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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Katie Couric’s life is interesting and she’s an entertaining writer. I’m on a memoir kick and perhaps it’s unfair to compare one to another since everyone’s lives are unique but I read this on the heels of Bono’s Surrender. I felt like Surrender was a bit of a love letter to all the people in Bono’s life while this was equal parts gratitude and sour grapes. Still, I admire her tenacity and appreciate that she was a pioneer among women journalists.
Wow, I listened to this on audio and had no idea it was 736 pages long. I'm not sure I would have picked it up to read if I had known it was that long! It was 15 hours and 27 minutes long.
I had much of the same feeling listening to Katie Couric's Going There as I did when I listened to Barack Obama's first volume of his memoirs. Because I saw many of the moments referred to in each book on TV, I felt like I already knew about them and there wasn't as much to learn from their recounting as I had hoped. I often asked myself, 'is this worth the time investment?' I realized I saw many of the TODAY show moments, but not many of the CBS anchored newscasts past that first one that was 'a step forward for women.'
When the book got interesting was when Katie was introspective and reflective. I appreciated Katie cringing at her white person lack of awareness of what Black people experience in every day life when she looked back at her Rodney King coverage. Been there, Katie, done that. I think many white people can understand your cluelessness. I hope we've all become more knowledgable about what being Black in the USA is like.
I appreciated Katie's regret that she 'covered' for Ruth Bader Ginsburg not understanding Colin Kaepernick and what his actions were for. It may have been good for the country if RBG's cluelessness was public, because it could have forced a conversation with her about when a strategic time to retire would be. As it was, RBG, must have loved being RBG a little too much. She did not consider her side's needs in addition to her own and retire during the Obama administration.
I also don't think many people could outline in a book how their husband had a lonely death because they was too busy thinking about how to help him live, to be emotionally available to help him die. Katie painted that portrait of his death so clearly and that took incredible courage to share that. Someone will have a better death in their family because they heard Katie describe that and sense that she wishes she had done it differently.
The most stunning story was when she was trying to help her youngest daughter, Carrie, feel close to her dad (that she never got to know because he died when Carrie was two years old), by taking her on a tour of places where he had lived. Places such as Katie and Jay's first second home, meeting his friends, and going through reenactment gear with Jay's Civil War reenactors. Already wrinkling her nose at the idea of her Dad as a Civil War reenactor, Carrie gamely met two of the reenactors and went through a trunk full of Confederate gear with them. The mood in the room instantly changed when Katie's phone blew up with news of a shooting at a synagogue. 'Oh, that's fake news designed to take our guns away,' the Civil War reenactors said. It wasn't bad enough that they were saying that to the face of a mainstream media news anchor, but they were simultaneously, unknowingly robbing young Carrie of admiration for her father. As Katie put it, the question hung in the air on the drive away, would Jay have grown or would he have ended up like these men? Unfortunately, death captures your views and fosssilizes them. There is no room for personal growth. He was stuck with views from the slave state of Virginia, with the (at-that-time) unquestioned lost cause narrative of an overromantacized Civil War in his head, with an enthusiasm for his daughters to one day join the Daughters of the Confederacy. You could literally feel the emotional recoil and repugnance of the two women in the conversation when the men called the Pittsburg synagogue shooting 'fake news.'
Katie is very much a part of the corporate overlords. You are not going to get journalism that overthrows the status quo from her. I just keep an awareness of the corporate nature of her news and trust her to deliver that view. She is so much a part of it, that I was astonished to find not much introspection about how she so ably thrived there. After all, there are lots of beautiful women, with lovely smiles, plus the journalism chops, how was it she survived that shart tank?
I hope Katie pulls a Dan Rather and keeps reporting into her eighties. It's a real step forward for women having active, exciting, older women continuing to be in media. Look at Pat Mitchell, Christiane Amanpour, and Gayle King still slaying. To make that happen, one thing every supportive woman can do is follow Katie on Twitter or LinkedIn. Increase her audience. The more older women in media the better. Normalize aging and vibrant intermixed.
I had much of the same feeling listening to Katie Couric's Going There as I did when I listened to Barack Obama's first volume of his memoirs. Because I saw many of the moments referred to in each book on TV, I felt like I already knew about them and there wasn't as much to learn from their recounting as I had hoped. I often asked myself, 'is this worth the time investment?' I realized I saw many of the TODAY show moments, but not many of the CBS anchored newscasts past that first one that was 'a step forward for women.'
When the book got interesting was when Katie was introspective and reflective. I appreciated Katie cringing at her white person lack of awareness of what Black people experience in every day life when she looked back at her Rodney King coverage. Been there, Katie, done that. I think many white people can understand your cluelessness. I hope we've all become more knowledgable about what being Black in the USA is like.
I appreciated Katie's regret that she 'covered' for Ruth Bader Ginsburg not understanding Colin Kaepernick and what his actions were for. It may have been good for the country if RBG's cluelessness was public, because it could have forced a conversation with her about when a strategic time to retire would be. As it was, RBG, must have loved being RBG a little too much. She did not consider her side's needs in addition to her own and retire during the Obama administration.
I also don't think many people could outline in a book how their husband had a lonely death because they was too busy thinking about how to help him live, to be emotionally available to help him die. Katie painted that portrait of his death so clearly and that took incredible courage to share that. Someone will have a better death in their family because they heard Katie describe that and sense that she wishes she had done it differently.
The most stunning story was when she was trying to help her youngest daughter, Carrie, feel close to her dad (that she never got to know because he died when Carrie was two years old), by taking her on a tour of places where he had lived. Places such as Katie and Jay's first second home, meeting his friends, and going through reenactment gear with Jay's Civil War reenactors. Already wrinkling her nose at the idea of her Dad as a Civil War reenactor, Carrie gamely met two of the reenactors and went through a trunk full of Confederate gear with them. The mood in the room instantly changed when Katie's phone blew up with news of a shooting at a synagogue. 'Oh, that's fake news designed to take our guns away,' the Civil War reenactors said. It wasn't bad enough that they were saying that to the face of a mainstream media news anchor, but they were simultaneously, unknowingly robbing young Carrie of admiration for her father. As Katie put it, the question hung in the air on the drive away, would Jay have grown or would he have ended up like these men? Unfortunately, death captures your views and fosssilizes them. There is no room for personal growth. He was stuck with views from the slave state of Virginia, with the (at-that-time) unquestioned lost cause narrative of an overromantacized Civil War in his head, with an enthusiasm for his daughters to one day join the Daughters of the Confederacy. You could literally feel the emotional recoil and repugnance of the two women in the conversation when the men called the Pittsburg synagogue shooting 'fake news.'
Katie is very much a part of the corporate overlords. You are not going to get journalism that overthrows the status quo from her. I just keep an awareness of the corporate nature of her news and trust her to deliver that view. She is so much a part of it, that I was astonished to find not much introspection about how she so ably thrived there. After all, there are lots of beautiful women, with lovely smiles, plus the journalism chops, how was it she survived that shart tank?
I hope Katie pulls a Dan Rather and keeps reporting into her eighties. It's a real step forward for women having active, exciting, older women continuing to be in media. Look at Pat Mitchell, Christiane Amanpour, and Gayle King still slaying. To make that happen, one thing every supportive woman can do is follow Katie on Twitter or LinkedIn. Increase her audience. The more older women in media the better. Normalize aging and vibrant intermixed.
No longer rating memoirs - but I loved this one! If you grew up watching the Today Show (my husband and I still have it one most mornings) then you’ll definitely enjoy. Loved learning how trailblazing Katie Couric was - as a leading female in TV journalism. More thoughts coming soon!
Going There by Katie Couric was an interesting listen. I held my attention, but there were a few things about it that did not sit well with me such as how she spoke about her deceased husband at the very end, how she seemed to try to belittle a lot of other females involved in her industry, and I would have preferred to not have political jabs here and there. Katie Couric was the reader of her book, something I always appreciate from an author when the book is a memoir.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Listened to the audiobook. It was well done with Katie reading it herself and some great audio clips from her broadcasting days. Intense and a bit scattered, but overall a good and interesting read. I loved how much it dove into sexism, racism, and tough topics. She was very raw and personal.
I'm not usually all that into celebrity biographies, but I have to admit to being curious about what Katie has been up to since she was the "it" girl on the TODAY show. This autobiography starts out strong. It's fascinating to me how someone goes from a regular person to a superstar on television. Katie did a great job of leveraging every connection and never giving up, even when the going wasn't always smooth.
Unfortunately, after her first husband dies and she reveals the fiasco that was CBS (also very interesting if you like reading about office politics), her career and her book peter out. She starts writing more about the progressive social mores of the time with a focus on Matt Lauer, and the book becomes more less personal and more judgmental.
As her career wanes so does the book.
Unfortunately, after her first husband dies and she reveals the fiasco that was CBS (also very interesting if you like reading about office politics), her career and her book peter out. She starts writing more about the progressive social mores of the time with a focus on Matt Lauer, and the book becomes more less personal and more judgmental.
As her career wanes so does the book.
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Katie Couric is like America’s Big Sister. Her charm and kindness exude from her, through the screen or through the airwaves, endearing people to her and making her a trusted source for all kinds of news. In her memoir, she has a LOT to share, and she spares no details about the excitement, the frustration, the tragedy, the inexplicable nature of life, and the triumphs of her time in the spotlight. This is an excellent memoir for those who know her from the news or just want a deep view into the murky world of broadcast news.
Beginning at the beginning, Couric describes her family life and early start in television media. Through luck, talent, and some off-air drama between other anchors, she landed the job of a lifetime: co-anchoring The Today Show on NBC. She has many stories of behind-the-scenes drama (fans of The Morning Show on TV will find many eerie similarities here) and her wonderful relationships with Matt Lauer and the rest of the crew. After her tenure at The Today Show, Couric pulls no punches about her time at CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes—a sexist boy’s club where she was ostracized before she ever arrived. It is fascinating to hear her accounts of so many newsworthy events from the 80s and 90s and the celebrities, politicians, world leaders, and others she was able to work with. Her tragic loss of her first husband from cancer is heart-wrenching to read, and she honors him with their story.
The real draw for the book is, of course, the Matt Lauer sex scandal. None of this happens until the last 2 hours of the book (maybe the last 100 pages?), and Couric finds herself torn between the best friend/big brother she believed she knew and the victims of his inappropriate sexual relations who continued to voice the burgeoning #MeToo movement. Ultimately, the trust belongs to the women, and Couric sees Lauer in his true light. The demise of their relationship is saddening, but necessary.
Ever the perky pep talker, Couric’s final act is a rise from the ashes—a new husband, successful grown daughters, a media foundation she runs, ample lessons learned from the past. She has seen it all and lived through it all, and she still smiles in the end.
Beginning at the beginning, Couric describes her family life and early start in television media. Through luck, talent, and some off-air drama between other anchors, she landed the job of a lifetime: co-anchoring The Today Show on NBC. She has many stories of behind-the-scenes drama (fans of The Morning Show on TV will find many eerie similarities here) and her wonderful relationships with Matt Lauer and the rest of the crew. After her tenure at The Today Show, Couric pulls no punches about her time at CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes—a sexist boy’s club where she was ostracized before she ever arrived. It is fascinating to hear her accounts of so many newsworthy events from the 80s and 90s and the celebrities, politicians, world leaders, and others she was able to work with. Her tragic loss of her first husband from cancer is heart-wrenching to read, and she honors him with their story.
The real draw for the book is, of course, the Matt Lauer sex scandal. None of this happens until the last 2 hours of the book (maybe the last 100 pages?), and Couric finds herself torn between the best friend/big brother she believed she knew and the victims of his inappropriate sexual relations who continued to voice the burgeoning #MeToo movement. Ultimately, the trust belongs to the women, and Couric sees Lauer in his true light. The demise of their relationship is saddening, but necessary.
Ever the perky pep talker, Couric’s final act is a rise from the ashes—a new husband, successful grown daughters, a media foundation she runs, ample lessons learned from the past. She has seen it all and lived through it all, and she still smiles in the end.