Will
The instant #1 New York Times bestseller!
“It's the best memoir I've ever read.” —Oprah Winfrey
“Will Smith isn't holding back in his bravely inspiring new memoir . . . An ultimately heartwarming read, Will provides a humane glimpse of the man behind the actor, producer and musician, as he bares all his insecurities and trauma.” —USA Today
Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Achievement
One of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.
Will Smith’s transformation from a West Philadelphia kid to one of the biggest rap stars of his era, and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, is an epic tale—but it’s only half the story.
Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn't see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn't signed up for. It turned out Will Smith's education wasn't nearly over.
This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one person mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world's biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself.
“It's the best memoir I've ever read.” —Oprah Winfrey
“Will Smith isn't holding back in his bravely inspiring new memoir . . . An ultimately heartwarming read, Will provides a humane glimpse of the man behind the actor, producer and musician, as he bares all his insecurities and trauma.” —USA Today
Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Achievement
One of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.
Will Smith’s transformation from a West Philadelphia kid to one of the biggest rap stars of his era, and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, is an epic tale—but it’s only half the story.
Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn't see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn't signed up for. It turned out Will Smith's education wasn't nearly over.
This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one person mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world's biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself.
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Community Reviews
The audiobook gave me much joy and perspective. It is not easy to let go but his joy from rapping to reflecting on raising his kids. Amazing!
An honest memoir, goes to show that not even the rich can't be unhappy with life. So real and down to earth. Loved his honesty about his failures and mistakes. Nobody is perfect!!!
"Will" is a really good and captivating read, the author shares his real life struggles with insecurities, fears, failures, minor and major successes. Walking the reader through his father issues that robbed him of self confidence and how he finds the silver lining despite life's challenges, wrong choices, uncertain decisions, mental health and making peace with them all. This book really shows the hidden inner vulnerabilities of many men versus their outward appearance.
Fight, Fear, or Flight? Which one are you? Will Smith started off as Fear when he saw his fatherâs rages from binge drinking. He was a self admitting coward as he stood by watching a little girl go into a house where a pedophile lived and he ran home and hid underneath his bed. He feared his father but did nothing as his father beat his mother and hid.
His vivid imagination helped protect him from reality but also made him be considered strange. He was a kid who wore cowboy boots, even as he went out to the neighborhood to play basketball. Heâd constantly tried to use his sense of humor to make people happy and even noticed if Daddy-O was laughing, Daddy-O wasnât hitting Will Smithâs mother.
Another way to escape is to please his father, whoâs long love for photography and making home movies. Because the camera couldnât do audio, Will would exaggerate his faces and actions and cause people to laugh harder. Will Smith developed a comedic rhythm.
Then when his cousin, Paul, came to live with the Smith Family, Willâs life was about to change. Cousin Paul introduced Will to hip hop and Will was hooked.
Will started a rap group made up of some of the neighborhood kids. Will was very disciplined through the teachings of his father when Will Charles Smith, 1st, made Will and his younger brother build a wall at Daddy-Oâs store.
âStop thinking about the damn wall!â he said. âThere is no wall. There are only bricks. Your job is to lay this brick perfectly. Then move on to the next brick. Then lay that brick perfectly. Then the next one. Donât be worrying about no wall. Your only concern is one brick.â ~ Daddy-O
The other boys were not as disciplined and Will eventually found himself on the outs with them as they laid claim to a sound mixer which he purchased with his own money. They would not give it back to him so he trashed it so that they could not use it. He realized he could still have fear but
âFear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. The danger is very real. But fear is a choice.â ~ Will Smith
He ran with the wind out of there but he stood his ground. This was the first of many where he stood his ground. He learned to fight and fight for what he believed in.
âStop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings & emotions.â ~ Will Smith
âThere's no reason to have a plan B because it distracts from plan A.â ~ Will Smith
He started to rap with another kid, Ready Rock C (Clay), who was like a human sound maker a started battling and going to parties to rap as a performer. It was at the faithful party where Ready Rock C (Clay) was MIA and Will Smith met a funny, unassuming, nerdy guy named, Jeff. He was known as DJ Jazzy Jeff for how he was able to spin the record. His associate for the show was also MIA so they decided to try and make it work by performing together. Magic happened. They enjoyed how they were both able to read each otherâs cues and make the other sound great. They both also found themselves sharing about themselves and the common denominator was their work ethic. Both took rapping very seriously.
âI want to be the person that is the first person there and the last person to leave. That's who I want to be because I think the road to success is through commitment, and through the strength to drive through that commitment when it gets hard. And it is going to get hard and you're going to want to quit sometimes, but it'll be colored by who you are, and more who you want to be.â ~ Will Smith
âI've never really viewed myself as particularly talented; where I excel is in a ridiculous, sickening work ethic. While the other guy is sleeping, I'm working. While the other guy is eating, I'm working.â ~ Will Smith
Hard work learned from his father and Will Smithâs passion for rapping and dropping out of college for one year to prove himself was the driving force as to how and why he and DJ Jazzy Jeff were both successful. Plus the fact that their mutual friend, JL had a fax machine and later became his manager. One thing I appreciated about Will Smith is his loyalty to the people who were there for him.
âIf youâre absent during my struggle, donât expect to be present during my successâ
â Will Smith
As he rose in popularity and fame, his grandma, GiGi was a constant in his life.
âJusâ remember, Lover Boy,â she said, âbe nice to everybody you pass on your way up, coz you just might have to pass them again on your way down.â
~Gigi (grandmother from his motherâs side)
He had many struggles as he went from rapping successfully to slowly not getting as much airplay and other rappers laughing at him because of his refusal to use curse words in his songs. A promise to both his mother and GiGi. He hit rock bottom and later had to reinvent himself as an actor. Through it all, he still remained loyal to his hometown boys and had them connected throughout his career.
His vivid imagination helped protect him from reality but also made him be considered strange. He was a kid who wore cowboy boots, even as he went out to the neighborhood to play basketball. Heâd constantly tried to use his sense of humor to make people happy and even noticed if Daddy-O was laughing, Daddy-O wasnât hitting Will Smithâs mother.
Another way to escape is to please his father, whoâs long love for photography and making home movies. Because the camera couldnât do audio, Will would exaggerate his faces and actions and cause people to laugh harder. Will Smith developed a comedic rhythm.
Then when his cousin, Paul, came to live with the Smith Family, Willâs life was about to change. Cousin Paul introduced Will to hip hop and Will was hooked.
Will started a rap group made up of some of the neighborhood kids. Will was very disciplined through the teachings of his father when Will Charles Smith, 1st, made Will and his younger brother build a wall at Daddy-Oâs store.
âStop thinking about the damn wall!â he said. âThere is no wall. There are only bricks. Your job is to lay this brick perfectly. Then move on to the next brick. Then lay that brick perfectly. Then the next one. Donât be worrying about no wall. Your only concern is one brick.â ~ Daddy-O
The other boys were not as disciplined and Will eventually found himself on the outs with them as they laid claim to a sound mixer which he purchased with his own money. They would not give it back to him so he trashed it so that they could not use it. He realized he could still have fear but
âFear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. The danger is very real. But fear is a choice.â ~ Will Smith
He ran with the wind out of there but he stood his ground. This was the first of many where he stood his ground. He learned to fight and fight for what he believed in.
âStop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings & emotions.â ~ Will Smith
âThere's no reason to have a plan B because it distracts from plan A.â ~ Will Smith
He started to rap with another kid, Ready Rock C (Clay), who was like a human sound maker a started battling and going to parties to rap as a performer. It was at the faithful party where Ready Rock C (Clay) was MIA and Will Smith met a funny, unassuming, nerdy guy named, Jeff. He was known as DJ Jazzy Jeff for how he was able to spin the record. His associate for the show was also MIA so they decided to try and make it work by performing together. Magic happened. They enjoyed how they were both able to read each otherâs cues and make the other sound great. They both also found themselves sharing about themselves and the common denominator was their work ethic. Both took rapping very seriously.
âI want to be the person that is the first person there and the last person to leave. That's who I want to be because I think the road to success is through commitment, and through the strength to drive through that commitment when it gets hard. And it is going to get hard and you're going to want to quit sometimes, but it'll be colored by who you are, and more who you want to be.â ~ Will Smith
âI've never really viewed myself as particularly talented; where I excel is in a ridiculous, sickening work ethic. While the other guy is sleeping, I'm working. While the other guy is eating, I'm working.â ~ Will Smith
Hard work learned from his father and Will Smithâs passion for rapping and dropping out of college for one year to prove himself was the driving force as to how and why he and DJ Jazzy Jeff were both successful. Plus the fact that their mutual friend, JL had a fax machine and later became his manager. One thing I appreciated about Will Smith is his loyalty to the people who were there for him.
âIf youâre absent during my struggle, donât expect to be present during my successâ
â Will Smith
As he rose in popularity and fame, his grandma, GiGi was a constant in his life.
âJusâ remember, Lover Boy,â she said, âbe nice to everybody you pass on your way up, coz you just might have to pass them again on your way down.â
~Gigi (grandmother from his motherâs side)
He had many struggles as he went from rapping successfully to slowly not getting as much airplay and other rappers laughing at him because of his refusal to use curse words in his songs. A promise to both his mother and GiGi. He hit rock bottom and later had to reinvent himself as an actor. Through it all, he still remained loyal to his hometown boys and had them connected throughout his career.
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