London 3/24/2011 1:00:00 PM
News / Entertainment

Matthew McConaughey inspired to act by book

Matthew McConaughey was inspired to go to film school by a book that changed his life.

The 41-year-old Hollywood star credits 'The Greatest Salesman In The World' by Og Mandino as one of things that gave him the courage to become an actor.

Matthew - who has three-year-old son Levi and 15-month-old daughter Vida with his partner Camila Alves - told new! magazine: "The book's a kind of philosophy on life. I started reading it right before I was due to take my exams for law school and I got so engrossed in it that I was almost late for my exam! But it was well worth it because that book changed my outlook on life and gave me the courage I needed to chase my dream of applying to film school."

The book was first published in 1968 and is a 128-word tome on a philosophy of salesmanship and success that aims to inspire readers to find their inner potential, forcing them to reach for their goals.

It is made up of 10 'Scrolls', that have titles such as 'Multiply Your Value Every Day', 'Pray to God for Guidance' and 'All is Worthless Without Action'.

Author Mandino instructs readers to re-read Scroll I, entitled 'The Power of Good Habits', three times a day, for 30 days straight.

Once the reader has done this they are worthy of moving onto Scroll II, where the same process should apply, and so on.

If the instructions are followed correctly, the book takes 10 months to read.