Goldie

A Lotus Grows in the Mud

By: Goldie Hawn

Narrated by: Goldie Hawn

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Goldie Hawn's life is an ongoing tableau of stories, and she has a born knack for telling them. In this candid and insightful book, Goldie invites us to join her in a look back at the people, places, and events that have touched her. It is the spiritual journey of a heart in search of enlightenment.

With her trademark effervescent humor, Goldie tells us about the lessons she's learned and the wisdom she feels she's been given in the hope of giving something back. Not a Hollywood "tell-all", A Lotus Grows in the Mud is a very personal look at moments private and powerful: her delight in her father's spirited spontaneity; the confidence instilled in her by her mother; the unexpected gifts of comfort from strangers many miles from home; and the joy of being a daughter, a sister, a lover, and a parent. This memoir is Goldie's chance to talk about everything from anger and fear to love, compassion, integrity, and friendship, to the importance of family and the challenges of show business.

Goldie writes about her younger self, the little girl who felt like an ugly duckling, and growing up in suburbia dreaming of becoming a ballerina. She takes us on a tour of her go-go dancing years in New York in the 60s, her phenomenal success on TV's Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and then on to the world of Hollywood stardom and such memorable films as the Oscar-winning Cactus Flower, Swing Shift, and Private Benjamin.

A Lotus Grows in the Mud speaks of her relationship with her family: her partner, Kurt Russell; her children, Kate Hudson, Oliver Hudson, Wyatt Russell, and her stepson, Boston Russell; her growing faith; her curiosity for that which she doesn't yet know; and her unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding. Most of all, it is a trip back through a life well lived by a woman well loved.

©2005 Illume, LLC (P)2005 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Goldie Hawn's personal look at an unusual journey to stardom...Fans will enjoy getting to know [Goldie] in this frank, reflective memoir.” (BookPage)

“Positively overflows with spiritual enlightenment.” (Publishers Weekly)

peaceful voice

Goldie's voice is so peaceful and calming + the flowers of knowledge that bloom from this book are incredible!

Very enjoyable read

For starters it's wonderful that Goldie narrated the book herself she -has such a wonderful soothing voice. I thoroughly enjoyed the book however there were many gaps that I wish she had filled in for instance she goes from being married the 1st time all of a sudden she's separated and you don't even know what happened etc. I understand it's a not complete chronological account of her life so you have to go into it knowing that. Overall, it was very interesting. I do wish she had gone into more details about her life ,I think in part because I actually hated for the book to end! I really enjoyed it. And it is still relevant even though it was written 14 years ago because it's her story.

Unexpected Delight

One of Hawn's unstated messages is "don't judge a book by its cover," which is apparently what Diane Sawyer did recently when she conducted a patronizing interview of Hawn about this book. According to what I've read, Sawyer lead a rather silly interview and asked Hawn at the end "you say you always learned from your father that you can always learn something out of anything--what have you learned from this interview? Hawn: I've learned it's the shortest interview in the history of the world."

When I began the book, I thought it might be very much like the typical roles she has played: kind of ditzy. At first, she narrates very much like that as she tells her tale. But as she subtly points out, the creator of Laugh-In once called her "dumb as a fox." The book is read (though not immediately apparent) as a series of memories, rather like picking up a photo and telling you its story. The book is then punctuated by the lessons and impact it has had on Hawn's life, read by a very different and more serious Hawn. As a result, the book does tend to skip back and forth at times (at one moment she's married to her second husband then is pregant with her third husband's child); it can take a few moments to figure out what is going on.

The more I read, the more I couldn't put it down. I found myself taken with the author and her story and for her nuggets of wisdom. They are, in some cases, old chestnuts, but Hawn elaborates about why things are important. What you find is far from the image that is often conveyed and instead a very savvy business woman, who, perhaps unexpectedly for her profession puts her role as a daughter, sister, woman, partner and most of all as a mother before everything else in her life.

Whether the audio book was intended to be as it is or whether it is a product of the abridgement is unclear. It's a good read, but the abridgement makes me withhold the fifth star. Abridgment is largely for Tom Clancy novels.

Great Listen

I was really struck by the amount of travel Goldie(I feel as if I know her a little bit having read this book) has done, especially when she and family went to Peru for Smiles. Thank you, Goldie for helping Juan get a beautiful face and then not giving up on him after his procedure.
This book was interesting because it was full of stories and life antecdotes, not too personal but there is a little of that as well. I was thrilled to here a little about Laugh In. Loved that show way back when?
The narration was fun and cheerful just like Goldie Hawn
Listen it is so refreshing to hear that a girl had the total support of her mother & father so that she could follow her dreams & be a happy woman.

An easy educational calming read

Loved it. I truly found the book calming. Well, read by Goldie Hawn it was calming. She’s someone you want to sit down and talk about things with.

Fun and insightful look at happiness and laughter in life

Goldie shares her life journey thus far in a way that reminds us not to be so serious and never stop growing.

Best biography I’ve ever read/listen to

Goldie’s voice is very soothing to listen to. She is a wise woman with many experiences and she tells it with such life. Would give it 10 stars if I could.

She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out.

Goldie has a deep and spiritual appreciation for life, love and people. She is a beautiful soul. Her stories enlightened and moved me. Listening to her book felt like a personal visit from someone I love and respect. Thank you Goldie.

Engrossing and Beautifully Narrated

I loved hearing Goldie talk about her experiences and remarkable journey. I laughed and I cried and didn't want it to end. 💞

Great book

I have always adored Goldie Hawn. Think I love her even more after listening to this book.