I don't tend to love celebrity memoirs because they can be hard to relate to. But besides the fact that I hadn't heard of this reporter, this memoir managed to touch on her rise in the public eye without making that the point of the book. You could replace her reporting career with another career in which she started at the bottom, worked hard, had some wild experiences, and found big success. Because the book is more about her family, their culture, and most of all their attitudes about hardship.

The book is especially rich in the beginning with the family's escape from Vietnam and their early experiences in the US. I loved the complexity of her parents and her relationship with them. I also appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Vietnam and Vietnamese culture.

I give this 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5) because there were a few minor flaws, including the story lagging during her high school and college years. Overall it was a fantastic read.

I have watched Vicky on the Today Show from the start and always saw a bundle of smart energy. Alot of people watch the news and think, how lucky are those anchors but most don't realize the hard work and sacrifice it takes to get there. Vicky's story is proof of that and the family history and the immigrant story really resonates especially now. Also shows it not only requires hard work and personal sacrifice but how the support of family and the tole it played was totally remarkable.