JOAN: Life Beyond the Script

by Joan Lunden

In this fearless and inspiring memoir, trailblazing journalist Joan Lunden pulls back the curtain on the defining moments that shaped her extraordinary life—from breaking barriers on national television to reshaping motherhood, survivorship, and aging on her own terms.

Since bursting onto the national morning news scene in 1980 as cohost of Good Morning America, Joan Lunden has been a catalyst for revolutionary societal changes. She didn’t just report the headlines; she made headlines for shattering the mold in a news industry dominated by older white men and rewrote the rules entirely. In a bold move that challenged workplace norms, Joan was one of the first to bring her newborn daughter to work so she could continue breastfeeding, showing the world that she could be a dedicated mom and a top-tier journalist at the same time.

In her 50s, after raising three grown daughters from her previous marriage, Joan and her husband, Jeff Konigsberg, welcomed two sets of twins via surrogate, proving women can embrace motherhood at any age.

Then, in her 60s, Joan discovered she had breast cancer. She bravely went public with her diagnosis, chronicling her journey and fearlessly posing bald on the cover of PEOPLE. Standing in her truth, she became an advocate for women to be better informed about the disease. She even lobbied Washington to require mammogram testing results be made available to all women, especially those with dense breast tissue. Her valiant efforts enabled early cancer detection and surely helped save countless lives.

During the later-life care of her mother, Glady, Joan advocated again—this time for senior citizens. She testified before Congress to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to include senior care, imploring that caregiving isn’t just something we do at the start of life— it happens at the end, as well.

At every turn, Joan has been willing to step out of her comfort zone while reinventing herself and the environment around her. Life Beyond the Script shares the extraordinary transitions this journalist, television host, author, and advocate has undergone and how she has influenced our life transitions as well. By deeply reflecting on the most pivotal moments in her life and career, accepting the times when she faltered as much as when she was sure of herself, Lunden encourages us all to be open to change and the profound transformations it brings.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography

400 pages, Hardcover

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Joan Lunden is an author, journalist and television host. She found fame as the co-host of Good Morning America from 1980-1997. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. Lunden is the mother of seven and lives in Connecticut with her second husband.

Reviews

[Ginny C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I wish I could convince young women to read! It is so inspirational for young women in the workplace because Joan embodied an excellent work ethic, but also a determination to fulfill dreams that most of us can only imagine. Her adventurous, brave spirit blew my mind!

As a teenager, I watched Joan on Good Morning America with my mom and decided to major in broadcast journalism. I started working at two network affiliates in an east coast city, but encountered so much sexual harassment at that time (the mid 80’s). I always wanted to report the news, but over a period of 6 years I was only allowed to operate the camera, teleprompter, and Chromakey. Joan blazed a trail for women in the workplace in a remarkable way. Her humble determination speaks volumes to me.

I bought the book after she shared at a book store event, but I really wish I had read it before she spoke. My heart is full of gratitude for her beautiful example of living life to the fullest! I would have thanked her for all that she has done for women, but also for the way she embraces living life on mission…to truly care and show kindness to everyone she meets. Thank you, Joan. Your dad would be proud.

[Rebecca Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. Boy am I glad I did! Joan has such insight to living a full life. Her story truly is inspirational. In fact, after reading the chapter about her discovering her breast cancer, I have decided to not put off my mammogram. And I am asking about the dense breast tissue. If you need a true life story to help put things into perspective, read this book. Also, it has this neat feature of these QR codes that you can watch videos that correspond to the chapter. Really cool.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Joan Lunden,once the host of Good Morning America, and now, justly mostly forgotten, writes an autobiography. It's actually a hoot, if you have a snese of humor. Joan doesn't.

[Nicole Kalil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful reminder that we can reinvent ourselves whenever we choose… at every age and any stage!

[Alexander S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up expecting a typical success story, but it’s much more grounded than that. Joan shares the highs of her TV career but also the uncertainty that came with it. Her honesty about transitions really stood out to me. It made me think about my own career path. The tone is calm, not preachy at all. Definitely worth reading if you’re figuring things out professionally.

[Gabi Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes deeper than the public image most people know. Joan shares how she handled change, pressure, and personal challenges. I liked how she focused on growth instead of perfection. It made the message feel more real. It’s a steady, thoughtful kind of inspiration. Good for anyone working on themselves.

[Emily Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked most is how Joan turns her experiences into real-life lessons. She doesn’t just talk about being on TV, she talks about what it taught her. Her reflections on resilience and identity really stayed with me. It’s simple but meaningful. Nothing feels forced or overly motivational. Just honest insights you can actually apply.
The writing is simple and easy to follow, which I appreciated. Joan shares stories from her time on TV but also connects them to bigger life lessons. It didn’t feel heavy or complicated. Just straightforward and meaningful. I liked how she kept things practical and personal. A good mix of career stories and life advice.

[Cathy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really shows how life doesn’t stop after one chapter ends. Joan talks about reinventing herself in different stages of life, which I found encouraging. It’s not about being perfect, but about staying open to change. I liked how she balanced career and personal life stories. It felt very real and grounded. A great read if you’re going through a transition.

[Walter S · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I appreciated most was how reflective this book is. Joan doesn’t just tell stories, she explains what she learned from them. Her journey through challenges, especially health and personal changes, was handled with grace. It never felt heavy, though, just thoughtful. I found myself highlighting a few parts. It’s the kind of book you come back to.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Joan speak two weeks ago. She was delightful. I never watched her on morning television but of course knew who she was. She is an icon. I was aware of her being a mother while working a tough job. I was aware of her breast cancer battle. She is a household name.

I was surprised in reading this memoir at how many other challenges she has faced in her life. Hers is a story with telling. She doesn’t gloss over the difficulties she had in balancing work and home life nor in addressing the problems with her first marriage. I’m glad she has found the love of her life.

Her outlook on aging is very positive and overall, I found her to be inspiring. If you did watch Joan in Good Morning America or follow her exploits on her specials in bring with paratroopers or Navy Seals, you’ll especially enjoy this book. But even I, as a former non-morning-TV-watcher, enjoyed this book.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how open and honest Joan is with all she has been through. I am amazed at many of her accomplishments. Yes, many opportunities happened because she was in the right place at the right time but she also took chances that opened doors. I cannot imagine traveling all summer in Europe on a boat at the age of 16 and my parents saying sure. Losing her Dad was horrible and gut wrenching. I cannot imagine never sleeping and having three children to care for while working the GMA job. Having 2 sets of twins in her 50's does sound crazy to me. Again, I could not do that. Some people just have such different personalities and drives then others. I could never do what she did. It was a bit hard when she talked about just doing whatever it is.... Sometimes brains and other factors make it impossible to follow dreams like she was able to do and continues to do.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories make you rethink what you thought you knew about someone. Joan Lunden’s JOAN: Life Beyond the Script did exactly that.

Lasega Books, thank you for the gifted audiobook.

Like many women of my generation, Joan Lunden was part of my mornings for years. I watched her on Good Morning America through my college years and beyond, so I went into this memoir thinking I knew her story. Turns out, I only knew the public version.

What surprised me most wasn’t the television career. It was everything that happened behind the scenes.

Joan takes readers from her early days in Sacramento to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in television, but this memoir is about far more than fame. It’s about saying yes to opportunities before you’re ready, navigating sexism in the workplace, raising a family while building a demanding career, surviving breast cancer, and continually reinventing yourself when life changes direction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“It’s never too late to shift course, to find new purpose, to rise in a new way.”

As a mammography technologist, the sections about her breast cancer diagnosis and advocacy hit especially close to home. I had no idea how much work Joan did to help educate women about breast health and dense breast tissue. Her willingness to use her platform to help others left a lasting impression on me.

I was also fascinated by the stories of her adventures, from reporting assignments that pushed her far outside her comfort zone to flying in a U-2 spy plane. And honestly, learning that she raised seven children—including two sets of twins with her second husband—made me feel tired just listening.

The audiobook is absolutely the way to experience this story. Joan narrates it herself, and it feels less like listening to a memoir and more like sitting down for coffee with someone who has lived an extraordinary life and is willing to tell you the truth about it. Her warmth, humor, vulnerability, and determination come through in every chapter.

This is the perfect memoir for readers who enjoy stories of resilience, reinvention, women’s history, journalism, leadership, and real-life inspiration without the self-help fluff.

I finished this book with a deeper appreciation for the barriers Joan helped break and the doors she opened for women who came after her.

Did you grow up watching Joan on Good Morning America, or is there another television personality who feels like part of your life story?

[cbalexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

All women should read

Ms. Lunden's book is an easy read beginning to end and covers her entire career and most of her personal (she has minimal comment on the first husband - no doubt to avoid legal woes) life.
She was born a decade before me - her generation of women refused to "get back to their place". Ms. Lunden would not let anyone stifle her ambition. It would take her a lifetime to recognize how much her courage and professionalism influenced those of us following behind.
Ms. Lunden has one of the most visible career anyone could have, but she recognizes those on less visible platforms need a supportive team to innovate.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan has a way of sharing her life on the page that makes her readers feel as if they know her. She’s worn many hats over the years, including, but not limited to: the face of morning television, working mom, caregiver, and breast cancer survivor.

Listen to my 2020 podcast interview with her titled, “Classy, Sassy, and a Bit Bad-Assy”😊

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

[Reed K · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve seen Joan on TV, this book gives you a whole new perspective. She shares what life was really like behind the scenes. I liked how she didn’t glamorize everything. It felt honest and down-to-earth. You get both the career story and the personal side. A solid memoir that adds depth to a familiar face.

[Kayla Tornello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about Joan's life. She has a lot of stories to tell! I particularly appreciated all the pictures throughout the book. I also liked the links to videos at the ends of some of the chapters. Reading the Kindle version made watching the videos quite easy.

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Yay!

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Joan Lunden for this free Kindle copy of Joan: Life Beyond the Script.

I liked it. Well written, well edited. Some interesting stories and experiences, relived and explained as best one can from memories. A good read.

[Lee Emory]

Excellent

[Pcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kudos to the url codes where you can go see the videos!

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾

[Janet Hofstetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun to read and great pictures!!!

[JJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the videos linked from the book (with QR codes). Thank you to the authors for doing that!

[Dominique Mercadante · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young woman starting out in journalism, this book was an excellent read.

It truly is a story about overcoming obstacles to rise to the top, ultimately leading to a highly successful and deeply meaningful career.

As a 22-year-old newly college grad and a woman beginning news writing and reporting at a local station, I feel inspired and invigorated by Joan’s story.

Thank you, Joan, for paving the way for so many of us!

[Susan B Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about Joan!

[Lynn Zoia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads Giveaway, and I was happy to get it.
I knew a bit about Lunden, having watched her on TV for so many years, but I had no idea she hsd such an eventful life. I guess when you hit the ground running, starting as a child, you get a lot of stuff in!
Well written, with some good life advice.

[Marcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Goodreads Giveaway.

I’ve always liked Joan Lunden since watching “Mother’s Day” on cable in the late 80’s. She wrote this from her heart and I really felt like I got to know her. It held my interest pretty much from the beginning. I don’t usually read biographies, but I enjoyed this.