The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters Hardcover – April 23, 2024

Susan Page has written an excellent biography about Barbara Walters, who needs no introduction. What makes Ms Page's rendition even better than Barbara's own autobiography is the warmth and personality she brings to her subject . This iconic reporter who achieved heights beyond even her ambitions becomes real with her drive, insecurities, disappointments and sensitivity.Having read and loved Ms Page's book about Barbara Bush, I am not surprised at the depth and charm the author conveys to Barbara.Anyone who grew up watching Barbara Walters should read this lovely book.

Barbara Walters wrote her autobiography in 2008 entitled Audition. The author of The Rulebreaker, as expected, relied heavily on Barbara's work as a reference. A reader might wonder, "Why not just read what Barbara had to say about herself?" Like most of us, Walters, a consummate journalist and interviewer who sought the most intimate details about the lives of the rich, famous and infamous, was not always truthful about her own life.Her father, who was involved in show business, was a huge influence on her life. His financial situation waxed and waned and after his death, Walters took on the financial responsibility for both her mother and mentally disabled sister, but kept them at a distance in Florida while she settled in NY City, the nucleus of the broadcasting business.Walters was determined to be a primetime journalist. She was marginalized because she was a woman and was forced, initially, to work behind the scenes as an editor of news shows. In the end, this gave her the experience to craft and edit her own broadcasts when she did break through as an anchor. She changed the definition of an interview by in-depth research and writing, sometimes over a hundred questions for each guest. These interviews were at times revealing, painfully intimate and emotional. The book highlights several of these including Walters' interview with Monica Lewinsky.Walters could be cutthroat in her determination to get an interview. She was NOT a team player and frequently went to great lengths to scoop an interview which had been promised to other female reporters. This did not endear her to her female colleagues, though most had to admit that Barbara Walters had blazed the trail for women broadcasters. In 1996 she founded the all female talk show called The View. It became a hit and was seen as a feminist advancement in the broadcast business.Barbara's personal life was not as successful as her career in terms of her estrangement from her adopted daughter and three failed marriages. In 2014, when Walters retired from The View, all ten previous co-hosts and two dozen of the nation's leading female broadcasters appeared to give Barbara a huge testimony to the impact she had on their lives. Perhaps, this was her true family and legacy.

This is such a well written and interesting book. The author does an excellent job of explaining the significance of the many achievements of this groundbreaking journalist. I found this fascinating from cover to cover and will be recommending it to others as a must read.

Talks about the media like I've never known. Good or bad, Barbara was an inspiration to me, as a career woman. Expected to give my all, at the drop of a hat, being military, you become somewhat driven. Like Barbara.

Too long and too detailed. But it is interesting.

Page unearthed the truth about this American icon and trailblazer. Walter’s personal life was incredibly accurate and applicable to the challenges she faced during her career. The bio shows us how really incredible this human being really was. I found it personally informative and superbly written.

I had read Barbara’s biography several years ago. I read so many books that I didn’t remember a whole lot about it. This was a nice refresher and told from so many who knew Barbara. I loved their perspective on what they observed about her. This was part bio, part history and I love history. I highly recommend it.

A life story with information you probably did not know. It traces her tenacious moves up the ladder despite her difficulty pronouncing the letter 'r'. Such a fascinating read and so well-written!