A Lotus Grows in the Mud

I enjoyed this book. Quick read. A feel good book. Not the most detailed but just stories she wants to share with the lessons she has learned.

Heard GOLDIE: A LOTUS GROWS IN THE MUD, written and read by Goldie Hawn . . . this is not your typical autobiography, in there's not much name-dropping and very little gossip . . . instead, it feels more like a class you'd take with the talented actress, during which she points out the path that she has followed to get to the point where she is now. Along the way, she had to battle depression and insecurity, and it took her many long years of therapy . . . in addition, she discovered and developed a love for Buddhism, along with a desire to help others. I came away feeling that I got to know her better as a person . . . also, the book forever changed my opinion about her being just a ditsy blonde . . . she is anything but, as evidenced by her being a big supporter of Operation Smile (the group which offers reconstructive surgery to youngsters in less-developed countries).

The cover is nice. Some pages are blue or purple with very attractive motifs and graphics inside. Nice pictures too of Goldie at work, rest and play including snapshots of her children and partner Kurt Russell. The content is only losely biographic. This is more Goldie Hawn's philosophy of life through the window of her journeys and successes in the movie industry. Co-authored with another. It reads very well. Little subchapters called "Postcards" capturing experiences. There are also poems and thoughts: "Is our smile coded for in our DNA or is it nurtured?" (paraphrased). In this sense the book has some fine quotations. As a woman who represents openness and seems to be something of a spiritual student this book is great for exploring themes on happiness, relationships, death and being human. Designed to bring out the best in anybody. This book and its sentiments represent a fantastic contribution to genuinely making the world a better place - not by throwing money at problems but by being well inside. I liked reading it - ideal as a gift or to dip into though not to be read from cover to cover necessarily. Really well edited - not much gossip, thankfully.

Goldie's story read by Goldie. Audio books don't get better than this. Many of us remember the seemingly irrepressible Goldie Hawn from her early "Sock it to me"days on Rowan Martin's Laugh-In through her movie roles, Cactus Flower, Shampoo, Private Benjamin, right up until she carried home an Academy Award.. She's a generous, appealing actress - the same adjectives describe her writing. "Each of us goes through transitions and transformations," she says. "The important thing is that we acknowledge them and learn from them. That is the idea behind the book. Not to tell my life story, but to speak openly and from the heart about episodes in my life in the hope of explaining how they changed my perception and how they helped me to look at the world more clearly." This she does. She speaks of the good times and the bad - her excitement at being a part of a new CBS series and the childhood sexual assault she suffered in her own home by one of her sister's friends. "Laugh-In" was, of course, an enormous boost to her career, and her relationship with Kurt Russell occupies a large part of her heart. Goldie, the pixie-like gamin is a mom, mother to Kate Hudson, Oliver Hudson, and Boston Russell. She speaks of the difficulties and the pleasures in watching Kate grow into her own person. Every mother can relate to the experience of "letting go." With appreciation she tells of the kindness shown her by many, and reflects on anger, love, compassion, and her Buddhist beliefs. This is, of course, Goldie's story until now. She says, "Every day I ask myself, wondering aloud, `What does the future hold for you now, Goldie Hawn?' And the best thing of all is, I just don't know." If her future is anything like her past, she will learn, experience and see a great deal more. Let's hope she shares it with us. - Gail Cooke

Goldie Hawn shares with incredible honesty, wisdom and compassion in this memoir that is filled with heart-felt insight, integrity, and poignant lessons learned from her pure heart. One thing is for sure, you will learn a LOT. Goldie has always searched for truth, and she is a shining example of living purely from the heart center, with compassion for all. A note to the reviewer below that calls this genuine woman named Goldie a "man hater", dear Sir, take a look in the mirror, it is you that hates yourself. So we have compassion for you. Goldie Hawn is the epitome of a humanitarian, and an example to learn from. 10 Stars for her and this Fantastic Book!

The book will draw just because it's written by Goldie Hawn. And then you readers will be unconventionally and pleasantly taken ... moved actually ... by the weaving of the stories with the lessons gleaned from her experiences and what they mean to her, deep down, in her heart, her gut. Regardless of being written by a famous woman or not, there is a lot to be learned here. If you are on any path in life to learn ... whatever it is you are desiring to learn ... this woman will be your gentle guide. Enjoy the read ... and all the best to Goldie Hawn.