Will by Will Smith and Mark Manson

Published: 2021, Penguin Random House

Genre: Biography/Self Help

Themes: Will Smith

My rating (out of 5): ❤❤❤

I don't usually write a synopsis as part of my book reviews but I think I'll make an exception here because it won't take long.

Synopsis: I am the greatest thing on two legs and whatever you do you will not be better than me.

I really enjoy watching Will Smith's films, and as you can see from the photograph above, our family has contributed to his fortunes over the years. The problem I had with his memoir is that it comes across as the latest marketing exercise for the Will Smith brand. I felt that the whole project has been devised to move him across from his reputation for goal orientated high achievement to the new zeitgeist of emotional intelligence and vulnerability.

Of course Oprah Winfrey is the undisputed queen of this new world, so even the mighty Will Smith had to obtain her stamp of approval before moving forward. There was the obligatory interview where he had to repeat His Truth, and as a reward, Oprah declared his book to be 'the best memoir I have ever read'. (Clearly Oprah hasn't yet got around to reading biographical works by Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela and the Obamas).

Half way through the book Will Smith tells us that Hollywood screenwriters are aware of a book titled The Hero with a Thousand Faces written by Joseph Campbell way back in 1949. Campbell studied the best known stories and fables dating back to ancient times and came up with the formula for a sure-fire best-selling plot that still works today. Essentially, the story must be about a hero on a quest to find some lost treasure or revelation, and during his journey he must fight to stay on course and undergo his greatest test of courage in a great climax in the final chapters. In the end, the hero wins against all odds and takes the treasure to loud applause and adoration from the masses. This formula can be seen in action in Men in Black and Independence Day and it also happens to be the formula that sits behind this book.

Comments

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