Audition

A Memoir

By: Barbara Walters

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 26 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Young people starting out in television sometimes say to me: “I want to be you.” My stock reply is always: “Then you have to take the whole package.” And now, at last, the most important woman in the history of television journalism gives us that “whole package,” in her inspiring and riveting memoir.

After more than 40 years of interviewing heads of state, world leaders, movie stars, criminals, murderers, inspirational figures, and celebrities of all kinds, Barbara Walters has turned her gift for examination onto herself to reveal the forces that shaped her extraordinary life.

Barbara Walters’s perception of the world was formed at a very early age. Her father, Lou Walters, was the owner and creative mind behind the legendary Latin Quarter nightclub, and it was his risk-taking lifestyle that made Barbara aware of the ups and downs that can occur when someone is willing to take great risks.

The financial responsibility for her family, the fear, the love all played a large part in the choices she made as she grew up: the friendships she developed, the relationships she had, the marriages she tried to make work. Ultimately, thanks to her drive, combined with a decent amount of luck, she began a career in television. And what a career it has been! Against great odds, Barbara has made it to the top of a male-dominated industry.

She has spent a lifetime auditioning, and this book, in some ways, is her final audition, as she fully opens up both her private and public lives. In doing so, she has given us a story that is heartbreaking and honest, surprising and fun, sometimes startling, and always fascinating.

©2008 Barbara Walters (P)2008 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"She regales you with the juicy behind-the-scenes details of the celebrities she's interviewed, mixed in with stories of her own trials and tribulations. In the end, you envy her a little less and admire her more." (The Washington Post)

"An unusually ambitious and successful book...suffused with an emotional intensity; it belongs to a part of American culture that Walters helped invent." (The New Yorker)

“Audition is brutally honest, both about Walters and those she's worked with. Readers won't be left wondering what she thinks of anything, or anyone, for that matter....It's a fascinating look at a woman who has lived a fascinating life.” (Laura L. Hutchison, The Free Lance-Star)

Upbeate memoir of an amazing woman

Barbara Walters has done SO much and with such a great attitude. She's changed the way women are viewed and treated in television. I really enjoyed this book. I'm not a very political person, so some of the foreign leader interviews weren't super interesting to me - but the way they were communicated were always with a personal focus which is something you don't usually get when watching a formal interview.

Not supposed to be my cup of tea, but I loved this tea!

Barbara Walters is not a figure im supposed to admire or be inspired by since I am a 27 year old straight man (im guessing here). This book certainly inspired me to want to have a voice , The book is proof of how one woman or person, can have a awesome career this woman interviewed 100 + people including sadam hussein, gadaffi, killers like the menendez brothers, mark david chapman, every president since nixon and ummmm ..monica lewinski. You will learn much about modern history as well and even how to cope with a mentally retarded sibling, in this case how barbara coped with her sister, this is not just about her, everybody should strive to have a life as long and accomplished as her.

Fascinating read, a little long

I enjoyed the book tremendously and learned many things about her childhood I hadn't known

An engaging and amazing read!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I haven't finished listening, but am about three quarters through and cannot stop recommending this book to family and friends! It's a wonderfully touching and candid memoir, written by a celebrity I didn't really appreciate; as a young Australian, although I know who Barbara Walters is, I'd never understood or appreciated just why she was so famous as a professional television journalist. This book has certainly set me straight!!

Without doubt, this is one of the best memoirs I've read and definitely the best book I've read in the past year or so. Barbara's conversational writing style is very engaging and her recollections of interviews, news stories and scoops, along with amazing inside and background information, as well as the political/historical context, makes for a truly fascinating read. The heartwarming revelations about her personal and family life also made me admire her all the more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is an odd question to be answering for an autobiography, but that said, if you enjoy memoirs and like getting up close and personal with the subject, this is a must read! Barbara's personal and professional story is incredible and very interesting. Aside from Barbara herself, her comments and personal views about all of the Presidents she has interviewed throughout her career were truly fascinating.

What does Bernadette Dunne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator is fabulous and adds to the poignancy of this memoir. Such a wonderful choice!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I don't want to mention any particular anecdotes, as they will be spoilers for those of you that decide to get the book, however, I found the episodes of Barbara's personal and family life very touching. Not only do I admire all of her professional achievements as a television journalist, but I also appreciate them knowing the personal struggles she went through.

Audition

This book was a look into a life that I really didn't expect would be so interesting. boy she really got around

Fascinating... but let's be honest!

Any additional comments?

I have always been a fan of Barbara Walters from her earliest interviews. She absolutely was a pioneer for women in news journalism and has had a career that is admirable on many levels. So I was mesmerized by the back stories of many of these interviews that I still remember well. It truly was fascinating and I was always happy to get back to my book!

It was also interesting to hear about Barbara's childhood. I had known a little about her father, but as it turns out, very little. Again, it was fascinating. If I had been Barbara's editor, I would have advised her to rethink how she was going to air her regrets. In all honesty, she made the same choices again and again putting herself, her relationships with men, and her career above her family... proving that even after she said she was feeling guilt for past choices, she continued to make the same choices repeatedly and then talk about how guilty she felt. It was like a revolving door! Own it, Barbara. Maybe you can't be all things! While she will and should go down in journalistic history, she certainly won't be remembered for her nurturing character.

Very good

Interesting and so much to learn about the fabulous woman!!
Makes me wish she was still here.

Excellent Listen

I have always liked Barbara Walters and this book re-enforced my high opinion of her. I am also a big fan of the narrator. Do not let the 26 hours intimidate you...I hated to see it come to an end. Barbara is a good story teller and she has a lot of stories to tell!

Great read

Amazing. Very honest and enjoyable. My only complaint is I wish Ms. Walters had read it.

Good read

What made the experience of listening to Audition the most enjoyable?

Interesting, entertaining, unique insight into how she became the woman she is today. Amusing anecdotes.

What did you like best about this story?

Excellent narration.