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Greenlights

304 pages, 2021

biographies & memoirs

biographies & memoirs

997 books
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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 fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. 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 scenes, felts and figured-outs cools and shameful. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away with, getting caught, and getting wet while trying to dance between the raindrops.

Hopefully, it's a 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 green lights and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too."

Embrace Your Failures

In Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey encourages us to see failures as greenlights. They are not roadblocks but opportunities for growth. He believes that every red and yellow light eventually turns green. So, don't be afraid of failures, instead, learn from them and move forward.

Value of Hard Work

McConaughey emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication. He shares his journey from a small Texas town to Hollywood, showing that success doesn't come easy. It's a great reminder for us to stay committed to our dreams, no matter how big or small they are.

Importance of Self-Reliance

One of the key messages from the book is the importance of being self-reliant. He shares his experiences of traveling around the world alone at a young age, which taught him to rely on himself. It's a great lesson for us to take charge of our own lives and not depend on others for our happiness.

Live in the Present

Greenlights encourages us to live in the present and enjoy every moment. McConaughey shares his philosophy of 'just keep livin', which means to keep moving forward and live life to the fullest. It's a great reminder for us to not get stuck in the past or worry about the future.

Chase Your Dreams

In the book, McConaughey shares his journey of chasing his dreams and achieving success. He encourages us to follow our passion and not settle for less. It's a great motivation for us to take a step towards our dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.

Quotes 4

Greenlights is a treasure trove of wisdom and life lessons, a testament to a life well lived.

Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey - Talk show host

Matthew's book is a deeply personal, introspective narrative that resonates with everyone.

Reese WitherspoonReese Witherspoon - Actress, producer

Greenlights is a fascinating read, filled with humor, wisdom, and life lessons.

Bill GatesBill Gates - Microsoft co-founder

Matthew's book is a captivating journey through his life, filled with profound insights.

Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneres - Comedian, television host
Oprah WinfreyReese WitherspoonBill GatesEllen DeGeneres

Recommendations

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498 books

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