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.
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.
"In Worthy, Jada shares her deeply moving journey to self-worth. With bravery and compassion, she reflects on her childhood, honors her heartbreaks, celebrates her triumphs, and makes peace with her shadows. By demonstrating the power in owning every piece of her story, Jada encourages every woman to do the same." — Sheryl Sandberg, Founder, LeanIn.org an OptionB.org
"Jada Pinkett Smith’s Worthy is an invitation to a soul-nourishing journey. It’s as if she’s sitting right there with you, sharing her experiences, and inspiring you to step into your power. Worthy beautifully underscores self-discovery, introspection, and the pursuit of purpose." — Jay Shetty, New York Times bestselling author of 8 Rules of Love and Think Like a Monk
“Anyone who has seen an episode of Red Table Talk knows that she isn’t afraid to speak her mind, which means readers should expect her to clear the air about a lot of things.” — TIME, Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2023
