some good decisions made and pushing done to create his own opportunities. Right roads travelled.
Yes, we get to hear about his first days as an actor, searching for the big break, the ones that Made Him. But actually, the Hollywood experiences don't make up the largest proportion of his recollections. It's his earlier life and then his family life at the end bookending the Actor section that are the most entertaining, thoughtful and actually the most interesting.
Stories about acne, mad Australian surrogate families, meeting the love of his life. These are what I took away from listening. And as ever, McConaughey's drawly tone are so easy to listen to, it's like listening to a friend tell you their latest anecdote.
While I'm not religious and don't enjoy stories of spiritual awakening and suchlike, McConaughey's own moments of this aren't overly onerous, and do play a big role in some major life decisions. And he doesn't push them either. He also lightly mocks himself, talking about his character preparation for Reign of Fire for example. And his recent Oscar winning role and the labour it took to get the film to the screen is also dealt with in a way that brings out emotion in the reader. This is a man who's worked for what he's achieved. And thought a lot about what he wanted along the way.
It's a fairly short listen/read, and I'm really glad I chose the Audible version, I loved Matthew's company in the car. And his poetry and insight actually were incredibly good. There's one in particular I want to return to, some wonderful messages to take away.
Not a celebrity autobiography by any means, he throws us a few tidbits but there's no kiss-and-tell whatsoever, though I would have loved some more detail about the making of some of my favourites of his. Oh well.
Highly enjoyable, and over much too soon.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
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51 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- PP
- 13-11-20
A bit... Meh
I found it a bit annoying, too pompous in very simple truths. I appreciated the author reading his own book, but the pretentious laugh sneaked in.
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34 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mrs J Cobbold
- 30-11-20
Bear with it!
I thought it was unusual that the reviews I read were polar opposites; some people loved it, some people hated it. I agree with both sides though, I hated the first half an hour or so, it was fast and rambling and it bothered me that he defended his parents use of physical abuse to discipline their children, this is something I feel strongly about but I'm a persistent reader and I persevered and quite enjoyed the book overall. It is autobiographical but it won't give you Hollywood stories or discuss friendships with other actors. It's more like a long motivational speech interspersed with anecdotes from his past. I like his positivity and although I can see how other readers may think he's full of himself, I think it's important to remember to stay positive no matter what life throws at you. Unfortunately for the rest of, us who are not in the position to turn down 14 million dollar film roles because of our principles, it may feel a little far removed from the average readers reality.
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30 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Edita Sllamniku
- 22-10-20
Best book I read/listened in a looong time
I enjoyed this so much I didn’t want it to end! I laughed, I cried, and most importantly I listen, learned and got inspired! Matthew you are an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Please give us more 🙏🏻🙌🏻❤️
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30 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-10-20
Thank you McConaughey
This book gave me a warm feeling inside, every minute of the way. Matthew you’re a very humbling person and I’m thankful that you took the time to write this book. I went into it one person and came out a slightly more enlightened one. I recommend this book to everyone.
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24 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-11-20
Great storytelling but not very inspiring contents
Matthew's performance was excellent. But the stories were from a privileged man and quite uninspiring.
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21 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 28-10-20
Excellent
This is a highly original, entertaining and motivating piece of work. It's also an easy listen, read with great skill and energy by the author. He seems like a genuinely likeable guy with a real spirt of adventure and a great set of values. As he says, when you look back in the rear view mirror of your life, you want to like what you see. I don't think he'll be disappointed.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amin Y.
- 23-11-20
Rarely, we ever see something special as this
I may be speaking of myself, but I truly believe that Matthew McConaughey has gifted us with something that we rarely ever see something such as this.
It is 100% relative of the struggles that each and every one of us face.
GREENLIGHT...!!!
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Arav
- 24-11-20
Reading this Book from India
I loved this book for being genuine as possible without hiding things out of his life. It's Mathew McConaughey in his other side
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kallia
- 29-06-21
From slump to stride
This book has taken me out of a slump & into a stride. Thank you Mathew.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- hana123
- 07-03-21
Deep as a paper cut
I am glad I didn't pay for listening to this. It is simply awful. It is just pathetic narcissist rambling, an ode to self. After an hour of listening I realized my eyes hurt from rolling them all the time. Furthermore, I think it's amazing that after so many spiritual journeys the only thing you obviously do not learn is how to be humble. I am so sorry I got to know him better thrpugh this because he is one of those people I would steer away from because of their black-hole-like personality.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- RH
- 06-11-23
Completely unexpected
Really brilliant book and I’m so glad I listened to it. He narrated it so well too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- May
- 05-11-23
Enjoyable book read by Matthew
I loved that Matthew read his own book, he gives the words life, in a way that you feel like you are in the room with him & you are experiencing his very interesting life, and his life is interesting - with all the lessons he has learned and is now sharing
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-08-23
Authentic
Such an authentic pure true story of self and the power of being present and embracing life
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Scott Newton
- 28-08-23
A lot of fun
Great lessons, great journey, get on it to just have something different in your ears, you’ll take a lot away from it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-08-23
Unexpected
Wow!! Not what I was expecting. There were moments of laughter, sadness and realization that I could apply to my life journey. It's not your typical bio and easy listening to Matthew's story on my to and from work.
Yellow and red lights are not always a bad thing but an opportunity to slow down, take note and maybe a green light will appear.
If there was a follow-up, I'd definitely purchase it🥰
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 28-06-23
This is my new favourite book!! Life changing...
I've never had the pleasure to listen to someone with such drive AND freedom. It's also been a very long time since I have SEEN how to live life in comparison to being directed / corrected by people who are even more lost than me LOL. This actually saved my life and showed me that I can still succeed as long as I just keep going. Matthew, as a high school girl I had the biggest crush on you but through the years I grew to respect you. For your words alone saved me from my own prison and for that I can only say, THANK YOU!!
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