What If...

A Lifetime of Questions, Speculations, Reasonable Guesses, and a Few Things I Know for Sure

By: Shirley MacLaine

Narrated by: Shirley MacLaine

Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Beloved actress and bestselling author Shirley MacLaine contemplates a wealth of subjects from the mundane to the esoteric in this all-new collection of musings that begin with two simple words: What if...

What if hope is the most dangerous emotion?

What if a frog had wings? (Answer: He wouldn’t bump his ass so much.)

What if our political leaders actually led?

What if Downton Abbey was full of Americans?

What if, for some reason, I couldn't be creative and work?

These are just a few of the “what ifs” that Shirley MacLaine considers in her new book written in the style of her beloved and laugh-out-loud memoir I’m Over All That. In What If..., she speculates on a wide range of matters both spiritual and secular, humorous and profound, earthbound and high-flying, personal and universal. This is Shirley MacLaine at her most funny, acerbic, imaginative, and irresistible.

©2013 Shirley MacLaine (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

EXCELLENCE!

Shirley MacLaine did a beautiful job introducing an enormous amount of information; covering many and various subjects/topics - and touching on most.
A book well written & read by the eccentric author ; which is almost as impressive, to me, as the contents. I LOVE her no-nonsense interaction with life in general and people in particular. she is an icon who will enhance anyone's life who is (even a little bit ) interested in spiritually evolving ... or just waking from the dream state. I have been intrigued by her since the movie "Some Came Running", because I observed a diamond in the rough becoming polished; which she stripped & sanded over the years to become REAL! And appear to be polished when neccessary.
Shirley MacLaine is, in my opinion, the most versatile, open, honest, secure, talented and aware person I have ever observed.
The only thing I have left on my "bucket list" is to meet her.
This book is only one of her many excellent pieces of art.
If I had to choose one thing to say about this book it would be this:
I was looking for intertainment (a break from listening to and reading hundreds of serious 'self-help' and esoteric books) and what I received is both!

Gratitude to Ms. MacLaine

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and getting to know her history. Such an intelligent and mindful delight! I feel so much more enlightened and educated, aware thanks to her. It will stay with me a lifetime no doubt. Her courage to be an individual is so admirable for someone like me who is constantly striving to get to my true self and stay there in peace. Thank you so much! Precious gem she is!

Very relatable!

Fun, interesting, and relatable. I want to say "Me too!" constantly!
She's not "out there". She's "In there".

What If..: I really enjoy this Book?

What did you love best about What If...?

Shirley is an excellent actress and it comes through in her audible books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Shirley tells her own life story in a fascinating and intriguing way.

Have you listened to any of Shirley MacLaine’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to three of Shirley's earlier works and this one was my favorite.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I enjoy Shirley's candid insight into the behind the scenes look at the Hollywood elite.

“A dancer who thinks”

Shirley MacLaine describes yourself as “a dancer who thinks”. It was quite enjoyable to listen to her reflect and wonder about a myriad of topics both mundane and supernatural. Part of it was practical, part of it was science fiction imaginations, all of it helps us in our personal journey of self study to live better lives.

A Purging of the Mind

Listening to Shirley MacLaine reading her own book is what makes this listen so enjoyable. It's like having a hot toddy with a good friend that loves to entertain with thoughts and ideas that most people are too afraid to discuss.

SM adds a few real life snapshots of a life that is as unique as a good movie, no matter what the genre. A thought carried me throughout the read....If we are all actors in our own theater of life, something I often thought even as a child, and SM seems to have thought also,, then perhaps we could alter the daily script of life to make this a better world. Maybe in some way SM is trying to tell us, what if EVERYTHING we do matters?

If you have an open mind this is for you, if you tend to be hyper critical of what might be considered outlandish ideas, you should pass.... I don't think SM would care if you did. But you'd really miss out. Lol.

Feast for thought...

Shirley has a talent for asking the questions that we all have at different times of our lives. Deep thinking and provocative questions provide opportunities to see things from several perspectives. Excellent read.

Thank you!

Thank you Ms. MacLaine for all your years of entertainment and for sharing your beliefs with those of us also questing. A few LOL moments and giggles have me loving this book. And the author.

Love the all the what ifs! I have often wondered

if I were the only one who thought about other possibilities. Time travel. if the bible is real

What if Shirley is correct about everything?!

I hope so, with confident expectation and trust. Terrific, easy, comforting, wise, and entertaining. Most of all though provoking. loved it