Why people recommend it
We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu is a memoir that chronicles the actor's upbringing, his complex relationship with his immigrant parents, and his eventual path to Hollywood success. On On Purpose with Jay Shetty, host Jay Shetty enthusiastically recommended the book to his audience after receiving an early advance copy, praising the immersive writing style that makes readers feel as though they are watching a cinematic story unfold. Throughout the episode, Simu Liu discussed the deeper motivations behind writing the book, explaining that his goal was not to seek retribution for past strict parenting, but rather to validate the shared emotional struggles experienced by many immigrant children. Liu emphasized that he wanted to show young readers that they are not alone in their vulnerabilities and that sharing their family stories can foster profound healing. He also expressed immense gratitude toward his parents for their eventual support during the writing process. Shetty highlighted specific passages from the memoir that resonated powerfully with the broader themes of ambition and identity, cementing the book as an inspiring and relatable guide for anyone navigating cultural expectations and personal growth.
Who recommended it
- Jay Shetty Recommended
- Simu Liu Discussed
Jay Shetty — 5 mentions
“And I just want to say to everyone who's listening or watching right now, I highly recommend that you go and grab a copy of this book.”
“I was very lucky to have an early PDF copy, but I highly recommend 'We Were Dreamers.'”
“There's this line in the book that resonated with me, and I think it's even more fascinating against the backdrop of what you just said.”
“I think you do this beautifully as a writer in this book: you take us back, and we feel like we're right there in that environment, almost like we're watching a movie.”
“You talk about them in the book too about their journey; that's a beautiful healing story in and of itself.”
Simu Liu — 4 mentions
“But I'll never forget the first time that I was really punished, which is when I wrote about in the book.”
“They've been so wonderfully supportive about the book, and I couldn't have written it without them.”
“My goal in telling the story is not retribution for how they treated me, but rather to respond to this idea that many immigrant families internalize their experiences.”
“So what I wanted to do with this book was to show immigrant children everywhere that they're not alone, and that it's okay to be vulnerable and to share.”
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“But today we're talking about your book, 'We Were Dreamers,' which is a beautiful title—a immigrant superhero origin story.”
“It's the recognition of that journey we went on together that really catalyzed the creation of this book, so I'm really excited to talk about it for people to read it.”