Best Biographies & Memoirs
Book Blurb:
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ PICK
NEW YORK TIMES 100 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2024 • A LA TIMES BESTSELLER AND BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH
TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2024 • KIRKUS BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR
WASHINGTON POST 50 NOTABLE WORKS OF NONFICTION FOR 2024 • A PEOPLE BOOK PICK AND A BEST CELEBRITY MEMOIR OF 2024
In a sharp, witty, and definitive memoir like no other, iconic trailblazer and legendary journalist Connie Chung delves into her storied career as the first Asian woman to break into an overwhelmingly white, male-dominated television news industry.
Connie Chung is a pioneer. In 1969 at the age of 23, this once-shy daughter of Chinese parents took her first job at a local TV station in her hometown of Washington, D.C. and soon thereafter began working at CBS news as a correspondent. Profoundly influenced by her family’s cultural traditions, yet growing up completely Americanized in the United States, Chung describes her career as an Asian woman in a white male-centered world. Overt sexism was a way of life, but Chung was tenacious in her pursuit of stories–battling rival reporters to secure scoops that ranged from interviewing Magic Johnson to covering the Watergate scandal–and quickly became a household name. She made history when she achieved her dream of being the first woman to co-anchor the CBS Evening News and the first Asian to anchor any news program in the U.S.
Chung pulls no punches as she provides a behind-the-scenes tour of her singular life. From showdowns with powerful men in and out of the newsroom to the stories behind some of her career-defining reporting and the unwavering support of her husband, Maury Povich, nothing is off-limits–good, bad, or ugly. So be sure to tune in for an irreverent and inspiring exclusive: this is CONNIE like you’ve never seen her before.
My Review:
Connie, as she did with her journalistic endeavors, tells it like it is. Sometimes warts and all. She explains her father’s position and the times her family lived under in China that was instrumental in moving her family to America and her birth here. Interesting childhood and background in Chinese traditional culture. Connie appeared driven early, fortune and timing steering her into ever-increasing opportunities but she had two large blocks to the glass ceiling: she is a girl (gasp!) and a minority.
Not just driven, but smart, she watched how the men conducted themselves and worked to emulate them. Coming from her background, she was shy and quiet. She had to learn to dump both as there were few men willing to accept women in their domain. As a rookie reporter, and a woman to boot, she was given fluff assignments when she was itching to gather real stories that made a difference.
Connie details the years with the different networks, the assignments, her accomplishments, her interviews, and the clashes with Newt Gingrich and Dan Rather. She reports what really happened and then defends her position. There were a number of occasions that recounted both sexism and racism in her dealings with the good ole boys club. The armor she wore got thicker as the years passed in the industry.
Connie also mentions the graphic story of responding many years later to her own experience with the “you too” movement as well as the men she welcomed into her life, including the long-distance relationship she formed with Maury Povich who would finally become her husband. The account of their struggle with infertility hits home; for them with the adoption of son Matthew. And I must say, her stories of Povich have me seeing him with different eyes and a great deal more respect.
After the years of crashing the glass ceiling, her storyline chills a bit and the pace slows. Still, I enjoyed hearing so much “inside” info in the news biz, knew it was cut-throat, and a battle only for the very strong. She was obviously that strong.
I borrowed the audiobook from my library and love it when the memoir is narrated by the author. So much fun to actually hear the voice behind those words and adds such depth to the book for me. These are my honest thoughts and think you’ll also enjoy.
I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.
Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars 
Book Details:
Genre: Biographies of Journalists, Editors & Publishers
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ASIN: B0CS3TQNW7
Listening Length: 11 hrs 35 mins
Narrator: Connie Chung
Publication Date: September 17, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Connie – Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
The Author: (The book is her bio.) A google search of Ms Chung gleans the following public information: Constance Yu-Hwa Chung Povich was on born August 20, 1946) and is an American journalist who was a news anchor and reporter for the major U.S. television news networks. Born the youngest of ten children and the first to be born in the US, she was named after singer and actress Constance Moore and attended Maryland schools. Chung was only the second woman and the first American of Asian descent to anchor a major nightly news program in the U.S. She has been married to talk show host Maury Povich since 1984 and in 1995 adopted a son, Matthew Jay Povich. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Chung]
©2025 V Williams
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Rosepoint Publishing 
Great review!! It’s a treat that CC is narrating her book. I remember back when Maury Povich hosted A Current Affair. That was a great show!! But then he went in the opposite direction. I wonder if she talks about that in the book.
Thanks for reviewing.
i appreciate your comment. i do prefer the memoirs narrated by the authors and she did a great job. yeah, i wasn’t ever really impressed with Povich and no she sung his praises but didn’t mention him reversing his status.
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I read the Barbara Walters biography and really enjoyed it. It sounds like these two women had a lot in common. Wonderful review, Virginia.
thank you, Carla. yes, i’m currently listening to the Barbara Walters biography–she doesn’t narrate. she’s definitely older than the two, was blazing the trail before Connie, altho Connie also had the minority mantle.
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