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Miss America
Shock-jock radio host Howard Stern ( Private Parts ) shares his own offbeat, outrageous views and offensive observations on life, the world, modern American society—and more—in the massive #1 New York Time s bestseller Miss America .
592 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
19 people are currently reading
733 people want to read
About the author
Howard Stern
17 books171 followersHoward Stern is an American radio host, humorist and media mogul. Stern hosts The Howard Stern Show four days a week (Monday–Thursday) on Howard 100, a Sirius Satellite Radio station.
The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" has been dubbed a shock jock for his highly controversial use of scatological, sexual, and racial humor. Stern has said that the show was never about shocking people, but primarily intended to offer his honest opinions on a gamut of issues (ranging from world affairs to problems among his own staff). Though controversial, he is the highest-paid radio personality in the United States and the most fined personality in radio broadcast history.
He is best known for his national radio show, which for many years was syndicated on FM radio stations (and a few AM stations) throughout the United States until his last terrestrial radio broadcast on December 16, 2005. He began broadcasting on the subscription-based Sirius satellite radio service on January 9, 2006.
In addition to radio, Stern moved into publishing, television, feature films, and music. He has written two books, Private Parts, which he adapted into a film, and Miss America. Stern's television endeavors include a variety show on New York City's WWOR-TV, a nightly E! show documenting his radio broadcasts, a similar CBS program that competed with Saturday Night Live for a time, "Howard On-Demand" for digital cable subscribers in various markets, and Son of the Beach, a parody of Baywatch for FX which Stern executive produced.
In 2006, Howard Stern was elected into Time Magazine's "Time 100: The People who shape our world" and was ranked #7 in Forbes Magazine's 2006 annual Celebrity 100. On February 13, 2007, Stern became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, model Beth Ostrosky.
The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" has been dubbed a shock jock for his highly controversial use of scatological, sexual, and racial humor. Stern has said that the show was never about shocking people, but primarily intended to offer his honest opinions on a gamut of issues (ranging from world affairs to problems among his own staff). Though controversial, he is the highest-paid radio personality in the United States and the most fined personality in radio broadcast history.
He is best known for his national radio show, which for many years was syndicated on FM radio stations (and a few AM stations) throughout the United States until his last terrestrial radio broadcast on December 16, 2005. He began broadcasting on the subscription-based Sirius satellite radio service on January 9, 2006.
In addition to radio, Stern moved into publishing, television, feature films, and music. He has written two books, Private Parts, which he adapted into a film, and Miss America. Stern's television endeavors include a variety show on New York City's WWOR-TV, a nightly E! show documenting his radio broadcasts, a similar CBS program that competed with Saturday Night Live for a time, "Howard On-Demand" for digital cable subscribers in various markets, and Son of the Beach, a parody of Baywatch for FX which Stern executive produced.
In 2006, Howard Stern was elected into Time Magazine's "Time 100: The People who shape our world" and was ranked #7 in Forbes Magazine's 2006 annual Celebrity 100. On February 13, 2007, Stern became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, model Beth Ostrosky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 12, 2011
There was a time in my life that I listened to Howard Stern. That was certainly prior to the move to digital radio as I abhor the idea of paying to listen to the radio. Sure, one can do as he pleases, but I do not see myself ever shelling out for that service.
Anyhow, I have always supported Stern and what he does. I liked it . . . for a time. By the time this book was published, however, I was losing interest. Howard was too full of himself and frankly, there's only so many potty jokes I can listen to before I've had enough.
To the book . . . not as good as Private Parts. It came off as a money grab to cash in on the height of his popularity. Funny stories, but it seemed somewhat the leftovers.
Anyhow, I have always supported Stern and what he does. I liked it . . . for a time. By the time this book was published, however, I was losing interest. Howard was too full of himself and frankly, there's only so many potty jokes I can listen to before I've had enough.
To the book . . . not as good as Private Parts. It came off as a money grab to cash in on the height of his popularity. Funny stories, but it seemed somewhat the leftovers.
July 1, 2015
First, let me say that this memoir is not for everyone. Miss America will most likely shock, if not offend, most readers at least once (maybe even once per page), so, yes, you have to be open-minded. BUT THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT. Stern is a master at poking-fun at serious issues in such a politically incorrect manner, that listeners (or readers in this case) have to laugh. His entire persona laughs at the hypocrisy of society - particularly calling out people who take themselves too seriously. Plus, half the time he's making fun of himself.
Read complete review here: http://www.lavenderinspiration.com/20...
Read complete review here: http://www.lavenderinspiration.com/20...
January 5, 2014
What's not to like? It's Howard Stern... Honest. I like the way he thinks.
May 16, 2020
Not a huge fan of his. Uneven less, now that I’ve read this. Not knocking the guy but he is not to my taste. He may have written this book for his fans and maybe that’s why I don’t get it. Good for him for being so successful. I hope that he isn’t really like this in person and is simply trying to display a persona. He seems like the radio version of a keyboard warrior. So I say thank you for making a generation of wanks that can sit comfortably behind a wall of distance or anonymity and act like “the beast”.
Hey, if it’s your thing rock on.
Hey, if it’s your thing rock on.
May 6, 2018
Always been a huge fan of Howard Stern
February 28, 2009
Not nearly as hilarious as Private Parts but I still got some laughs out of this. I tend to read a lot of very serious morose stuff but I like to read a book that makes me laugh now and then. Sterns humor is very neurotic and self loathing, at times very juvenile, and very Jewish (obsession with bodily functions, sexual insecurities, childhood traumas and persecution complexs) but I have always thought he was funny. Stern is one funny Jew!
March 26, 2012
I am a huge Howard Stern fan so I had to read his books. "Miss America" was definitely good but had a few slower parts to the story. Howard's first book "Private Parts" was better than "Miss America" but anything Howard is good to me.
July 6, 2009
...and of course, I have to buy the sequel.
July 15, 2013
I thought this was heartfelt and revealing in its way, counter to everything we were supposed to think about Howard Stern.
January 30, 2014
Really funny book by Howard Stern. There's a fair amount of vulgarity, so it might offend sensitive readers.
I thought it was hilarious, though.
I thought it was hilarious, though.
November 25, 2023
Written by a degenerate for an audience of degenerates. For the record I found this in a Free Little Library. It is mildly amusing in the way People Magazine is amusing when you are standing on line at the grocery store. It is also wildly chauvinistic. The most alarming part is that Stern discusses running in an election to become the governor of New York, at the time it was a complete farce, which was probably done just as a publicity stunt, but ultimately became the precursor for Trump's bids ... everything is fun and games until the doofus that nobody thinks has a shot at winning actually gets elected. I ended up tossing the book in the trash, not because I thought it needed to be censored from other readers, but because the binding was so old and stiff that the book literally snapped into two parts while I was reading it ... it isn't worth trying to mend the binding with some packing tape.
April 16, 2018
I hate to give it 3 stars because I love the King of all Media and everything he does is awesome.. But this book was very messy for me, it felt like an incomplete book for some reason. Private Parts is definitely much better than this one, it has its moments of course and some parts made me laugh out loud but other parts I wanted to skip through the pages because it was so hard to follow. I think only Howard knew what he was talking about, I can only recommend it for your collection if you're a die hard fan like me , I won't rate it any less because like I said it still has a lot of the Howard stern Universe and Even has a dedication to Steve Grillo lol HIT EM WITH THE HEIN!
July 2, 2018
Been sitting on my shelf for a very long time. Finished it. Did I like it, meh. Whether you listen to him on air or in print he is still the same. Funny, yes to some people rude and crude to others. I personally think he's full of hot air. Favorite parts of the book for me was when he described his meeting with Michael Jackson and letter that a fan wrote him comparing him to Hitler and crew.
December 26, 2020
My English teacher (in Amsterdam) allowed me to read and report on this in high school for a grade. Naturally I didn't read the whole thing, just the first few chapters. I remember the online sex chat rooms, his wife having cancer and something about Paul McCartney? I'm very blank on this book.
A good test for something like this is: Would it be worth to read if it was not written by this famous person?
A good test for something like this is: Would it be worth to read if it was not written by this famous person?
January 8, 2021
I really like Howard but this books is Not great. It’s 25 years old, yes. It had some funny parts here and there but the book is mostly Howard celebrating himself for each and every little corny accomplishment that he made by making others miserable... him bragging about phony phone calls being made that mentioned his name, by the way his proudest calls were the ones made while ppl were dying.....I don’t know it’s just tacky. A lot is political stuff too.
May 11, 2020
BABA BOOOEEEYYY!
Love Howard Stern that is why I am giving it a four star rating.
It probably deserves two stars atmost. Seemed like a quick cash grab in mid 90s. Here are some memorable moments from the book. Michael Jackson interview, running for governor, Roseanne interview and the Nazi letter. Onto the next! Thank you to Howard for being a freedom of speech hero!
Love Howard Stern that is why I am giving it a four star rating.
It probably deserves two stars atmost. Seemed like a quick cash grab in mid 90s. Here are some memorable moments from the book. Michael Jackson interview, running for governor, Roseanne interview and the Nazi letter. Onto the next! Thank you to Howard for being a freedom of speech hero!
January 26, 2025
After loving Private Parts, I simply had to buy the 2nd book by Howard Stern. Miss America was fun and crude as usual. But it was bit dull than the first part. But its jokes on Heather Whitestone, a deaf woman who won the Miss American Pageant was hilarious to no end, take it from another deaf person! Like the first one, I devoured this book in less than six hours.
November 11, 2018
I used to be a big fan of Howard Stern when I was younger and loved reading this book. I have immediately started reading his other book “Private Parts”
November 7, 2019
starts out decent but my god the later chapters are long winded and i forgot how annoying it is to hear stern talk about being censored.
May 6, 2021
Read in 1996. Stern shares his own offbeat, outrageous views and offensive observations on life. My last book of 1996. I read 79 books that year.
October 19, 2024
A bit experimental compared to the first book. Some of it works, some doesn't. Read this entirely too young.
Read
October 3, 2025nan
January 29, 2013
I have to admit, seeing Howard & the gang was a bit disturbing, but it was funny.
I loved Private Parts, so of course I had to read Miss America. As in Private Parts, Stern devotes an adoring section to Stuttering John, his former lackey who shouted out embarrassing questions at stars. (''What's the best thing about dinner theater?'' John asked Burt Reynolds. ''The dinner or the theater?'') And the tales of Sternheads who make prank calls to rival media outlets are brilliant in their prepubescent way. (On the Today show, one caller asked Ross Perot, ''Have you ever had the desire to mind-meld with Howard Stern's penis?'') Even the chapter on Stern's own insecurities — he admits he once suffered from an obsessive-compulsive disorder that, for instance, forced him to enter rooms right foot forward — is sharpest when he's mocking other star confessions. (''Every celebrity book should have revelations,'' he writes. ''Jerry Seinfeld revealed, well, that he didn't like airplane food. So Jerry's a little shallow.'')
The man is a professional asshole, make no mistake about it. But I’ll take an asshole who brashly speaks his mind, and who has made millions and millions of people enjoy their rides to work in the morning while being stuck in traffic, over an uptight asshole who is disingenuous to the very core of his or her being.
Howard gets a lot of flak from puritans from both the religious and feminist sphere, claiming that he is sexist and objectifies women. The first claim is a ridiculous lie on its face, because he absolutely, thoroughly believes in the equality of the sexes – that is, equal pay for equal work – and in no way ever exalted his sex over woman’s, and everyone knows that. The problem is that the word “sexist” is so vulgarly thrown around these days, which has, in turn, caused it to lose its true, original meaning. And to call Howard Stern of all people that – a man who believes in the sexual freedom and liberation of women, and who always fights for their right to choose – is pure slander, that’s all it is, and it sickens me to my very core. It should sicken you, too, as a matter of fact, both on an intellectual and moral level.
There are sections to this book devoted to radio show which has to do with the different women who are constantly coming on the show to strip down to nothing and talk about their sex lives, a major aspect of the show since the early 80s.
The book is a must read for any Howard fan!
I loved Private Parts, so of course I had to read Miss America. As in Private Parts, Stern devotes an adoring section to Stuttering John, his former lackey who shouted out embarrassing questions at stars. (''What's the best thing about dinner theater?'' John asked Burt Reynolds. ''The dinner or the theater?'') And the tales of Sternheads who make prank calls to rival media outlets are brilliant in their prepubescent way. (On the Today show, one caller asked Ross Perot, ''Have you ever had the desire to mind-meld with Howard Stern's penis?'') Even the chapter on Stern's own insecurities — he admits he once suffered from an obsessive-compulsive disorder that, for instance, forced him to enter rooms right foot forward — is sharpest when he's mocking other star confessions. (''Every celebrity book should have revelations,'' he writes. ''Jerry Seinfeld revealed, well, that he didn't like airplane food. So Jerry's a little shallow.'')
The man is a professional asshole, make no mistake about it. But I’ll take an asshole who brashly speaks his mind, and who has made millions and millions of people enjoy their rides to work in the morning while being stuck in traffic, over an uptight asshole who is disingenuous to the very core of his or her being.
Howard gets a lot of flak from puritans from both the religious and feminist sphere, claiming that he is sexist and objectifies women. The first claim is a ridiculous lie on its face, because he absolutely, thoroughly believes in the equality of the sexes – that is, equal pay for equal work – and in no way ever exalted his sex over woman’s, and everyone knows that. The problem is that the word “sexist” is so vulgarly thrown around these days, which has, in turn, caused it to lose its true, original meaning. And to call Howard Stern of all people that – a man who believes in the sexual freedom and liberation of women, and who always fights for their right to choose – is pure slander, that’s all it is, and it sickens me to my very core. It should sicken you, too, as a matter of fact, both on an intellectual and moral level.
There are sections to this book devoted to radio show which has to do with the different women who are constantly coming on the show to strip down to nothing and talk about their sex lives, a major aspect of the show since the early 80s.
The book is a must read for any Howard fan!
May 13, 2024
The younger me loved it. The current me wouldn’t.
October 14, 2016
Let me start by saying; I'm a huge Howard Stern fan. I listen to the show nearly everyday on Sirius, loved Private Parts the book and movie, and will more than occasionally get caught up in youtube clips for a few hours, but...
I couldn't stand the start of Miss America. All the crazy font formatting was annoying. I feel like the first few chapters were written more in the character of Stern trying too hard to shock and offend. The chapters on his cyber sex-capades, and the list of women he'd hook up with if his wife died we're pretty terrible.
I almost gave up on the book, but nearly halfway through, it seems like he got back into his real voice and had some really enjoyable chapters. Loved when Stern talked about his rise in popularity across the country and his trials in each new market. The history of the phony-phone calls was great, and I couldn't get enough about his run for Governor of New York and his hand in shaping other elections.
Overall I did enjoy the book and am glad I finished it. Maybe If I ever feel the need to re-read it I'll just start at chapter 7.
I couldn't stand the start of Miss America. All the crazy font formatting was annoying. I feel like the first few chapters were written more in the character of Stern trying too hard to shock and offend. The chapters on his cyber sex-capades, and the list of women he'd hook up with if his wife died we're pretty terrible.
I almost gave up on the book, but nearly halfway through, it seems like he got back into his real voice and had some really enjoyable chapters. Loved when Stern talked about his rise in popularity across the country and his trials in each new market. The history of the phony-phone calls was great, and I couldn't get enough about his run for Governor of New York and his hand in shaping other elections.
Overall I did enjoy the book and am glad I finished it. Maybe If I ever feel the need to re-read it I'll just start at chapter 7.
January 4, 2008
He's definitely an acquired taste but if you're a fan, this is a hilarious book. I liked it better than Private Parts because there's more industry insider stuff, like a meeting with Michael Jackson I'm not sure even happened, but the description of how Jackson's face melted off in the middle of the meeting was pretty graphic and funny as hell. Otherwise it's what you would expect from Stern and you either love him or hate him, there's not a lot of middle ground. It's a fast, well written, good read too.
December 29, 2011
Just isn't as funny as the first one. Including transcripts of his actual cybersex encounters was completely brilliant as a concept but not particularly funny. Enough chuckles and I'm enough of a fanboy that I still like it.
He really wrote it too soon after the first book. If he wrote a third one there is basically no way it wouldn't be the best thing he's ever done even if he has to gloss over the divorce. Hopefully he does his year of AGT and sets to writing again.
He really wrote it too soon after the first book. If he wrote a third one there is basically no way it wouldn't be the best thing he's ever done even if he has to gloss over the divorce. Hopefully he does his year of AGT and sets to writing again.
March 23, 2014
I remember reading this probably 15 years ago and thinking it was not as good as Private Parts. Now all these years later after reading it again I have to say I found it a bit more enjoyable. I love hearing about all the stories and my only real gripe with the book is that it makes me sad that this Howard is dead and gone. Now we have Imus Stern and Hampton Howie working 2 days a week and judging AGT.
July 9, 2013
The book is sort of like a thick magazine, a cross between Mad and Maxim. There's a few serious parts like when he talked about recovering from OCD and back pain problems, and some absurd and funny parts, and some lists and filler. A lot of it seems like an appendix of material that didn't fit into Private Parts.
August 26, 2015
I love Howard Stern. What I've learned and enjoyed from reading his two books back to back and listening to his show currently on Sirius is that he has mellowed out a lot but is still the self-obsessed neurotic who overshares his life and his staff's lives. I'm glad lots haven't changed with him except for his devotion to saving kittens with Beth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews