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I love a good celebrity memoir—especially when it’s read by the author. There’s just something about hearing someone tell their story in their voice that makes it feel so much more personal and impactful.
Connie Chung’s memoir, Connie, was no exception. In fact, I listened to almost the entire audiobook in a single day—I couldn’t stop.
I’ll admit, I didn’t know much about Connie Chung before listening to this. I remember seeing her on TV growing up, but she wasn’t someone my family regularly followed.
That said, I’m so glad I picked up her book, because wow—what a powerhouse.
About the Book
Connie is a sharp, witty, and brutally honest look at the life of a woman who broke barriers as the first Asian and the first woman to co-anchor the CBS Evening News.
She shares what it was like growing up as the youngest of ten children and the only one born in the U.S. after her parents escaped from war-torn China.
That perspective alone adds so much depth to her story—balancing traditional Chinese family expectations with growing up fully Americanized.
She opens up about the racism and sexism she endured in the overwhelmingly white, male-dominated world of TV journalism. And still, she persisted. She made history. She became a household name.
What I Loved
The memoir is heavily focused on her career—stories she covered, the highs and lows of being in the public eye, and the behind-the-scenes look at how the news industry operated during her era.
I’d just finished Katie Couric’s memoir earlier this year, so it was fascinating to hear another industry voice from that same time frame. And as you can imagine, their stories are very different.
But what really stuck with me were the personal moments Connie shared.
She doesn’t hold back—from the pain of being molested by a trusted doctor, to the complexities of her relationship with her husband Maury Povich, to the joy and vulnerability of becoming a mom later in life. She’s candid, funny, and deeply human throughout.
Final Thoughts
This book made me laugh, tear up, and—more than once—feel absolutely in awe. Connie Chung is a legend, yes, but also a woman who’s been through a lot and chose to share her truth with grace and grit.
If you enjoy memoirs that pull back the curtain, especially ones read by the authors themselves, this is a must-listen.
It’s a reminder of how important it is to hear multiple perspectives when reflecting on a time in history—and how the voices that weren’t always centered back then absolutely deserve to be heard now.
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