From Publishers Weekly
This slender inspirational book is a candid self-portrait of a woman in transition. A longtime NBC anchorwoman, Shriver was thrown into a tailspin when asked to resign after her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was elected governor of California; she writes, My career was gone, and with it went the person I'd been for twenty-five years. With a combination of self-deprecation and chutzpah, Shriver describes herself as the consummate overachiever, a people-pleasing, legacy-carrying, perfection-seeking Good Girl, now realizing that asking ourselves not just what we want to be but who we want to be is important at every stage in our lives, not just when we're starting out in the world. That's because, in a way, we're starting out fresh in the world every single day. Reprinted in full in this book is the speech Shriver made at her nephew's high school graduation—a humorous meditation on fame, achievement and self-worth—that inspired the writing of this book. Shriver's earnest self-inquiry and her humility and readiness to regard herself as a 50-year-old work-in-progress make for a charming and genuinely inspiring read. (May)
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Review
"Every graduate (of anything) ought to be given a copy of this book along with their diploma. There's wisdom, compassion and truth between these covers. For anyone--at any age." Linda Ellerbee, Executive Producer, Nick News"
"Everything Maria Shriver does is a testament to how deeply she respects and cares about people; all people, all over the world. She really does. She is as charming and funny as she is brilliant and profoundly humane." Anne Lamott"
"Maria teaches all of us in the graduate program of life to seek meaning through the joy of following your heart. Just the kind of advice a heart surgeon cherishes." Mehmet Oz, M.D."
"Maria Shriver is real, vulnerable, humble, honest (just like her book) and not afraid to say so. A lovely book by a lovely person." Danielle Steel"
"Maria Shriver is wise, funny and caring--and it all comes through in her winning guide to life, JUST WHO WILL YOU BE? We're lucky to have her show us the way." Tom Brokaw"
"This honest, straight-talking, profound little book is worth a lifetime of reflection. It calls readers of all ages to think again and differently about who they've been in the past and who they want to be now. This book is a life-stopper, a truly universal piece. It's a must for everyone of any age." Sister Joan Chittister"
About the Author
Maria Shriver is one of television's most respected anchorwomen, the recipient of television awards, and the bestselling author of What's Heaven?, What's Wrong with Timmy?, Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Went Out into the Real World, and I've Been Thinking...: Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life, among other books.
