Jada Pinkett Smith

audio nonfiction/memoir - autobiography with long-term struggles with depression (and suicidal thoughts) [~15 hours, but you can comfortably listen at 1.25x speed = closer to 12 hours]

As you would expect, the accomplished actor is also a brilliant storyteller, and I was rapt from the opening sentences of her prologue. From her instantly close friendship with Tupac at the Baltimore School for the Arts and her (fortunately) very short stint as a drug dealer, Jada Pinkett Smith found her way show more (with hard work, talent, and a lot of luck) to Hollywood and beyond. Chapters are interspersed with exercises in self-reflection, providing additional insight into her spiritual and personal journies. It maybe drags a bit in but the woman has been through a lot and deserves respect. show less

I truly enjoyed hearing Jada's story from HER--and not from a secondary source. Being from Maryland, too, I was able to visualize her early life very clearly. But, my favorite parts were discovering her entry into Hollywood. Creatives have to go through so much to "get on", sustain a career, and hold on to themselves during the process...and I commend her for pushing through the noise and focusing on her inner journey.

This book is not the salacious headlines in the media. This is a show more heartfelt journey into someone's inner thoughts and soul, and I really appreciated the openness. It was also relatable, because finding ourselves doesn't stop at any life stage, and I connected with many of Jada's moments of conflict, confusion, and perseverance .

This was an excellent read, and I will be buying copy for my mom so we can discuss :-) show less

I’ve never been on the recent Jada hate train. I think memoirs are for airing it all out, the good and the bad.

“I have to point out, when a man, any man, commits a displeasing act, how bizarre it is that a woman can be fully to blame. How is it that a woman can be so irrelevant and culpable at the same time? It’s absolutely mind-boggling and quite a fascinating riddle.”

Here, we learn about her Baltimore upbringing, eclectic-ness, parenting style, abandonment issues, spirituality show more drawn from multiple religions, a fateful night with ayahuasca, and, of course, the men in her life. This book truly centers on Jada, letting her voice be heard.

The focus on spirituality is constant and intense, and we see the trials, errors, and setbacks it has taken to get Jada to this point of contentment.

i think the prenup is the only reason they haven't divorced. they have shown they can be amicable with each other without being romantically tied. why stay married in a miserable marriage? they have a great love for each other but don't seem compatible

3.5 show less

read Jada Pinkett Smith's Girls Hold Up This World, years ago, and I thought that it was a very powerful, affirming book for young girls. I vowed that if I ever had a little girl, this would be required reading.

Fast forward a few years, and I finally got the chance to share Girls Hold Up This World with my three year old daughter. She thoroughly enjoyed it, but her favorite part was when I explained that the little girl on the cover was same girl that sings her favorite song, "I Whip My Hair show more Back and Forth."

While some of the affirming messages of self love and acceptance, were lost on my three year old, she loved seeing pictures of different little girls. Just seeing positive images of girls, many of which were of color, opened up a dialogue between the two of us about all the great things that girls can do and dream and be. This book helped me to explain to my daughter that being a girl doesn't look like one particular thing. We are all different, we are all valuable, we are all beautiful, and we all "hold up this world." show less