Author: Jeremy Renner
Published: April 29, 2025 by Flatiron Books
Format: Kindle, Audio, 224 Pages
Genre: Memoir
Blurb: Two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner was the second most googled person in 2023… and not for his impressive filmography. His searing portrayals on film ranged from an Iraq-based army bomb technician in The Hurt Locker and a Boston bank robber in The Town to a crooked Camden mayor in American Hustle before he became heir to the Jason Bourne franchise (The Bourne Legacy). Amongst other iconic roles, he also captured hearts as fan-favorite comic book marksman Hawkeye in seven Marvel films.
Yet, his otherworldly success on-screen faded to the periphery when a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow crushed him on New Year’s Day 2023. Somehow able to keep breathing for more than half an hour, he was subsequently rushed to the ICU, after which he would face multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation.
In this debut memoir, Jeremy writes in blistering detail about his accident and the aftermath. This retelling is not merely a gruesome account of what happened to him; it’s a call to action and a forged companionship between reader and author as Jeremy recounts his recovery journey and reflects on the impact of his suffering. Ultimately, Jeremy’s memoir is a testament to the human spirit and its capacity to endure, evolve, and find purpose in the face of unimaginable adversity. His writing captures the essence of profound transformation, exploring the delicate interplay between vulnerability and strength, despair and hope, redemption and renewal.
My Opinion: A memoir that initially reads like poetry with lyrical, reflective moments packed with quotable lines. At times, the prose flows beautifully, offering moments of genuine insight and emotional weight. But then there’s the word “love” which was used 178 times. By the 47th mention, the reader fully grasps the sentiment, yet Renner continues to hammer it home, making certain no one misses the theme.
The book is divided into three sections, though the first feels bloated with repetition and filler. Given the memoir’s 224-page length, it’s hard not to wonder if the first section was stretched to meet a minimum page count rather than refined for impact. The redundancy makes it easy to scan through pages, as much of what’s said has already been covered.
There are undeniable heartbreaking moments. Renner’s near-fatal accident and recovery should have been enough to carry the book, but the emotional weight is diluted by self-congratulatory reflections. The “aren’t I great” moments, the “I can accomplish anything with enough information” declarations, wear thin. The balance between vulnerability and self-praise feels uneven, making it difficult to fully immerse in the rawness of his experience.
As the first section dragged on, the initial 5/5 rating began to slip to a 3/5, then teetering even lower. For the remainder of the book, I switched to the audiobook version, played at an increased speed, and helped smooth out the pacing issues, making the retelling of familiar stories more bearable. The narcissistic undertones remained, but at least the delivery was more digestible.
By the end, the book landed at a generous 4/5. Beneath the repetition and self-aggrandizement, there is a story of resilience, one that could have been truly compelling with tighter editing and a more balanced tone. The memoir has its moments, but it leaves the reader wondering what it could have been with a sharper focus and a little less self-promotion.
Yet, his otherworldly success on-screen faded to the periphery when a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow crushed him on New Year’s Day 2023. Somehow able to keep breathing for more than half an hour, he was subsequently rushed to the ICU, after which he would face multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation.
In this debut memoir, Jeremy writes in blistering detail about his accident and the aftermath. This retelling is not merely a gruesome account of what happened to him; it’s a call to action and a forged companionship between reader and author as Jeremy recounts his recovery journey and reflects on the impact of his suffering. Ultimately, Jeremy’s memoir is a testament to the human spirit and its capacity to endure, evolve, and find purpose in the face of unimaginable adversity. His writing captures the essence of profound transformation, exploring the delicate interplay between vulnerability and strength, despair and hope, redemption and renewal.
My Opinion: A memoir that initially reads like poetry with lyrical, reflective moments packed with quotable lines. At times, the prose flows beautifully, offering moments of genuine insight and emotional weight. But then there’s the word “love” which was used 178 times. By the 47th mention, the reader fully grasps the sentiment, yet Renner continues to hammer it home, making certain no one misses the theme.
The book is divided into three sections, though the first feels bloated with repetition and filler. Given the memoir’s 224-page length, it’s hard not to wonder if the first section was stretched to meet a minimum page count rather than refined for impact. The redundancy makes it easy to scan through pages, as much of what’s said has already been covered.
There are undeniable heartbreaking moments. Renner’s near-fatal accident and recovery should have been enough to carry the book, but the emotional weight is diluted by self-congratulatory reflections. The “aren’t I great” moments, the “I can accomplish anything with enough information” declarations, wear thin. The balance between vulnerability and self-praise feels uneven, making it difficult to fully immerse in the rawness of his experience.
As the first section dragged on, the initial 5/5 rating began to slip to a 3/5, then teetering even lower. For the remainder of the book, I switched to the audiobook version, played at an increased speed, and helped smooth out the pacing issues, making the retelling of familiar stories more bearable. The narcissistic undertones remained, but at least the delivery was more digestible.
By the end, the book landed at a generous 4/5. Beneath the repetition and self-aggrandizement, there is a story of resilience, one that could have been truly compelling with tighter editing and a more balanced tone. The memoir has its moments, but it leaves the reader wondering what it could have been with a sharper focus and a little less self-promotion.
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