BayouPages | “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey

review by Meredith McKinnie

“Sometimes which choice you make is not as important as making a choice and committing to it.”

Matthew McConaughey, the Oscar winning actor best known for romantic comedy, box office gold and shirtless paparazzi photos, has published a memoir to surprisingly rave reviews. When I got my copy, I still had my doubts, certain the hype would correct itself eventually. His rugged personality manifests in a rugged, yet tender text that originated from McConaughey’s journals over the years. Full of introspection and advice on living as opposed to surviving, the actor/author delves into his family history and the lessons acquired from always saying “Why not?” 

The memoir recounts McConaughey, the last of three brothers, flying by the seat of his pants and always landing on his feet. When presented with the opportunity to study abroad in Australia, McConaughey jumped at the chance, staying a year across the globe during high school. Though faced with culture shock and a freakishly strange host family, McConaughey adapted, often by looking inward. Throughout his life, when faced with adversity, McConaughey chases the unknown, leans into discomfort, and challenges the status quo. He respects tradition enough to ignore it when searching for truth. Whether it is floating the Amazon, or turning down box-office-gold roles, or daring to challenge Hollywood execs, McConaughey forges his own path via consistent self-evaluation and necessary pivots. He writes, “Persist, pivot, or concede. It’s up to us, our choice every time.”

I consumed this book in 24 hours. Admittedly, the plot of his life didn’t surprise me, but the analysis of those events from the actor did. I rarely pair the words cerebral and simple, yet McConaughey accomplishes both. Written in short chapters and even shorter sentences, McConaughey captures quite a bit of sentiment without losing the can’t-look-away factor. The book reads easily in McConaughey’s voice, and the graphics throughout provide a textured quality that sets it apart from Hollywood memoirs, much like the actor set aside Hollywood for his home state of Texas. 

A consistent theme throughout this book is the actor’s rejection of comfort. If he finds himself domestically comfortable, he quickly hits the road. If he finds box office success, he trades it in for a new Hollywood image. If he wakes up from a wet dream, he chases the source, even when it takes him to the margins of civilization. The actor recounts a fearless life in a fearlessly written text. While his audience might seem niche, the wisdom acquired off-road is universal. I recommend this book to the McConaughey superfan, the McConaughey-curious, and to those, like myself, who just adore memoirs for the willing soul exposure. 

“We cannot fully appreciate the light without the shadows. We have to be thrown off balance to find our footing. It’s better to jump than fall. And here I am.”