Matthew McConaughey 'inspired to act'

Matthew McConaughey has revealed that a book he read when he was younger gave him the inspiration he needed to pursue an acting career.

The Lincoln Lawyer star insisted that The Greatest Salesman in the World by author Og Mandino "changed his outlook on life".

He told New: "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-page tome on a philosophy of salesmanship and success that aims to inspire readers to find their inner potential.

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 can then move onto Scroll II, where the same process should apply, and so on.

McConaughey recently claimed that he didn't make much money for his role in the The Lincoln Lawyer.