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We Were Dreamers
- An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story
- Narrated by: Simu Liu
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
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Publisher's Summary
The star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant, his battles with cultural stereotypes and his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime.
In this honest, inspiring and relatable memoir, newly-minted superhero Simu Liu chronicles his family's journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with razor-sharp wit and humor.
Simu's parents left him in the care of his grandparents, then brought him to Canada when he was four. Life as a Canuck, however, is not all that it was cracked up to be; Simu's new guardians lack the gentle touch of his grandparents, resulting in harsh words and hurt feelings. His parents, on the other hand, find their new son emotionally distant and difficult to relate to—although they are related by blood, they are separated by culture, language, and values.
As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly—he gets straight A's, crushes national math competitions and makes his parents proud. But as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him. Less than a year out of college, at the tender age of 22, his life hits rock bottom when he is laid off from his first job as an accountant. Left to his own devices, and with nothing left to lose, Simu embarks on a journey that will take him far outside of his comfort zone into the world of show business.
Through a swath of rejection and comical mishaps, Simu's determination to carve out a path for himself leads him to not only succeed as an actor, but also to open the door to reconciling with his parents.
We Were Dreamers is more than a celebrity memoir—it's a story about growing up between cultures, finding your family, and becoming the master of your own extraordinary circumstance.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic Reviews
"Simu Liu is a natural narrator, conversational and appealing as he shares his engaging story of pursuing acting and finding eventual stardom as the headliner of a Marvel superhero movie.... Liu's driven yet playful personality shines through as he tackles the highs and lows of chasing his dream." (AudioFile)
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What listeners say about We Were Dreamers
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- E
- 05-27-22
audiobook version is amazing
I’m so glad I got the audiobook for this.
Simu has amazing storytelling and delivery. It was like listening to someone’s riveting life story, even though this is just the beginning for him.
I particularly loved the first act which was dedicated to his parents’ background. I really love novels surrounding the cultural revolution, so it was interesting to hear about it from another perspective.
The next act has a completely different tone.
I have always heard about his story about being fired by Deloitte and knew him from Kim’s Convenience as an actor, but hearing the full picture through his words was really unique.
As a Canadian Asian it was extremely refreshing to hear such a relatable narrative. I’m blown away at how Simu shares so much of his vulnerabilities and highs/lows that lead up to his fame.
Super inspiring and hope it elevates others to pursue the impossible.
3 people found this helpful
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- Bev G
- 06-15-22
I was a fan before…
I’m an even bigger fan now. What a great read (listen). Simu Liu seems like an all-around nice guy. I admire celebrities who use their platform to advocate for social justice. So happy for his successes.
1 person found this helpful
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- shelby
- 06-14-22
All the emotions
Simu’s book is full of amazing and heart wrenching moments. He really has a knack for pulling you in and catching your attention. Really has a beautiful way of feeling his emotions with his amazing story!
1 person found this helpful
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- Jasmine Y.
- 06-04-22
This Asian-American Approves.
Such a great listen, and heavily resonated with me as an Asian American. Some parts were incredibly touching, and I cried a few times! It does justice to representing the struggles that our immigrant parents went through, but how that affects the connections that we create with them growing up in a totally different world.
Only con is that there are some points where his voice is too low and I couldn't hear or had trouble hearing some parts while driving. But otherwise Simu does an incredible job narrating his tale, and at many points can you hear the severe emotion in his voice. it's incredibly moving.
1 person found this helpful
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- cindit0
- 06-04-22
Who knew a memoir could hit me so personally
Simu's life events are so different from mine, yet his relationships and feelings are mine. What his parents and grandparents instilled in him were what i too learned and have inside me. This memoir has bridged a long time gap for westernized immigrant children. Also it's a demonstration of his true talent in the literary arts - spoken and written. I'll be recommending this to everyone. it's beautiful.
1 person found this helpful
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- Rebecca Sanchez
- 06-25-22
With Tearing streaming down my face…..
I want to start off that I have listened to over 100 audible books and I have never once written a review. I can barely see to type the words for this review as tears are streaming down my face because I just finished listening to the most powerful, moving, and inspiring book I have ever read or listened to. The author Simu Liu painted a beautiful picture of his life in the beginning years adding historical facts with humor and then moving to his emotional upbringing and his experiences of immigration. As the book continues he makes the reader feel as through they are traveling along with him thru college life with hilarious stories that the reader can completely relate with. The last portion of the book is an interesting look at breaking into the entertainment business along with some great little tips should the reader choose a new career! I absolutely enjoyed this book from start to finish and highly recommend it to anyone!
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- elysejody
- 06-25-22
Average
The cockiness from the author overshadows sincere depth.
Mixed feeling — I appreciated his fight against many obstacles-
but I didn’t appreciate him making readers wrong by saying “shame on you” if listeners didn’t listen to the first part about his parents and grandparents—
I appreciated the history about the revolution in China— his experiences in Canada — but that cocky style of his was a turn off for me.
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- dlrainer
- 06-24-22
Fantastic and moving.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. the heartfelt stories about his parents and the struggles they faced were captivating. Both funny and moving, I could not stop listening to this!! ❤️
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- kimiko
- 06-22-22
Simu is my superhero
listening to this audio book was like looking into the mirror of my own life, and it was....a lot. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with Simu and his story because it was so very similar to my own: struggling to fit in with my family and my culture, as well as my friends and the culture surrounding us. as 2nd generation Asian, I struggled to embrace my heritage because I was constantly "othered", and it took some growing up to realize that my culture is deep and rich and profound.
definitely a great book. for those wanting to know what it's like, definitely check it out. for us Asians who are still struggling to find our identity....you're required to buy this book.
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- Torie Inman
- 06-22-22
Good stuff
I enjoyed listening to this book. So glad Simu narrated it. Sad in places, inspiring, and funny. Highly recommend.