Juliana Young Koo celebrated her 109th birthday with her family in New York in 2014. Her autobiography, recently published in China, gives a vivid account of Koo's legendary life over the past century. [Photo provided to China Daily]

His office published the book.

The publishing house released the book at a function at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday. Critics, including Chinese Writers Association vice-chairman He Jianming, praised the autobiography.

"The book reveals how an ordinary woman becomes extraordinary," He said at the launch. "People often complain about misfortune or setbacks in life and want to be free from worry. I think we all should learn from Mrs Koo's optimism."

The book seems to suggest the same. No matter if she was happy or sad, under all circumstances Koo remained optimistic and tried to help people around her.

Born into a famous and wealthy family, the beautiful Koo's younger days were spent being a socialite in Shanghai. She was better known as "Miss 84", after her car's license plate number, rather than by her Chinese name Yan Youyun.

Her two marriages gave her the opportunity to travel to many countries.

In 1938, when Young became consul general of the Kuomintang administration in the Philippines, she helped him raise funds for China to fight Japanese forces.