Matthew McConaughey is an Academy Award–winning American actor who wrote a memoir-companion to his life in the form of Greenlights. His 2020 book Greenlights spent more than 50 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and reads as part memoir, part journal.
Who is Matthew McConaughey?
Matthew McConaughey spent decades working in film before publishing Greenlights, drawn from 35 years of diaries. The book is less a traditional memoir than a collection of lessons, written in a distinctive voice, about honouring your own limits and finding opportunity in difficulty.
Matthew McConaughey’s books
- Greenlights — his memoir of lessons learned over 35 years
Where should you start?
There is only one book — Greenlights. Read it as a memoir rather than a how-to.
Key ideas in Matthew McConaughey’s work
- Greenlights — difficulty and rejection can be the signal telling you to change direction
- Own your own blueprint — define success for yourself instead of inheriting it
- Prescription vs perspective — choosing perspective is more powerful than chasing prescriptions for a good life
Frequently asked questions
What is Matthew McConaughey best known for?
Matthew McConaughey is best known as an actor, and for Greenlights, a memoir built from decades of personal journals.
Should I read Greenlights first?
It is his only book, so yes — Greenlights is the place to start.
