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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
One of the best audiobooks I have listened to. My dream job has always been to be a journalist so I truly enjoyed listening to Katie Couric’s journey and various interviews she has held throughout her career.
I loved this book on audio. The last 10% or so felt long, but her stories from her life and her long career were really interesting.
Yes, this book is very long. Yes, it is self indulgent. It’s also raw, honest, unforgiving of everyone (perhaps to a fault, depending who you ask), sad, beautiful, tragic, delightful, insightful, and masterfully written. Couric’s prose is undeniably stunning as she expertly weaves details of her personal life through details of the last 30 years of broadcast news politics and heavy-hitting stories from her time at each of the big three networks. I knew little of Katie’s story, but grew up with Katie Couric as a household name and a figure in my living room. I love listening to memoirs read by the author, Katie was always well-spoken, and I knew she would dish about Matt Lauer and Co. I was not disappointed and really enjoyed listening to it on Audible.
I understand why this book is controversial. It is honest, and sometimes honesty can be incredibly uncomfortable. For the most part, she is able to address her past failures and shortcomings, but she does do so while explaining that her motives were always good, and justifying her actions still. What I will say is that we all have room for growth, and memoirs are written for the author more than the audience. Katie has showed in the past that she is capable of growth, so maybe reading reviews will nudge her to look more deeply into her insecurity and allow her to reflect.
As a book though, 5/5
But none of us are perfect, and by way of trying to be a good human, I’d say she’s doing a good job.
I understand why this book is controversial. It is honest, and sometimes honesty can be incredibly uncomfortable. For the most part, she is able to address her past failures and shortcomings, but she does do so while explaining that her motives were always good, and justifying her actions still. What I will say is that we all have room for growth, and memoirs are written for the author more than the audience. Katie has showed in the past that she is capable of growth, so maybe reading reviews will nudge her to look more deeply into her insecurity and allow her to reflect.
As a book though, 5/5
But none of us are perfect, and by way of trying to be a good human, I’d say she’s doing a good job.
I give this a 3.5 mostly because of the groundbreaking role Couric has had in the TV news industry. I wasn’t a big fan of the morning shoes and honestly got my news from print (old school j-school alum).
I knew her reputation was the perky girl next doir, and this book definitely blows that cover. Often times she comes across as patronizing and snarky. Some stories are just mean spirited and a little less detail would have driven the point home just as easily.
Despite all her success and trailblazing- who did she mentor? Take along? She asks why (young) women didn’t come to her with their stories/concerns about sexual harassment or worse at the networks…it is a tough question and the answer is probably equally as difficult.
This was an honest and uncomfortable look at an industry as well as an evaluation of one’s career. The uncomfortable moments in the industry were more interesting.
I knew her reputation was the perky girl next doir, and this book definitely blows that cover. Often times she comes across as patronizing and snarky. Some stories are just mean spirited and a little less detail would have driven the point home just as easily.
Despite all her success and trailblazing- who did she mentor? Take along? She asks why (young) women didn’t come to her with their stories/concerns about sexual harassment or worse at the networks…it is a tough question and the answer is probably equally as difficult.
This was an honest and uncomfortable look at an industry as well as an evaluation of one’s career. The uncomfortable moments in the industry were more interesting.
Memoirs are quickly becoming one of my favorite genres. This amazing book by Katie Couric goes a long way into making me love reading about people as fabulous as she is. In this honest, thought-provoking book, Ms. Couric shares her journey as she became a true household name.
The world of media is a progressive place, and Ms. Couric traversed personal and professional hurdles as she rose in popularity. She came by her career honestly as her father was a journalist. He might not have lasted in the career, but this did not dissuade Katie. In fact, it played into giving her an extra boost in obtaining some of her career goals.
Things were deinitely not easy. In fact, women in media have an image to protect. An image often projected on them, even to the point of bringing harm. An example of this is how Ms. Couric even dealt with an eating disorder while forcing herself to fit into an expected mold. Also being a woman in a previously male-dominated career had its own share of challenges, and these included sexism and harassment. She rose like a champion, however, and spent decades in front of the camera.
Many of the stories Ms. Couric reportered were quite memorable, and in my mind's eye I can clearly see Ms. Couric reporting some stories that will be with me for a long time. She experienced some personal tragedies along the way, and this included losing her loving husband to cancer. This was not the only loss she experienced, but she came out like a champion, each and every time. She is one of the strongest women I have every had the pleasure of reading about.
Many thanks to Little Brown and Company for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
I thought this was a really good book and even better that Katie read the audio book. I felt like she was telling me her story. The one thing that was annoying was how slowly she read the book. Who told her to read so slowly? I’ve spent years listening to her on TV, do you really think I can’t understand her normal speaking voice? I wish people reading their audiobooks would talk normal, don’t talk like you’re in molasses. Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I can’t understand you. I sped the speed up to 2x, which was a tad faster than her normal speaking voice, but still easy to understand.
This memoir is everything you'd want it to be. Katie Couric has had a long, successful career, and she's ready to tell all. This audiobook was over 15 hours long, and I enjoyed every minute of it. She talks about her career, her personal life, and gives all the name drops you could hope for.
I will never not love hearing how prominent journalists got their start. Katie Couric doesn't shy away from discussing the boys' club of the journalism industry and times she didn't get what she deserved. As expected and anticipated, she talks all about Matt Lauer. She also brings up both Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew. Katie has seen and heard a lot.
She talks a lot about her personal life as well. She talks briefly about how she found out she was Jewish and how her mom hid her Judaism so they could assimilate.
Katie has unfortunately lost multiple loved ones to cancer. I was fully crying during the chapters about her husband's cancer diagnosis and her sister's cancer as well.
What I admire most about this memoir is how honest Katie Couric was. Throughout the book, she looks back at several interviews and reporting she has done and how looking back some of it doesn't hold up. She openly critiques herself and things she has said and done in the past and talks about what she wishes she did differently. I find that admirable as so many people are too stubborn to admit mistakes and learn from them.
I highly recommend this one on audio. Even though it's long, it has some elements that you wouldn't get from reading the physical book, including some audio clips from Katie's previous interviews.
CW: body issues/disordered eating, cancer, death of loved ones, sexual assault
I will never not love hearing how prominent journalists got their start. Katie Couric doesn't shy away from discussing the boys' club of the journalism industry and times she didn't get what she deserved. As expected and anticipated, she talks all about Matt Lauer. She also brings up both Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew. Katie has seen and heard a lot.
She talks a lot about her personal life as well. She talks briefly about how she found out she was Jewish and how her mom hid her Judaism so they could assimilate.
Katie has unfortunately lost multiple loved ones to cancer. I was fully crying during the chapters about her husband's cancer diagnosis and her sister's cancer as well.
What I admire most about this memoir is how honest Katie Couric was. Throughout the book, she looks back at several interviews and reporting she has done and how looking back some of it doesn't hold up. She openly critiques herself and things she has said and done in the past and talks about what she wishes she did differently. I find that admirable as so many people are too stubborn to admit mistakes and learn from them.
I highly recommend this one on audio. Even though it's long, it has some elements that you wouldn't get from reading the physical book, including some audio clips from Katie's previous interviews.
CW: body issues/disordered eating, cancer, death of loved ones, sexual assault
emotional
fast-paced
Fun, dishy read
I really enjoyed the book. Couric gave a lot of behind the scenes gossip on her incredible career and the highs and lows of her personal life. I don’t know that I like her more or less after this book but I’m glad I read it.
I really enjoyed the book. Couric gave a lot of behind the scenes gossip on her incredible career and the highs and lows of her personal life. I don’t know that I like her more or less after this book but I’m glad I read it.