Audition: A Memoir
A very revealing life story of a celebrity!
Once into the book, it was hard to put down as I learned more and more about her life. Her success now once again shows how you can do anything you put your mind and efforts to.

I've read two-thirds of Audition, and did a 180 degree turn in my opinion of Ms. Walters. Her life as a young girl echoes much of mine, with the exception of the financial security. Perhaps it was the time of "children are to be seen, not heard," that made her into a strong and sincere person dealing with her contacts. It was a time when we all had more empathy toward one another, and the "really big show people" having come from the bottom, were "really" big! Great life story! I'd recommend it any day.

I have been reading this book slowly over the past 2 weeks. Not because I read slowly, but because the book is pretty boring. I am now stuck in the middle of it questioning if I should continue. I find myself skimming pages to see if she is still talking about the same topic I just bored myself with for the past 10 minutes. Did I really need to read an entire chapter on the "Shah" and his tent party?? Did she need to write an entire chapter on her trip to China with Nixon?? I guess this was exciting for her but in my opinion it was not necessary to set aside a whole chapter for this. I am really bored with this book except for the stories of her personal family. When she finally comes into adulthood, Ms. Walters seems to come across as a self indulgent, self-centered person. She let 2 of her marriages collapse so far from what I read, and her daughter is being raised by two woman who are not related to her. I hope all of her dinners, parties and get togethers have made her happy because her family apparently was not enough. For example, she writes that she would be working all week, traveling all over the place and then choose to go to Connecticut for a weekend with just her husband (no kids), instead of spending it with her husband and child. I did not hear of one family vacation or fun outing as a family and I am half way through the book. I feel bad for her daughter who missed out on a lot. I hope her nannies fulfilled her as a child, because it is apparent that her real mother, Ms. Walters did not.

I loved Ms. Walters' book. It was fun to learn the details of her young life and see how she developed into the journalist and TV personality she is today. The nice surprise is how exciting it was to experience again the important historical times she documented so well as she covered many really important stories over the years. We get to read behind the scenes happenings. For instance, years ago we saw her interview with Fidel Castro, but in the book there is so much more on the subject. Same thing about the talks leading to the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty, etc.
Ms. Walters was so careful to thank everyone who helped her in her personal and professional life--she seems like an extremely nice woman. I found myself cheering for all her successes, although she didn't shy away from admitting failures. I think the book is well-written and it was something I was happy to get back to in all my free moments until I finished it.

This was a very enjoyable read. The best part of the book involves her interviews with famous people. She is able to intersperse tidbits about world leaders, celebrities, politicians and newsmen with her own personal life. Also, she explores her early foray as a journalist and tv host during a time when television was just starting to make an impact. It was interesting to note that Barbara's father was famous in his own right as well and she honestly acknowledges that she got into her career through her father's connections. Of course, she had to keep auditioning to prove herself and eventually became a celebrity herself. Fascinating story!!

Barbara Walters did a fantastic job of "interviewing" herself. She even made herself cry.
My only regret is she did not answer the question, "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be"?
Maybe in the next book??

Great read....very entertaining and I even learned a few things about our world's leaders.
Buy, Borrow or Beg it....a wonderful read.

A very well written and honest book with a lot of insights in the Radio and TV world. A bit irritating is that Barbara Walters calls everybody her friend, good friend or best friend with a very few exceptions. I have deep respect not only for her writing qualities but als for her hard work as a presentator.

Bought as a present along with another book (hardbound) from Amazon "The Last Lecture". On both copies pages were so unevenly cut it looked as though a mouse or two had a good dinner. The library had a proper copy! Otherwise, Amazon has been good to me over the years, except for the ultimate embarrasement of presenting this gift (time ran out.)

Here I am in Australia possibly one of a few to own the book as it is not due to hit our shelves until at least December. I received the book last night and sat up and read nearly half the book before I had to concede to sleep. She is a very interesting woman and the people she has met and interviewed is mind blowing and at the same time this intimate travel through Babara Walters life displays the humble and human side of her. I am betting that by late this evening I will have finished the book, because it was so hard to put down.

I would recommend it to anyone - even if you don't know the first thing about this lady. A book well worth buying.

Entertaining.....very, very detailed story of Barbara's personal and public life. Long book, worth the money if you are a fan.

I will not support a woman that has had affairs by buying her book. Why not just put a PIG on the cover?

I got the electronic copy of the book and it was hard for me to put it down. It's very interesting, not just because of its candid tone, but also for its historical setting. Excellent use of the language without being snobbish.

My mother-in-law gave me this book and I wasn't expecting to particularly like it, as I am not that familiar with Barbara Walter's work (other than a few specials I have watched.) I certainly didn't realize all the barriers she had broken through for women in journalism. But what really drew me into this book was her honesty about being a working mom - the conflicts she often felt between her own career drive and the needs of her daughter, parents, and disabled sister. She owns up to that most difficult of emotions that many of us working moms often feel but frequently deny - GUILT. But at this point in her life, she is philosophical about it, and doesn't come off as self-punishing, or as regretting her decisions. She is grateful for her extraordinary life, and comes off as having done the best she could. I especially appreciated her honesty about the difficulties she had with her daughter as a teenager. I think that chapter alone is worth reading the book.

I hesitated to tell people I was reading this book. People tend to have strong opinions about Barbara Walters, and not usually positive. Personally I can't stand The View. However, I realized that this woman has accomplished incredible things in her lifetime and has formed relationships with people we only see on the screen and read about in the papers. So I dove in.

This is a readable (if not brilliantly crafted) story of a woman with a troubled personal life who fashioned a remarkable and fulfilling career for herself. At the beginning she just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Still, she struggled to gain a foothold in a man's world. The insider's account of TV news shows warts and all (alcoholism, male chauvinism, reckless measures to get the first interview with newsmakers). Walters also shares her own personal insecurities. This is both a grand story of a life fully lived, and a rather touching personal account and self-examination. Yes, she fawns somewhat over various political and entertainment figures. Still, I found the book to be very readable, it never dragged in spite of its length, and I feel privileged to know her better after reading this book.

One of my favorite memoirs. Barbara Walter's life is enviable and admirable. I love the glamour and the candor from this talented woman with whom I can identify with on some levels. Don't overlook this book; there is never a dull moment.

Barbara, thank you for your contribution. I think you would be one of my choices if I shared a hospital room with someone---

Well written, very detailed. She shares intimate areas of her life and shows a side of herself few have ever seen. It is a great way to see the the real Barbara Walters, the emotional side of her and to share her life experiences. I was surprised to see how much about herself and her world she revealed.

Good book from a good interviewer. I used to watch her interviews before the 'Oscar' shows ... would love to see her interview Senator Hillary Clinton and ask her how it feels to be the person who has received more votes than any other Presidential Primary candidate in the history of America.

I am not quite done with this book, but so far I am enjoying it

This book is very interesting and Ms. Walters certainly has led what appears to be a wonderful life. She is obviously very talented.

Having watched Barbara Walters on TV, and who hasn't, I found her book well written, interesting and it moved forward at a good pace. Lots of info on interesting people in government, show business, etc. Her depictions of her interviews on 20/20 were terrific and her concern and devotion and love for her parents and sister were feelings I can understand, having had a developmentally handicapped brother. Her career is one that required hard work and devotion and proves what a good journalist Barbara is. I give this book 5 stars.

I sent away for the audiobook of "Audition" just so I could read about her affair with a married black congressman . . . THAT affair is not included in the audiobook! Who do I hate? Her, her publisher, or the online seller???

I just started the book, but it is an easy read and flowing along. Barbara doesn't jump around and she is detailed oriented.

I purchased this book with some hesitation as I had viewed all the media reports and thought that I had heard everything interesting from the book already (the affair with the African American senator, the drama surrounding the View, etc.). Thus, I was pleasantly surprised when I really couldn't put the book down! I found Ms. Walters' early life to be fascinating and her story truly a remarkable one. What I really enjoyed, however, were her discusssions regarding all of the people she has interviewed. She gives the inside story behind the interview and what the people were really like. I will never look at Fidel Castro the same again! It really was a perfect balance between her personal life and career--and, always, I appreciated her honesty. I would definitely recommend this book!

This was one of those books I got totally lost in. I would read it in the Y and before I knew it, I was on the bike for 7 miles and it felt like only 1.

Barbara Walters was like a fixture on our shelf in our living room as a kid. Always there, but I didn't pay much attention to her. Looking back, I remember that fixture and I am reliving my childhood and all the memories of my family and the history of our time during the 60's and 70's.

Yes, Barbara does a little bragging about her success in TV, as she should. However, she is also a very honest and down to earth celebrity. Although she felt comfortable in front of the camera, she did not always feel comfortable in her own skin, especially in her personal life. She felt a lot of guilt when it came to her family. Especially with her father and sister, Jackie.

I admire her for her success as a woman. She paved the way for the opportunities that women have today. I also admire her for her candidness. She does not hold back in this book. She tells you the celebrities she liked to interview and those she did not. She was very honest about her professional relationships with her colleagues like Harry Reasoner, Frank McGee, Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell.

This book is a very thorough look at her life from beginning till now. It is a complete history of her life with humor sprinkled through out each chapter. I am so glad I read this book. It makes me want to learn more about her, watch "The View", listen to her new radio show that is replaying her "Specials" and google every name mentioned in her book. I also feel like I have completed a history lesson. A lesson through the eyes of one of the best female journalists of our time.To the woman who traveled everywhere, met almost every important person there was to meet and achieved more than ever imagined, thank you for setting an example for the woman of today. Bravo!!

This was an amazing book, even with a full time job and two small children I read in 1-2 weeks. It is extremely well written and informative on both her personal and professional life. She has had an amazing life personally and publicly. My mom is reading now!
Thanks Barbara for sharing!

This was an amazing book, even with a full time job and two small children I read in 1-2 weeks. It is extremely well written and informative on both her personal and professional life. She has had an amazing life personally and publicly. My mom is reading now!
Thanks Barbara for sharing!

Excellent autobiography. As a young girl in the 60's, I usually had my breakfast watching Barbara Walters on the Today Show. I took her role as a female broadcasting pioneer for granted so reading her memoir was certainly an eye-opening experience. Probably, I would not have chosen to read this book but it was selected by my bookclub as our July selection. I am so glad I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like a history lesson of the later part of the 20th century but written in a fresh and relevant style.I have always admired Ms. Walters but hold her in even more awe now; especially, since she is still working as hard as ever in this demanding profession! I hope she will write a sequel one day.

I didn't know much about Barbara Walters until I read this book. Quite frankly, I don't even like the View.

But I couldn't put the book down! She's had an extraordinary life and the book is well-written, fresh and entertaining. The most interesting parts for me were in the beginning; growing up & how she got her start in broadcasting.. the challenges she's had to face.

I love biographies and this is one of the better ones I've read. I highly recommend you give it a try.

Excellent autobiography. As a young girl in the 60's, I usually had my breakfast watching Barbara Walters on the Today Show. I took her role as a female broadcasting pioneer for granted so reading her memoir was certainly an eye-opening experience. Probably, I would not have chosen to read this book but it was selected by my bookclub as our July selection. I am so glad I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like a history lesson of the later part of the 20th century but written in a fresh and relevant style.I have always admired Ms. Walters but hold her in even more awe now; especially, since she is still working as hard as ever in this demanding profession! I hope she will write a sequel one day.

I didn't know much about Barbara Walters until I read this book. Quite frankly, I don't even like the View.

But I couldn't put the book down! She's had an extraordinary life and the book is well-written, fresh and entertaining. The most interesting parts for me were in the beginning; growing up & how she got her start in broadcasting.. the challenges she's had to face.

I love biographies and this is one of the better ones I've read. I highly recommend you give it a try.

For I while I thought whoever she interviews like the Shaw Rheza Palevi, like Anwar Sadat, like Christopher Reeve, like his wife Dana, will die.
But that is not true, many people who lived after the interview lived happily ever after. Her involvement in the Iran Contra under President Ronald Reagon; her recount is a historical cross section through the last 50 years of the last century. Her very fascinating interview with the Dalai Lama which has led to a most adorable picture in the book. However at the end of the book she had a long article about Monica Lewinski, protecting her and mentoring her, which from Barbaras own words make it seem like this girl was out to get the president of the United States. Really badly I took about the last chapter about the View, which I abhore, women are allowed to shout at each other without restraint: best show there was Rosie O'Donell, an intelligent person. The beginning of this tome was about the Jewish parents and the little sister.
This book is very interesting, as a female makes it in the world of patriarchy in the world of Television.

For I while I thought whoever she interviews like the Shaw Rheza Palevi, like Anwar Sadat, like Christopher Reeve, like his wife Dana, will die.
But that is not true, many people who lived after the interview lived happily ever after. My most wonderful interview Barbara ever did was with the Dalai Lama, however at the end of the book she had a long article about Monica Lewinski, protecting her and mentoring her, which from Barbaras own words make it seem like this girl was out to get the president of the United States. Really badly I took about the last chapter about the View, which is horrible, women are allowed to shout at each other without restraint: best show there was Rosie O'Donell, an intelligent person. The beginning of this tome was about the Jewish parents and the little sister.
This book is very teresting, as a female makes it in the world of patriarchalism in the world of Television.

I am enjoying Barbara's book so much - I can scarcely lay it down. It is
well-written and is most enjoyable. I have a list of friends who are anxious to read it when I am finished.

My other selection is Julie Andrews book and I look forward to reading it.

Wow. I just finished the book.I must say it was a fascinating read. I can't rememeber a time when there was no BW just like Bob Barker,it seems these people have been in my life since i was a little boy,anyways it's kinda funny when i think of BW. I often think of the character in the movie "moster in law" with Jane Fonda,but I think everyone should read this book what an amazing life this woman has had,just wonderful,she did pave the way for all female journalists,even THE OPRAH.

We all know Barbara, what she's done in TV, and applaud her breaking of women's barriers in broadcasting. BUT, don't buy this book because of all that.

It contains little insight or objective observation and a lot of defensiveness about her role and what happened in a variety of situations. Further she announces that she's a-political in who she interviews and the questions she asks but that is simply not true as is evident in this book includiing her "love affair" with the Bushes and Reagans" and disdain for all others of a different political persuasion.

As a memoir for her daughter it's fine but beyond that it is simplistic, defensive,egocentric, and disappointing. If you're looking for a poorly written way to spend time and money, buy it. Otherwise if you're looking for memoirs of professional women of Barbara's generation, try Madelene Albright's or Helen Thomas's--they write well and analyze the world beyond their own selfish and limited point of view.

I am enjoying Barbara's book so much - I can scarcely lay it down. It is
well-written and is most enjoyable. I have a list of friends who are anxious to read it when I am finished.

My other selection is Julie Andrews book and I look forward to reading it.

Wow. I just finished the book.I must say it was a fascinating read. I can't rememeber a time when there was no BW just like Bob Barker,it seems these people have been in my life since i was a little boy,anyways it's kinda funny when i think of BW. I often think of the character in the movie "moster in law" with Jane Fonda,but I think everyone should read this book what an amazing life this woman has had,just wonderful,she did pave the way for all female journalists,even THE OPRAH.

We all know Barbara, what she's done in TV, and applaud her breaking of women's barriers in broadcasting. BUT, don't buy this book because of all that.

It contains little insight or objective observation and a lot of defensiveness about her role and what happened in a variety of situations. Further she announces that she's a-political in who she interviews and the questions she asks but that is simply not true as is evident in this book includiing her "love affair" with the Bushes and Reagans" and disdain for all others of a different political persuasion.

As a memoir for her daughter it's fine but beyond that it is simplistic, defensive,egocentric, and disappointing. If you're looking for a poorly written way to spend time and money, buy it. Otherwise if you're looking for memoirs of professional women of Barbara's generation, try Madelene Albright's or Helen Thomas's--they write well and analyze the world beyond their own selfish and limited point of view.

It was very interesting. I couldn't put it down. Barbara is certainly not a boring person!

I never guessed what an interesting life Barbara led!

This book is a joy to read and Barbara's writing style is pleasant; it's as if a friend is telling you a story. Very personable. Despite its length, she keeps you captivated and interested.

I found it inspiring as well: especially the part when she moved from Today to ABC. As a woman in a man's world, Barbara had to really work her way to the top. She was regularly confronted with hurdles and she handled them with grace and dignity. Reading about her experience helped me tremendously whilst I was dealing with a similar situation. She gave me hope and really made me feel that everything would turn out OK. It eventually did...but Barbara's story certainly kept me going and entertained me at the same time.

Absolutely worth reading.

Once I started reading this book, it was hard to put down. I found it fascinating to read about a woman who has had a front-row seat at many important historical events and who has known many history-makers either personally or professionally.

Her story begins with her early life, growing up as the daughter of Lou Walters, the show business producer, her mother Dena, whom Barbara thinks was married to the wrong person, and her older sister Jackie, who was mentally retarded and whom Barbara says had the biggest impact on her life. Her childhood was a roller-coaster ride, with several moves and the ups and downs of her father's financial successes and failures.

This early life seemed to have left her with fear of financial failure and a burning desire to succeed at her chosen career. She describes long hours and less than ideal conditions and co-workers, but somehow she managed to shine brightly in her chosen career in television. She had to contend with a male-dominated field and her rise from a writer on the Today show to an anchor spot was unprecedented in television history.

She is not shy about sharing opinions of the many people who have passed through her life. She found Hillary Clinton more interesting than Bill. She loved working with Hugh Downs, but had problems with Harry Reasoner. She loved interviewing Bette Midler, but had a hard time with Warren Beatty. All of this and much more is contained in the book.

Her success did not come without a price, most of it in the areas of her personal and family life. At an early age, she became the sole support of her mother, father, and sister. She bravely took on this responsibility, but as her fame grew, she didn't seem to spend much time with her family. She states that she really regrets the fact that she was not with her mother when she died. She left her daughter for long periods of time with 2 live-in babysitters and seemed surprised later when she found out that her daughter missed her. She admits to being bad at marriage, and her three failed attempts bear that out. Sometimes she seems to take her role as a journalist a little too seriously, but then she disarms the reader by being brutally honest about some of her failures. This is her life as Barbara sees it, but it is a fascinating life and is well worth the time to read it.

I enjoyed Auditions; however, I was bored hearing about all the political interviewees and would have enjoyed hearing more about the celebrity interviewees. I purchased the CDs because I don't have time to sit and read a book and there could have been more CDs to cover what was in the book and not on CD.

I have always been curious about her and this book certainly examines her life and her accomplishments as well as her failings and weaknesses . SHe is also as expected is a great reader and a great human being . I admire her braveness and drive . A must for all women movement advocates . ALthough she does not dwell on women it does cover a very couragous woman nonetheless.

I'm really torn about this book. I wanted to enjoy it. I've always looked up to and been fascinated by Barbara Walters. However, she herself has changed that view. First of all, I expected the book to be a little better written. Her sentence structure wasn't always the best. Anyway, I didn't know that Ms. Walters had had a sister that was mentally challenged. I definitely didn't know that Ms. Walters basically ran away from her family responsibilities with her parents and sister after she was an adult. There are many times in this book where Ms. Walters says I know I should feel guilty about whatever but I really just want to be free from them. Ms. Walters wasn't around for any of their deaths and even lied to her mother about her sister's passing.

With my occupation, it's hard for me to read about Barbara Walters making a decision to adopt a child and then leaving her all the time. She hires two ladies after her divorce as babysitters to her daughter, Jackie and then leaves Jackie while she goes off chasing stories. She didn't even make a police report when Jackie disappears for a month or more and is found in Kansas. I just found this so irresponsible and that's not the picture that I had of her. I think if a biographer had written this book unauthorized it might have been easier for me to take but Barbara herself wrote this book.

Now the good parts. She definitely wrote a book warts and all. I loved the fact that I could relive my life with this book. I remember so many of her interviews or the events she describes. It was fascinating to learn a lot of the behind the scenes of the programs and interviews. I loved her talking about her times at the Today show. Definitely liked the chapter about The View. Overall, I think it is a fascinating information book about a pioneer in the world of female news reporting, but just realize that Barbara Walters has some flaws and she lets them all hang out.

I was riveted by Barbara Walter's memoir, Audition. It was a fascinating read and frankly, a great reminder of the history through which I have lived. When I was younger, I missed some of those historic interviews due to youthful disinterest. As an older woman, I am now a political junkie and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Walter's interviews in the first part of her career. I appreciated the fact that she didn't clutter the book with the actor celebrity interviews with which our current society seems so obssessed. This was also a great reminder of all that Barbara Walters did to break the barriers for women in the news/entertainment industry. I would suggest this book to younger women as a history lesson since some of them seem to take so much for granted. As Barbara Walters focused and worked her way up the hierarchy of the communications world, she also changed it for everyone following her, female and male.

I really enjoyed Barbara's book. Learning about her life, struggles and successes was fascinating. She doesn't skip the difficult parts and really dives in to show us what has made her and brought her to where she is today. This will make you really appreciate Barbara Walters.

I finally finished "Audition". It took me a long time not because it's difficult to read - it's definitely not - I just read it in small increments. I really enjoyed the book. Although quite long (500+ pages) I didn't find it had any slow sections, which i find often happens in long books, particularly memoirs.

I've always liked Walters well enough, and this book may have made me like her a bit less. Although her professional accomplishments are spectacular, no question, I found her - at least the way she presents herself in this book - to be rather shallow. For example, I am bothered that she goes out of her way to not reveal her age (she'll be 79 in September) when anyone can do what I did and Google it! Hell, if I were 79 and looked the way she looks and was still working in my chosen profession I'd holler it from the roof tops!

The story of her professional trajectory is fascinating because of the barriers she broke down without really meaning to - she just did it. She talks about a lot of the interviews she had with a plethora of fascinating people, and I found myself remembering them. When put all together the way they're presented in the book, you realize she really has interviewed practically anyone who was anyone in the last 40 years! A clear representation of that is the inside of the front and back covers where the names of all the people she's interviewed are listed alphabetically - very cool.

Not only did she interview important people, in some cases, she actually played small parts in the actual history, serving as a go-between or delivering messages. Again, very cool. Also, in addition to describing the interviews, getting the interviews, etc. she also provides a brief historical overview, enough so that we can understand why the interview was significant and what the ramifications were.

Despite her exposure to the world however, she came across to me as somewhat naive and rather old-fashioned in some aspects. She is after all a woman of her generation and although I'm not in any way saying she's a racist, at points she views and reacts to racial issues as a person of her generation would, and it's a little jarring - at least to me. And although she's obviously clever, she doesn't strike as particularly intelligent.

There's also the matter of her affairs with married men (yes there was more than one) that personally disappoints me. However, she is very honest about her difficulties raising her daughter, her inability to maintain a marriage, and her inability to deal in a healthy manner with her family's issues.

I definitely recommend the book and encourage everyone to not be intimidated by the length of the book - again it is very easy to read and will bring back a lot of memories - as Walters has been witness to a lot of history.

By the way, I don't care what she says - I still think she slept with Fidel Castro!

This well-written, incredibly detailed autobiography of the biggest female pioneer in television news ends up being a sad read because of the many self-damaging stories that Barbara Walters tells. "Too much information" should have been the title of the book, because Walters thinks it's important to tell us that she slept with her first boss out of college and lost her virginity, then feared she was pregnant after having an affair with a Frenchman and struggled with whether she should illegally abort the baby (it ended up she wasn't pregnant), she married men she wasn't in love with, she slept with men she was in love with, she almost married a famous homosexual, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

She even talks about having three miscarriages with her second husband, but then says she's grateful for the miscarriages because she fears that any baby of hers may have had the "hereditary" mental retardation condition of Walters' older sister! Wow--it's hard to believe a well-educated woman would print such a shameful admission.

The woman has besmirched her own memory by now making us question anything she has ever done in the journalistic field. As a journalist, she is suppposed to tell the truth, expose the truth and promote the truth. But in this confessional she admits to often lying about major things (even recently on the View), using her power to keep news of her dad's suicide attempt out of the papers, use a notorious friend to get her dad's criminal charges dropped, and, worst of all, WON'T EVEN TELL US THE YEAR OF HER BIRTH!

So the woman who insists on digging into the personal details of other public figure's lives and then expose them to all of America has worked hard to cover up and lie about her own life. This book is now supposed to somehow set everything straight, but instead it makes her seem like a much smaller person. Those who read the book will never be able to take Walters seriously again, since she lies and cheats and sleeps around so often that you have to question her credibility.

She also seems to have lived a VERY well-off life, even though she likes to emphasize the lean years. She still has not gotten her driver's license--and why should she since she had a personal driver picking her up ever since she was a child? She seem out of touch with much of the rest of the world, admitting to not knowing some very middle-class things (like never having heard of Fresca when President Johnson offered her one in 1968. Didn't she even watch TV commercials on her own show or go grocery shopping for herself??? The answer is probably not!


The book is well researched (by someone else) and Walters probably had help writing it, since it is very well written and edited. The are odd gaps--such as the fact that she can't remember what classes she took in college or can't remember the name of the place where she got her first job out of college--but she is getting old. We don't know exactly how old, but you could probably guess somewhere around 78 or 79 today, based on the other details she gives.

It's a great book filled with fascinating stories--it's one that needed to be written and has a lot of important details about the history of television. But she also does a lot of whinig and complaining, putting herself down. This is not the Barbara on the TV screen, the self-confident woman who would fight to get the best interviews. This book portrays the insecure, introverted Barbara. So the question is--which is the true Barbara Walters? It's hard to know because this book just raises so many questions about her lack of character that you won't know what to believe when you're done reading it.

Very interesting story. Barbara is a very strong person who doesn't take the easy way out. She works for what she wants. Would have liked a few more pics.

I suppose I bought Walters' book because we are of the same generation, and I knew it would be full of stories about people I've encountered many times in the news. I wasn't disappointed...I found it to be very entertaining and readable. It's to her credit that she revealed so much of her personal life at this time; how ironic, though, that with all the fame and fortune she's achieved, she's still, at heart, a little Jewish girl who is crying out to be accepted. This makes her very real and very human. I'm still a fan.