Jeremy Renner

"I'm roadkill that survived."

Wow.

I'd known that Renner had suffered a serious accident but, to be honest, I had no idea exactly how bad it had been. And this book came out just as I'd started watching his Mayor of Kingstown series, so it was an interesting confluence.

A third element was the fact that I'd also been privileged enough to write the story of a woman who also survived her own incredibly horrifying injuries, and the ten years of medical, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual show more aftermath. That added another element of why this story interested me.

Renner walks us through the lead up to the accident, the harrowing, horrifying accident itself and the immediate aftermath, as well as the next year of recovery, while also taking us on side-trips and flashbacks to set context, to explain standpoints and beliefs and to generally set the stage adequately.

Does he repeat himself occasionally? Yes. Does he, at times, seem a bit overwrought in the description of things? Yes. Does he get a touch New-Agey at times? Yes, a little.

I've seen some criticism about this book that it's "badly written" or that he's out of touch because he's a rich guy and was afforded opportunities that others wouldn't have. But here's my thing: first of all, Renner's not a writer. He's an actor who had something horrible happen to him, and he detailed it to the best of his ability. And second, having experience with the woman who faced an equally traumatic event, I can tell you that, in reliving all those days did tend to bring out a more spiritual, New-Agey side, as well as a tendency to repeat things. And hell, yes, he IS a rich guy...it's part of who he is. He has to write from what he knows. And yes, there is times where he flat-out states how lucky he is to have the life he has.

Here's the bigger observation, from my point of view, unimportant as it is: Does Renner have a story to tell? Yes. Does he tell it in a way that is inspiring, and also nerve-wracking and humorous at the same time? Yes.

One thing's for sure...as that Snowcat ran over him, it didn't care how privileged his life was up to that point. It busted him up just like it would have any one of us, young or old, rich or poor.

Renner's obviously a character, and he's obviously a stubborn SOB who doesn't necessarily always make the right choices. But what is obvious is, he chooses his path, and he accepts the consequences of his actions.

This is a phenomenal story of how life can change in the span of seconds, how a single decision can alter your life. But it's also the story of how, with the right motivation and mindset, you can also push through and control the narrative. And, in even the darkest, most terrible events, you can find the light, and the meaning.

Absolutely a recommended read. show less

His snowcat ran over him after a huge snowstorm in Lake Tahoe; he lay on the ice for hours as neighbors and his nephew tried to keep him alive, and he had a very positive near-death experience. This part of it was quite interesting, as was his recovery. But his hortatory, what one reviewer called new-agey, style, became tedious and too repetitive.

I was introduced to Jeremy Renner through the movie, The Hurt Locker, which was fantastic. Since then, I’ve noticed his roles in other movies that I’ve also enjoyed. In 2020, I watched him on HGTV’s Celebrity IOU with The Property Brothers, where he helped renovate his mom’s house. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and I was saddened to hear about his horrific, near-fatal accident in 2023. I was instantly intrigued when he published a memoir, My Next Breath, about his accident and show more recovery.

In My Next Breath, Jeremy recounts his near-fatal accident in January 2023, when he was crushed by a 14,000-pound snowcat while trying to protect his nephew. He suffered over 38 broken bones and severe trauma. Focusing on each labored breath that kept him alive, he details the harrowing ordeal, multiple surgeries, grueling rehabilitation, and profound lessons in resilience, hope, inner strength, and gratitude for family and life.

I love that Jeremy narrates the audiobook. He opens his memoir by admitting that he’s not a writer and didn’t want to write this book because he didn’t want to relive the trauma. However, he was driven to highlight the ripple effect of the accident and how it’s changed his life. In the beginning, Jeremy’s daughter, Ava, reads a paper she wrote for a school assignment about one of her best days. It’s very sweet and touching.

You can clearly hear the pain in Jeremy’s voice as he describes being crushed by the PistenBully snowcat. It seemed so hard for him to read for the audiobook, and I felt my heart go out to him. Portions of the 911 recording are included in the audiobook, which was surprising. It’s very courageous for him to share that terrifying moment in his life. Listening to it gave me chills.

While this book primarily focuses on the incident, Jeremy seamlessly incorporates details about his family, childhood, and the pivotal moment that led him to pursue acting. Throughout the book, he exudes a profound sense of gratitude, expressing his deepest appreciation for his life, family, friends, and those who played a crucial role in saving his life. I genuinely admire that this book doesn’t solely revolve around Jeremy. He humbly demonstrates empathy for his family and acknowledges the emotional toll they endured. This story is not just about him; it’s about everyone affected.

It’s truly remarkable how much progress he makes in his recovery. Admittedly, Jeremy is quite stubborn, yet his unwavering motivation to heal his mind and body is truly inspiring. I admire his tenacity in enduring the physical pain he faces. Throughout the book, he consistently delivers positive and encouraging messages, reinforcing his determination to heal. His story is both inspiring and admirable. It’s impressive that he’s willing to be so open and transparent in sharing his journey with anyone who’s willing to listen.

I borrowed the audiobook of My Next Breath from my local library using Libby. I’m incredibly grateful that Jeremy Renner narrates the audiobook. As a reader, it’s truly meaningful to hear the story in his voice.

Near the end of the book, Jeremy references the TV interview he conducted with Jane Pauley. If you’re interested, there’s a portion of that interview on my blog, which is linked below.

I have photos, videos, and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog show less

For me, this was such an engaging read. I didn't want to put it down. Was there repetition? Yes, but I felt it had a purpose. And it doesn't surprise me how rude people can be about famous people. Yes, of course some celebrities are awful, but so are non-famous people. I didn't read the same thing the negative reviewers did. No one can tell me that if they were wealthy, they wouldn't do everything possible to help in their survival and recovery. Give me a break. Good for him that he had that show more blessing. I really enjoyed hearing about how this incident changed him, as well as how his perspective and positive thinking beforehand helped get him through it all. There's nothing more beneficial than a positive spirit, especially during a traumatic experience. I've seen it first hand in my family, so kudos to Jeremy for harnessing that. And I have a lot of respect for him with all he does for his community and children and different charities. At least he's putting his wealth and fame to good use. I'm so glad I made it a priority to read this one now rather than later. show less