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A review by jeremychiasson
Will by Will Smith, Mark Manson
5.0
"Will" is intended by the author to be a memoir/self help book, but it's ACTUALLY a psychological thriller, where the charming narrator who won you over in the beginning with his goofy rapping and self-deprecating humor slowly reveals himself to be a psychopath.
You have to listen to this on audio, because Will performs his story with flair, rapping and playing the piano throughout, oozing his trademark Fresh Prince Charisma. However, without a sitcom script to recite, Smith veers into delusional tangents, self-indulgent life advice that no one could ever possibly benefit from (like: To all my young male readers-- don't force your wife to live on a giant family ranch if she says she doesn't want to live there), and a disturbing lack of empathy.
"Will" is infinitely quotable. Here are a few of my passages and lines:
"Every single harem equation in my mind kept adding up to a hellscape. If I can't figure out how to nurture and nourish one...woman, what the fuck made me think I could care for twenty-five? I don't want a harem..."
"We were teed up, and Big Willy was bringing the thunder."
"I was shaking with anticipation. I could see her, just like Sue Ellen, coming to breakfast on a stallion."
""I am a master Monopoly player. This is not a joke; I'm not saying it to be facetious; this is not hyperbole. I have studied. I have worked with professional instructors--I fully intended to play international Monopoly Tournaments. When the dice hits, I don't have to count squares; I know that States is six squares from New York--I just pick the piece up and move it."
"My vocal delivery on "Summertime" shocked the hip hop world."
"At the time, my fade was legendary. To cut my hair... was not only a challenge but a catapult to a young barber in Hollywood."
Will Smith on shooting the Fresh Prince while being ill to set an example to his wife:
"Women (or Europeans) always describe this trait negatively, but on a primal level it's hard not to respect a warrior."
-----------------------------------
Will Smith on His Fantasy Life
"For me the border between fantasy and reality has always been thin and transparent...the problem is, one man's fantasy is another man's lie."
"...as child, what the other kids didn't understand was that I didn't lie about my perceptions, my perceptions lied to me."
"Sometimes I'll tell a story, and a friend will look over at Jada and ask "Okay, so what really happened?"
"My imagination is my gift. And when it merges with my work ethic, I can make money rain from the heavens"
-----------------------------------
The Scorched Earth Tracker (I only noted 5, but I definitely forgot to write down a few):
"...But some suckaz didn't--they would try to keep going, and then two words: SCORCHED. EARTH. By my junior year, I had developed a reputation around West Philly."
"...he didn't bother nobody, but if you fucked with him...two words: SCORCHED. EARTH"
"...I was invincible. Two Words: SCORCHED. EARTH."
"Two Words: SCORCHED. EARTH. I was amazed."
"...factoring in my global promotional sledgehammer, TWO WORDS: SCORCHED. EARTH.
----------------------------------------
Somehow a five star read, and a one star read at the same time.
You have to listen to this on audio, because Will performs his story with flair, rapping and playing the piano throughout, oozing his trademark Fresh Prince Charisma. However, without a sitcom script to recite, Smith veers into delusional tangents, self-indulgent life advice that no one could ever possibly benefit from (like: To all my young male readers-- don't force your wife to live on a giant family ranch if she says she doesn't want to live there), and a disturbing lack of empathy.
"Will" is infinitely quotable. Here are a few of my passages and lines:
"Every single harem equation in my mind kept adding up to a hellscape. If I can't figure out how to nurture and nourish one...woman, what the fuck made me think I could care for twenty-five? I don't want a harem..."
"We were teed up, and Big Willy was bringing the thunder."
"I was shaking with anticipation. I could see her, just like Sue Ellen, coming to breakfast on a stallion."
""I am a master Monopoly player. This is not a joke; I'm not saying it to be facetious; this is not hyperbole. I have studied. I have worked with professional instructors--I fully intended to play international Monopoly Tournaments. When the dice hits, I don't have to count squares; I know that States is six squares from New York--I just pick the piece up and move it."
"My vocal delivery on "Summertime" shocked the hip hop world."
"At the time, my fade was legendary. To cut my hair... was not only a challenge but a catapult to a young barber in Hollywood."
Will Smith on shooting the Fresh Prince while being ill to set an example to his wife:
"Women (or Europeans) always describe this trait negatively, but on a primal level it's hard not to respect a warrior."
-----------------------------------
Will Smith on His Fantasy Life
"For me the border between fantasy and reality has always been thin and transparent...the problem is, one man's fantasy is another man's lie."
"...as child, what the other kids didn't understand was that I didn't lie about my perceptions, my perceptions lied to me."
"Sometimes I'll tell a story, and a friend will look over at Jada and ask "Okay, so what really happened?"
"My imagination is my gift. And when it merges with my work ethic, I can make money rain from the heavens"
-----------------------------------
The Scorched Earth Tracker (I only noted 5, but I definitely forgot to write down a few):
"...But some suckaz didn't--they would try to keep going, and then two words: SCORCHED. EARTH. By my junior year, I had developed a reputation around West Philly."
"...he didn't bother nobody, but if you fucked with him...two words: SCORCHED. EARTH"
"...I was invincible. Two Words: SCORCHED. EARTH."
"Two Words: SCORCHED. EARTH. I was amazed."
"...factoring in my global promotional sledgehammer, TWO WORDS: SCORCHED. EARTH.
----------------------------------------
Somehow a five star read, and a one star read at the same time.