Worthy

Written by Jada Pinkett Smith

Narrated by Jada Pinkett Smith

**Time magazine most anticipated books of 2023**

**Parade magazine must-read books by celebrities 2023**

""I went through so many emotions reading this book. Reconnecting to one's ancestors and truly feeling, not only hearing, their stories are fertile ground for true ecstatic embodiment of the self. We have to know where we've been to see where we're going."" -Willow Smith

""[Smith] is candid and honest... For the first time she reveals the truth behind [the] happy images. An incredible read."" -Hoda Kotb, The Today Show

A gripping, at times painfully honest, and ultimately inspirational memoir from global superstar and creator of the Red Table Talk series Jada Pinkett Smith. 

Jada Pinkett Smith was living what many would view as a fairy-tale of Hollywood success. But appearances can be deceiving, and as she felt more and more separated from her sense of self, emotional turmoil took hold. Sparing no detail, Worthy chronicles her life—from a rebellious youth running the Baltimore streets as an observer and participant in the drug trade, to the deep bond she shared with Tupac Shakur from the moment they met, to her move to Los Angeles and the successful career she built on her own terms, to becoming the wife of superstar Will Smith and mother to Jaden, Willow and bonus-mom to Trey . A rollercoaster from the depths of suicidal depression to the heights of self-acceptance and spiritual healing, Worthy is a woman’s journey to finding herself again. 

In a media driven landscape that crafts narratives for our celebrities, Smith shares herself in an intimate conversation with readers. She answers questions about her difficult childhood, her marriage, her parenting style, her career choices, and the intense scrutiny that followed “the slap.” An impactful and rare memoir that engages and educates, Worthy shows why adhering to the status quo has never been the plan for Jada Pinkett Smith and why labels and stories crafted by others strip women of their authenticity. Worthy teaches us who Jada is, and how to embrace our most lovable qualities. Complete with thought-provoking writing prompts and meditations on how to discover who we really are and nourish our self-worth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063320710

Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith is an American actress, singer-songwriter, talk show host, producer, and businesswoman. She got her big break in 1991 when she landed the role of Lena James on the NBC sitcom, A Different World. Since then, Jada Pinkett Smith has appeared in more than 20 films in a variety of genres, including Menace II Society, Set It Off, Scream 2, Ali, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, the Madagascar series, Hawthorne, Gotham, Magic Mike XXL, Bad Moms, and Girls Trip. In 2002, Jada launched her music career when she helped create the metal band Wicked Wisdom, for whom she is a singer and songwriter. In 2004, she published a children's book, Girls Hold Up This World, which landed at number two on The New York Times Best Seller list. Currently, she is the co-host of the Facebook Watch talk show Red Table Talk, for which she has received a Daytime Emmy Award. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. Jada is married to actor Will Smith and shares three children with him. Together, the couple founded the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, a charity organization which focuses on inner-city youth and family support. The couple also owns Westbrook Inc., a media company that aims to empower artists to tell their stories and connect with the world. 

Reviews for Worthy

[Angie Larson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. I have a completely different understanding and empathy and connection towards Jada. Her sincerity in her story was powerful and authentic. May God bless her and her family forever and ever. Thank you Jada for sharing your story. Wow!

[Vladimir Petre · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even tho it seems like a huge huge audiobook to finnish , the voice and word selection made it a great a listen

[Eric R · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you Jada, for making this book‼️ and thank you for making it available.

[Ellen Wilts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Holds your attention. Very honest. It was very sad how she grew up. I personally do not agree with her therapies. My own personal beliefs is why i gave it 4 stars

[Patt Mihailoff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Okay, After the infamous Academy Award slap, I VOWED I would never watch another movie with Jada Pinkett smith in it, or read her “please forgive me people,” novel WORTHY, when it came out.

But when it came on my literary feed, it was like an irritating gnat/fly buzzing around me to, “read it,” that I kept slapping away for weeks. Finally, to make it STOP, I began listening to WORTHY.

Let’s start by saying that I am without a doubt jealous as hell of her beauty, her talent, her bald head, (mine is shaped like a bumpy football) and her career.

As I listened, I wanted to hurry through to see what she had to say about the “incident” but something kept telling me to, LISTEN and find out about the girl, the woman, the mother, the wife, the warrior.

Jada didn’t have it easy growing up with having to deal with BOTH parents being addicted to drugs. She did not shy away from some of the things she did in her past that I never had to or would ever do, (would I?). Girlfriend was from the HOOD and although you can take the girl out of the hood, you can’t remove ALL the hood from the girl, and she used it when necessary.

I want to believe that everything she wrote about her relationship with Tupak was as she said it was, but then who cares? Her friend/love for him to her was real as it could get and to heck with anyone who believes it or not.

I am NOT nor will I ever be a RAP person. I am just too old school to come to enjoy that type of music. Jada stuck to her music game and made it work for her. The part she talks about doing her black Heavy Metal gig is priceless, and shows her complete determination in her efforts to succeed where she (as pretty as she is) is not wanted, but gained respect for talent and grit.

She goes into great detail about the relationship with her husband from courtship to her self-imposed separation(s). She did not shy away from her sexuality and how although she has been with women early on, she loves men. Experimentation is not uncommon.

She draws you into her spiritual journey stemming from religious retreats and visits with leaders of mystical enlightenment to better understand who she is and what her purpose is.

I have always said that we respond to visuals, good bad or indifferent. She was already beautiful so her going bald was nothing, because she was able to pull it off with BEAUTY. My misunderstanding of her, was if alopecia was such a thing for her and hers was not as bad as some others, than that should have been her platform. It was but we just didn’t know it.

We all saw what unfolded that fateful night and we all saw her ‘rolling eyes’, and like everyone, I accused Jada for orchestrating the incident. When reading what was really behind all of it, I have a completely different understanding. Something was going on with WILL SMITH. In her explaining it I gathered that Will was just trying to get his wife back any way he could. I am not saying WILL is weak, but he might be weak where she is concerned. Real love might do that to you sometime. A lot of what happened was from “old stuff” between Will and Chris and Will Smith might have called some of it up. What we didn’t see during the commercial break was that Chris went over to Jada to apologize, but she was busy trying to console her obviously distraught and confused husband.

I am a hard nut to crack and stubborn as Aunt Holly’s mule, but after listening to WORTHY, I feel that after everything and IN SPITE OF everything, Jada you ARE WORTHY.
I suggest people, who like me, BLAMED Jada, read this book and understand, all is not what it seems just because we think we saw it that way. (Unlike January 6th which was exactly the way everyone saw it, and not peaceful).

I want to close with, Jada might want to add book narration to her resume, she has a lovely melodic voice and can pull it off easily.

[Andra · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The only thing I liked was her voice . It was pleasant and she read her book very well . Not here to judge her character since we never met and I don’t know her , however she comes across as a highly unlikeable person who doesn’t appreciate her privileges. Then again, can’t relate to her lifestyle and I could be wrong . Who knows .

[solomon129368 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I like it not at all what I was expecting. She has lead a very colorful life.

[Patrice Ray · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I understand this memoir to be about a woman with serious narcissistic tendencies, who finds healing by not only looking within, but to her family.
The book spent a great deal of time exploring her youth. I still don’t have a clear idea of who Jada is. She wants to be a ‘rebel’ but she doesn’t really have a cause. She’s a multimillionaire clinging on to her ‘ghost memory’ of the streets while feeling unworthy of Love because her husband works a lot and away from her. She said she ‘sacrificed’ her career to “raise” her kids, but yet still found time to act and form a band…
Now husband has sacrificed his career and he’s home more. She is. healed. fulfilled and Happy as proclaimed by the self-dictionary and Guru. Herself.

Child, please!

[Glenna Lynd · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Way to narcissistic. A woe is me, I'm evil but learning manual.

[Erika Dickerson-Despenza · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent, honest and well-crafted memoir. Jada is generous with her lessons and reflection opportunities.