Cokie

A Life Well Lived

By: Steven V. Roberts

Narrated by: Steven V. Roberts

The extraordinary life and legacy of legendary journalist Cokie Roberts - a trailblazer for women - remembered by her friends and family.

Through her visibility and celebrity, Cokie Roberts was an inspiration and a role model for innumerable women and girls. A fixture on national television and radio for more than 40 years, she also wrote five best-selling books focusing on the role of women in American history. She was portrayed on Saturday Night Live, name checked on the West Wing, and featured on magazine covers. She joked with Jay Leno, balanced a pencil on her nose for David Letterman, and was the answer to numerous crossword puzzle clues. Many dogs, and at least one dairy cow, were named for her. When the legendary 1980s Spy Magazine ran a diagram documenting all her connections with the headline “Cokie Roberts - Moderately Well-Known Broadcast Journalist or Center of the Universe?”, they were only half-joking.

Cokie had many roles in her lifetime: Daughter. Wife. Mother. Journalist. Advocate. Historian. Reflecting on her life, those closest to her remember her impressive mind, impish wit, infectious laugh, and the tenacity that sent her career skyrocketing through glass ceilings at NPR and ABC. They marvel at how she often put others before herself and cared deeply about the world around her. When faced with daily decisions and dilemmas, many still ask themselves the question, "What Would Cokie Do?"

In this loving tribute, Cokie’s husband of 53 years and best-selling coauthor Steve Roberts reflects not only on her many accomplishments but on how she lived each day with a devotion to helping others. For Steve, Cokie’s private life was as significant and inspirational as her public one. Her commitment to celebrating and supporting other women was evident in everything she did, and her generosity and passion drove her personal and professional endeavors. In Cokie, he has a simple goal: “To tell stories. Some will make you cheer or laugh or cry. And some, I hope, will inspire you to be more like Cokie, to be a good person, to lead a good life.”

©2021 Steven V. Roberts (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

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This was fantastic. She was an amazing woman. Stephen did a great job. Thank you.

Cokie was an amazing person!

The book was very enlightening about the person, her passions and the impact she had on humanity and the historical importance of of women in the world.

Far Above One’s Expectations

You may think you know Cokie Roberts, but until you read this will you believe you know her true essence. Her husband is a remarkable writer and storyteller. He holds Cokie and women in high esteem. This was a narration I loved so much. Historical, cultural, spiritual, religious, and humorous. I learned so much. Talk about a women who understood connection, work, and family.

Fan of Cokie

I miss Cokie’s wise words so much, especially with what has happened the past years.

A Marvelous Life, Indeed!

Steven Roberts does an excellent job sharing the life and legacy of his late wife. I was familiar with Cokie through NPR, but this book illuminates her as a daughter, wife, mother, journalist, women’s advocate, author, and friend. Steven shares Cokie’s accomplished, well lived life, not only from his perspective, but from Cokie herself, and the words and stories of so many of her influencers, colleagues and friends. I feel like I know her now, and I really wish I had met her in person. This is a wonderful read/listen!

A Beautiful Dedication To a Beautiful Person

I really appreciate that Steve Roberts narrated his own biographical account of his wife. It added depth and emotion that all too often is lacking in a third person narrative. I like the way the biography was divided into sections that defined who Cokie was to everyone and to herself.

I must say that the listener would be well-advised to pay close attention in the narration. Why? It is easy to get confused as to when Steve is quoting someone OR when he is speaking for himself. Overall, the book was so heart-warming and inspiring, so nice, that I listened twice.

great testamony

thank uoi Sreven for a wonderful tribute to a great lady. and role model for women of all ages.

Forgot how great she was

A story well worth your time. So much wisdom. She’s an example for us all.

What a woman!

Her strong will and ability to connect with everyone along with strong devotion to causes, world/local events, and her faith are some elements of what made this woman so special.

A balm for what we lost when Cokie passed.

Written and read by her husband - this collection of stories assembled by Mr. Roberts, himself a well-regarded journalist - helps the reader identify with what we all appreciated about Cokie.

And now, I’ll join the many who ask WWCD?