We Were Dreamers

An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story

By: Simu Liu

Narrated by: Simu Liu

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Marvel’s newest recruit shares his own inspiring and unexpected origin story, ranging from China to the bright lights of Hollywood. An immigrant who battled everything from parental expectations to cultural stereotypes, Simu Liu struggled to forge a path for himself, rising from the ashes of a failed accounting career (yes, you read that right) to become Shang-Chi.

Our story begins in the city of Harbin, where Simu’s parents have left him with his grandparents while they seek to build a future in Canada. One day, a mysterious stranger shows up; it’s Simu’s father, who whisks him away from the only home he has ever known to the land of opportunity and maple syrup.

Life in the new world, 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 ideal son well, getting A’s at school, crushing national math competitions and making his parents proud. But as time goes on, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the expectations placed on his shoulders, and finds it harder and harder to keep up the charade. Barely a year out of college, he hits rock bottom when he is laid off from his first job as an accountant. Unemployed, riddled with shame and with nothing left to lose, Simu sees an ad on Craigslist that will send him on a wildly unexpected journey into the mysterious world of show business. Through a swath of rejections and comical mishaps, Simu’s determination leads him to succeed as an actor and 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 circumstances.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Simu Liu (P)2020 HarperCollins Canada

Relatable immigrants story shared - and my family is from Trinidad!

Thanks for recording and giving voice to hard work children of many immigrant families undergoes unnoticed in order to fit in to a typical Canadian society.

As a Black women, born in Canada, with parents from Trinidad - I can relate to many of the points raised.

All the best Simu and keep kicking ass!!

It’s a good idea to read

1. It was a good idea to have the author reading his own memoir. I could close my eyes and really get in to his voice and his story
2. I was most impacted by the chapter about careers and paying attention to your inner voice / and what you feel like you’re really meant to be doing - what you keep getting drawn toward
3. The personal family difficulties are something many children of first generation Canadians and Immigrant parents can relate to, particularly the violence. It must have been difficult to write about but I’m grateful to Simu’s parents for exploring this so openly. It’s an important desire of self storytelling that only some can hope for and only some can acquire. Truly intergenerational healing
4. I always want to hear about a Canadian’s experience with Indigenous people wherever they go and what their thoughts on reconciliation are and their efforts. I’ve seen it a few times and appreciate it. It’s an important gesture but that didn’t happen here
5. Thank-you Simu for sharing the funny and encouraging words that you did. The difficult moments of writing and talking - after they stories are spread wide open, will have a gentle and healing future for you.
6. Can’t wait to see what the future brings!

Shockingly relatable, eloquently written, and at times painfully honest

I didn’t exactly know what to expect when I decided to give this audiobook a try. It was hard not to let Simu’s small screen character “Jung” from Kim’s convenience taint my view of what his actual character and personal story was all about. It never occurred to me how turbulent his journey had been rising to this momentous time for Asians. But this book is eloquently written, extremely relatable for any Asian Canadian or American. And hell, he managed to inject the right level of humour in all the right moments. Most importantly, listening to his story in his voice and words, made the entire experience so enjoyable. So genuinely happy for the success he’s so deservingly achieved. Thanks for telling your story, and shining a light on the Asian immigrant story.