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The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters
14 hours, 5 minutes
The definitive biography of the most successful female broadcaster of all time—Barbara Walters—a woman whose personal demons fueled an ambition that broke all the rules and finally gave women a permanent place on the air, written by bestselling author Susan Page.
Barbara Walters was a force from the time TV was exploding on the American scene in the 1960s to its waning dominance in a new world of competition from streaming services and social media half a century later. She was not just a groundbreaker for women (Oprah announced when she was seventeen that she wanted to be Barbara Walters), but also expanded the big TV interview and then dominated the genre. By the end of her career, she had interviewed more of the famous and infamous, from presidents to movie stars to criminals to despots, than any other journalist in history. Then at sixty-seven, past the age many female broadcasters found themselves involuntarily retired, she pioneered a new form of talk TV called The View. She is on the short list of those who have left the biggest imprints on television news and on our culture, male or female. So, who was the woman behind the legacy?
In The Rulebreaker , Susan Page conducts 150 interviews and extensive archival research to discover that Walters was driven to keep herself and her family afloat after her mercurial and famous impresario father attempted suicide. But she never lost the fear of an impending catastrophe, which is what led her to ask for things no woman had ever asked for before, to ignore the rules of misogynistic culture, to outcompete her most ferocious competitors, and to protect her complicated marriages and love life from scrutiny.
Page breaks news on every front—from the daring things Walters did to become the woman who reinvented the TV interview to the secrets she kept until her death. This is the eye-opening account of the woman who knew she had to break all the rules so she could break all the rules about what viewers deserved to know.
The definitive biography of the most successful female broadcaster of all time—Barbara Walters—a woman whose personal demons fueled an ambition that broke all the rules and finally gave women a permanent place on the air, written by bestselling author Susan Page.
Barbara Walters was a force from the time TV was exploding on the American scene in the 1960s to its waning dominance in a new world of competition from streaming services and social media half a century later. She was not just a groundbreaker for women (Oprah announced when she was seventeen that she wanted to be Barbara Walters), but also expanded the big TV interview and then dominated the genre. By the end of her career, she had interviewed more of the famous and infamous, from presidents to movie stars to criminals to despots, than any other journalist in history. Then at sixty-seven, past the age many female broadcasters found themselves involuntarily retired, she pioneered a new form of talk TV called The View. She is on the short list of those who have left the biggest imprints on television news and on our culture, male or female. So, who was the woman behind the legacy?
In The Rulebreaker , Susan Page conducts 150 interviews and extensive archival research to discover that Walters was driven to keep herself and her family afloat after her mercurial and famous impresario father attempted suicide. But she never lost the fear of an impending catastrophe, which is what led her to ask for things no woman had ever asked for before, to ignore the rules of misogynistic culture, to outcompete her most ferocious competitors, and to protect her complicated marriages and love life from scrutiny.
Page breaks news on every front—from the daring things Walters did to become the woman who reinvented the TV interview to the secrets she kept until her death. This is the eye-opening account of the woman who knew she had to break all the rules so she could break all the rules about what viewers deserved to know.
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First published April 23, 2024
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About the author
Susan Page
4 books117 followersSusan Page is the Washington Bureau chief of USA Today, where she writes about politics and the White House. Susan has covered seven White House administrations and in 2024 covered her 12th presidential election. She has interviewed the past ten presidents -- from Richard Nixon through Donald Trump -- and reported from six continents and dozens of foreign countries. (She interviewed three of the presidents after they had left the White House.) In 2020, she moderated the campaign debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Yes, that was the one with the fly. She frequently appears as an analyst on TV and radio. She's written three books and is working on her fourth, to be published by HarperCollins in April 2026.
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October 10, 2023
Susan Page does an outstanding job with her biography of Barbara Walters in The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters. It is an incredible page-turner that spans Barbara's childhood, phenomenal career, as well as her health decline, and passing on December 30, 2022.
Barbara paved the path for many women journalists and was unapologetic about her drive, ambition, strategies, and scrappy tactics to "get" the interview. Page stated that Barbara turned "the get" into a contact sport without any rules. Barbara's career began when being ambitious was unladylike. She did not play by the rules and shattered barriers in order to advance her career.
Her style of interviewing was unique and humanized many celebrities, politicians, as well as murderers and criminals. Barbara thoroughly prepared for all interviews and often had 200+ notecards with questions on them that she refined and resorted many, many times before the actual interview. She treated interviews like a three act play and ensured on a tantalizing beginning and a memorable ending. Her interview with Monica Lewinsky is used as a case study in law schools as an example of effective direct examination.
Barbara's personal life included three marriages and divorces and the adoption of a daughter, Jackie, who was named after Barbara's disabled sister. Throughout Barbara's life, she felt responsible for the financial responsibilities of her parents and her sister.
Two memorable passages in the book:
* Katie Couric stated that Barbara was rattling cages before women were allowed in the zoo.
* Gilda Radner played Baba Wawa on Saturday Night Live and Barbara was not a fan of this caricature of herself. When Radner passed away, Barbara sent a sympathy card to Radner's husband, Gene Wilder, and signed it Baba Wawa.
It's a poignant, in-depth portrayal of a legend.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Barbara paved the path for many women journalists and was unapologetic about her drive, ambition, strategies, and scrappy tactics to "get" the interview. Page stated that Barbara turned "the get" into a contact sport without any rules. Barbara's career began when being ambitious was unladylike. She did not play by the rules and shattered barriers in order to advance her career.
Her style of interviewing was unique and humanized many celebrities, politicians, as well as murderers and criminals. Barbara thoroughly prepared for all interviews and often had 200+ notecards with questions on them that she refined and resorted many, many times before the actual interview. She treated interviews like a three act play and ensured on a tantalizing beginning and a memorable ending. Her interview with Monica Lewinsky is used as a case study in law schools as an example of effective direct examination.
Barbara's personal life included three marriages and divorces and the adoption of a daughter, Jackie, who was named after Barbara's disabled sister. Throughout Barbara's life, she felt responsible for the financial responsibilities of her parents and her sister.
Two memorable passages in the book:
* Katie Couric stated that Barbara was rattling cages before women were allowed in the zoo.
* Gilda Radner played Baba Wawa on Saturday Night Live and Barbara was not a fan of this caricature of herself. When Radner passed away, Barbara sent a sympathy card to Radner's husband, Gene Wilder, and signed it Baba Wawa.
It's a poignant, in-depth portrayal of a legend.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2024
The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters is a vivid and comprehensive look at the icon who smashed the good ole boys news network and changed the face of television journalism.
My introduction to Barbara Walters was through Gilda Radner's 'Baba Wawa' impressions on Saturday Night Live. I was intrigued enough to learn who she was and watch her for real. I have been impressed with her drive and determination and her success at paving the way for the women journalists who followed her.
In this biography, Susan Page states:
"She would choose interesting over normal, ambition over three marriages, an interview with a big newsmaker over a planned holiday with her daughter. She would choose power and prominence and fortune, the chance to be . . . at center stage rather than . . . in the chorus."
Barbara Walters made some difficult choices, and lived with the results. Her epitaph reads:
NO REGRETS - I HAD A GREAT LIFE
Page read copiously and conducted over a hundred interviews to put together this biography; it shows. Dozens of photos are included which illustrate Barbara's life and adventures over the years.
Publication 2024
My introduction to Barbara Walters was through Gilda Radner's 'Baba Wawa' impressions on Saturday Night Live. I was intrigued enough to learn who she was and watch her for real. I have been impressed with her drive and determination and her success at paving the way for the women journalists who followed her.
In this biography, Susan Page states:
"She would choose interesting over normal, ambition over three marriages, an interview with a big newsmaker over a planned holiday with her daughter. She would choose power and prominence and fortune, the chance to be . . . at center stage rather than . . . in the chorus."
Barbara Walters made some difficult choices, and lived with the results. Her epitaph reads:
NO REGRETS - I HAD A GREAT LIFE
Page read copiously and conducted over a hundred interviews to put together this biography; it shows. Dozens of photos are included which illustrate Barbara's life and adventures over the years.
Publication 2024
February 11, 2024
Susan Page you did a great job. This book is well written and gives the complete life story of Barbara Walters starting with her ancestors. Barbara didn't have the best childhood and had a sister that had issues. Her mom did the best she could raising Barbara and her sister Jackie by herself since her husband was away a lot. Barbara climbed her way up the ladder with strength and courage. Barbara was real insecure when doing her job and worried that it would end. When Barbara started as a newscaster she was one of the few women stepping into a men's world. The men newscasters gave her a hard time but she never gave up. I highly recommend this great book.
February 28, 2024
I remember growing up and enjoying watching certain shows with my mom. Celebrity interviews from Barbara Walters was one of them. Much like you could watch Johnny Carson and expect an enjoyable experience every time, you could count on Barbara in the same comfortable way. You just knew it was going to be good. So it was with that warm, expectant feeling that I approached this biography. I wasn't disappointed. I had been reading a handful of "so, so" books at the time and was hungry for a quality read that would grab my attention. From the first pages I knew that this read would be a good one and thought, "Finally!"
The book covered Barbara's childhood which factored so deeply into her drive for success. It thoroughly described her groundbreaking career as a woman in television journalism and the initial blowback she received from her male counterparts. It also depicted her extremely competitive nature in snagging coveted reviews, often in tandem with Diane Sawyer. I enjoyed reading about her three failed marriages, her adoption experience, and some of her controversial relationships. Barbara was crafty at carefully cultivating any information that could be released about her.
The writing style was effortless and free-flowing and a pleasure to read. The book is just shy of 500 pages, but transitions to voluminous end notes and a photo gallery at about the 80% mark. This was an excellent, comprehensive overview of this iconic newswoman's entire life. Highly recommended!
Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
The book covered Barbara's childhood which factored so deeply into her drive for success. It thoroughly described her groundbreaking career as a woman in television journalism and the initial blowback she received from her male counterparts. It also depicted her extremely competitive nature in snagging coveted reviews, often in tandem with Diane Sawyer. I enjoyed reading about her three failed marriages, her adoption experience, and some of her controversial relationships. Barbara was crafty at carefully cultivating any information that could be released about her.
The writing style was effortless and free-flowing and a pleasure to read. The book is just shy of 500 pages, but transitions to voluminous end notes and a photo gallery at about the 80% mark. This was an excellent, comprehensive overview of this iconic newswoman's entire life. Highly recommended!
Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
Read
May 25, 20241929-2022
I was not a fan of Barbara Walters in the 60's or 70's. Too young, too busy, I think, to truly appreciate this gutsy woman. As I aged, well all I can say, is
R E S P E C T
Truly enjoyed learning more about this icon of journalism.
Rulebreaker-Barrier Breaker-A Woman that Paved the Way.
I was not a fan of Barbara Walters in the 60's or 70's. Too young, too busy, I think, to truly appreciate this gutsy woman. As I aged, well all I can say, is
R E S P E C T
Truly enjoyed learning more about this icon of journalism.
Rulebreaker-Barrier Breaker-A Woman that Paved the Way.
June 18, 2024
Barbara Walters is a problematic fave. She asked super rude questions that people find offensive today....but we were all thinking those questions. Barbara Walters changed News media as we know it. Today seeing a woman interview a world leader or host the morning and evening news is ordinary but Barbara kicked that door in. She was tough and cutthroat but she had to be. She was one of a few women in an all boys club. This book only scratches the surface on the misogyny that Barbara had to deal with plus not to mention antisemitism( I didn't know until reading this book that she was Jewish).
The Rulebreaker was a real eye opener. I mostly only knew Barbara Walters from The View and her Most Fascinating People list. I obviously knew that she was a well respected journalist but by time I was old enough to pay attention it just The View....and SNL making fun of her. I was a little worried going in that this book would be a puff piece because Susan Page makes it known how much she respected Barbara Walters. But this book pulled no punches. It treats BW like a whole flawed person. She had 3 failed marriages, several relationships with problematic men( including a couple married men) a troubled relationship with her only child Jackie, her disfunctional relationships with her parents and disabled sister and it shows how ruthless she was in her climb to the top.
I really enjoyed this book. I don't think I could have ever been friends with Barbara but I respect the Hell out of her hustle.
The Rulebreaker was a real eye opener. I mostly only knew Barbara Walters from The View and her Most Fascinating People list. I obviously knew that she was a well respected journalist but by time I was old enough to pay attention it just The View....and SNL making fun of her. I was a little worried going in that this book would be a puff piece because Susan Page makes it known how much she respected Barbara Walters. But this book pulled no punches. It treats BW like a whole flawed person. She had 3 failed marriages, several relationships with problematic men( including a couple married men) a troubled relationship with her only child Jackie, her disfunctional relationships with her parents and disabled sister and it shows how ruthless she was in her climb to the top.
I really enjoyed this book. I don't think I could have ever been friends with Barbara but I respect the Hell out of her hustle.
May 12, 2024
When I was young I thought I wanted to be a journalist and Barbara Walters was one of the people I most admired. That dream changed for me, but I was still happy to have the chance to read this biography of one of my idols.
This book provided an in depth look at Walters life from her homelife growing up all the way through to her death. It provided the insight into how her young life at home helped to create the drive that made her the best and kept her striving for more. Barbara's career was filled with roadblocks thrown up due to the fact that she was the first woman to do many of the things she attempted. Since she had grown up in show business she was able to use her background to help advance her career. It had taught her to think differently than some of the existing journalists of the time and to approach things a different way. Her amazing tenacity and determination to get an interview no matter what it takes made her many enemies in her peer group. I was stunned by the distain some of the men had for her. I was also surprised at the frenemy relationship with Diane Sawyers. Competition breeds resentment that is difficult to handle.
The book was well written and flowed easily. I was totally absorbed in the story of Barbara Walters life I didn't mind at all the book was rather long. It kept my attention and provided a great deal of information. It was certainly well researched.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.
This book provided an in depth look at Walters life from her homelife growing up all the way through to her death. It provided the insight into how her young life at home helped to create the drive that made her the best and kept her striving for more. Barbara's career was filled with roadblocks thrown up due to the fact that she was the first woman to do many of the things she attempted. Since she had grown up in show business she was able to use her background to help advance her career. It had taught her to think differently than some of the existing journalists of the time and to approach things a different way. Her amazing tenacity and determination to get an interview no matter what it takes made her many enemies in her peer group. I was stunned by the distain some of the men had for her. I was also surprised at the frenemy relationship with Diane Sawyers. Competition breeds resentment that is difficult to handle.
The book was well written and flowed easily. I was totally absorbed in the story of Barbara Walters life I didn't mind at all the book was rather long. It kept my attention and provided a great deal of information. It was certainly well researched.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.
November 28, 2024
Barbara Walters was a woman to watch - and I did throughout my days growing up. If she could do it, maybe there was a chance for me to move outside the boundaries all the men in my life set and dictated I stay within. All with well-meaning intent and even love and affection. They were protecting me. Mostly. Maybe.
She was quirky - I got that, but in every age of my life, she showed that powering through was the best way to get something done. We never met, but her mark is on me, and I'm better for it. This read total confirmed everything I felt about her. She is inspiring. She was tough. We were different in many, many ways. But her yearnings, hopes and dreams sprang from the same place mine did and do, and whenever like-minded folks band together and disregard fear, the "do nots", and all the "you can'ts", "you aren'ts" and "not good enoughs", - a lot CAN get accomplished.
All the stars for a well-written book, even-handed, calling a spade a spade. Kudos to Ms. Susan Page and her reportage on this rulebreaker - Barbara Jill Walters.
*A sincere thank you to Susan Page, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 52:35
She was quirky - I got that, but in every age of my life, she showed that powering through was the best way to get something done. We never met, but her mark is on me, and I'm better for it. This read total confirmed everything I felt about her. She is inspiring. She was tough. We were different in many, many ways. But her yearnings, hopes and dreams sprang from the same place mine did and do, and whenever like-minded folks band together and disregard fear, the "do nots", and all the "you can'ts", "you aren'ts" and "not good enoughs", - a lot CAN get accomplished.
All the stars for a well-written book, even-handed, calling a spade a spade. Kudos to Ms. Susan Page and her reportage on this rulebreaker - Barbara Jill Walters.
*A sincere thank you to Susan Page, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 52:35
June 5, 2024
A Well-Researched Biography of A Remarkable Broadcast Journalist
SUMMARY
Barbara Walters is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished female broadcasters of all time. She had a unique talent for conducting and producing the most significant television interviews of her era. Throughout her career, she interviewed more presidents, movie stars, and criminal masterminds than any other journalist in history. At an age where retirement would be a natural option, she pioneered a new kind of talk show called The View, which showcased powerful female perspectives. Author Susan Page conducted 150 interviews with colleagues and friends in an attempt to discover the driving force behind Barbara Walters's success.
REVIEW
THE RULEBREAKER is a biography that provides an in-depth account of Barbara Walters' life. The author, Page, has done a commendable job in researching and presenting her findings in a well-written manner. However, she portrays Walters in a negative light by dwelling on her failures, fears, resentments, and aggressions.
Page also sheds light on Walters' strained family relationships and failed marriages, and quotes several colleagues who held unfavorable opinions of her. Even the cover photo seems to lack the respect that Walters deserves. It makes me wonder how Walters herself would have felt about this book.
Reading about Walters' struggles with her family, marriages, career, and daughter was heartbreaking. However, the misogyny she endured from her male colleagues was simply horrendous; although it may have been typical of the time, it is still unforgivable. It took a woman with grace, strength, and fortitude to survive and thrive as Walters did.
Page asks Walters' friends and colleagues whether they thought she was happy. While no one is happy all the time, it’s clear to me that Walters found joy in her work. Her happiness is evident in the quality of everything she produced.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Published April 23, 2023
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
Barbara Walters is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished female broadcasters of all time. She had a unique talent for conducting and producing the most significant television interviews of her era. Throughout her career, she interviewed more presidents, movie stars, and criminal masterminds than any other journalist in history. At an age where retirement would be a natural option, she pioneered a new kind of talk show called The View, which showcased powerful female perspectives. Author Susan Page conducted 150 interviews with colleagues and friends in an attempt to discover the driving force behind Barbara Walters's success.
REVIEW
THE RULEBREAKER is a biography that provides an in-depth account of Barbara Walters' life. The author, Page, has done a commendable job in researching and presenting her findings in a well-written manner. However, she portrays Walters in a negative light by dwelling on her failures, fears, resentments, and aggressions.
Page also sheds light on Walters' strained family relationships and failed marriages, and quotes several colleagues who held unfavorable opinions of her. Even the cover photo seems to lack the respect that Walters deserves. It makes me wonder how Walters herself would have felt about this book.
Reading about Walters' struggles with her family, marriages, career, and daughter was heartbreaking. However, the misogyny she endured from her male colleagues was simply horrendous; although it may have been typical of the time, it is still unforgivable. It took a woman with grace, strength, and fortitude to survive and thrive as Walters did.
Page asks Walters' friends and colleagues whether they thought she was happy. While no one is happy all the time, it’s clear to me that Walters found joy in her work. Her happiness is evident in the quality of everything she produced.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Published April 23, 2023
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
July 18, 2024
I have once again decided to embark on a mission to read a number of books on subjects that will be of great importance to the upcoming 2024 US Presidential Election. This was a great success as I prepared for 2020, with an outcome at the polls (and antics by both candidates up to Inauguration Day) that only a fiction writer might have come up with at the time! Many of these will focus on actors and events intricately involved in the US political system over the last few years, in hopes that I can understand them better and, perhaps, educate others with the power to cast a ballot. I am, as always, open to serious recommendations from anyone who has a book I might like to include in the process.
This is Book #11 in my 2024 US Election Preparation Challenge.
Susan Page delivers this stunning look into the life and times of Barbara Walters, one of the great female journalists in American history. Ready to shatter glass ceilings when male journalists sought to keep her away, Walters did what she could and paved the way for success. However, she had her moments and could be seen as overly competitive or cold, as Page recounts in this stunning biography. Filled with wonderful anecdotes and some of the darker moments in Walters’ career, Page delivers a great read for anyone who seeks to see the truth behind the woman.
The face of American journalism would never be the same once Barbara Walters came onto the scene. Her depictions would change the way people saw the news, an essential part of any political system. Before Barbara came her parents, whose own families arrived in American through their own journeys. As Susan Page opens the biography, she depicts the lives of these two, often down in the dumps, but never without spirit. Lou Walters pulled up his socks and would one day become a highly noticed entertainer and procurer of talent. This would force Barbara to live in his shadow for years to come.
With a sister, young Barbara soon began to explore the world, always hungry to learn more. As Page depicts in the early chapters, Barbara was always feeling held back, as her sister had mental conditions, labelled retarded at the time but eventually thought to be autism. Barbara would always have to coddle her sister, but used books to escape her life and the crazy hours her father worked to gather talent around the Boston area. As Barbara aged, she would have to try to make a name for herself, which was difficult with all that he did and the people with whom the elder Walters surrounded himself.
After some post-secondary education at a reputable school, Barbara wanted to get into the world of advertising and media, with television still an early form at the time. Page recounts the many jobs that Barbara had and the limits she sought to push to ensure that she was never left behind. Her father’s fame helped open doors for her, but many still wanted her to stay in line as many other women might. Barbara would have none of it, always eager to forge her own path. She was offered many opportunities and took them, never looking back and always trying to challenge those before her.
When network television became more the norm, Barbara Walters used her intuitiveness to forge new paths for herself. Reporting on many issues, she was often seen as the lowly woman, though she was happy to climb any obstacle put before her. As Susan Page illustrates, Barbara made herself a key player and wanted to wrest control from men in the business. This was met not only with bitterness, but countless levels of a glass ceiling that Walters would have to smash through. As Page makes clear, while Walters cut herself on the shards, she was less worried about other women having a clear way to success, but rather wanted to lead the way, with others crawling through the trenches as well. There was never any coddling by Barbara Walters.
Page depicts many of the key battles that Walters had in her professional career, with anchormen refusing to offer her the same respect as they would their male colleagues. When Walters found herself at the anchor desk, she was shunned and given the cold shoulder, but she was less concerned about this, as long as she was making moves to better herself. She climbed and rose, jumping from NCB over to ABC when the time was right and she wanted to ensure her star never diminished.
Walters had a private life that was equally as hectic, as the biography depicts. Her numerous marriages and courtships became aspects of her life that would shape her until she died. Tied to that, a daughter who ran off as soon as she became a teenager, only to become addicted to drugs and be put in a rehab facility, while her mother’s star continued to rise. Walters struggled, there is no doubt, but she could not let her personal life take over the dramatic happenings in the world of journalism and broadcasting.
Walters soon became known as one of the top-tier journalists, interviewing heads of state and important people in all four corners of the world. She would be sought after by world leaders and celebrities alike, always pushing to get the deep and dark answers to the questions she felt the world wanted to hear. This reputation came with a cost, as Walters would have to combat other female journalists who followed in her footsteps. Susan Page talks of a few, especially the battles what Diane Sawyer at ABC. This proved to be a less that cordial battle that lasted until they both left the journalistic arena.
The latter portion fo the book looked at Barbara Walters and her later exploits, including daytime talk shows that would help create a generational expanse of knowledge and insight. Walters had done so much for the women around her that she wanted to give new generations a chance to challenge norms, which proved useful throughout the time Walters was associated with The View and other projects of the same ilk. It was only when she decided to step away that Walters truly saw some solace, though it was only for a brief time until her death in 2022. She lived a full and exciting life, always ready to push the envelop a little more and to challenge another person to see things from her perspective.
Susan Page takes the greatest of subjects and breathes new life into them. Walters was a formidable woman and always sought to push herself to the limits, leaving those around her to gaze. Great chapters build her up and show the progress that Barbara Walters had. There was no point in the biography that things turned stale even for a moment. Page has the ability to bring things to life and does so with well-paced storytelling and perfect anecdote inclusion, all in the effort to deliver a knockout punch for the reader to enjoy. Mixing all aspects of Walters’ life, using mostly a chronological format, helping the reader to see how excitement ebbed and flowed throughout the woman’s life. In a piece that is full of important interviews to coax out as many anecdotes as possible, Page provides a stunning look into the life of this amazing woman. I am happy to have taken the time to read this and will be back with another hard-hitting biography to help add depth and political punch to my reading challenge. I am eager to contrast the two pieces then.
Kudos, Madam Page, for this stunning biography.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
This is Book #11 in my 2024 US Election Preparation Challenge.
Susan Page delivers this stunning look into the life and times of Barbara Walters, one of the great female journalists in American history. Ready to shatter glass ceilings when male journalists sought to keep her away, Walters did what she could and paved the way for success. However, she had her moments and could be seen as overly competitive or cold, as Page recounts in this stunning biography. Filled with wonderful anecdotes and some of the darker moments in Walters’ career, Page delivers a great read for anyone who seeks to see the truth behind the woman.
The face of American journalism would never be the same once Barbara Walters came onto the scene. Her depictions would change the way people saw the news, an essential part of any political system. Before Barbara came her parents, whose own families arrived in American through their own journeys. As Susan Page opens the biography, she depicts the lives of these two, often down in the dumps, but never without spirit. Lou Walters pulled up his socks and would one day become a highly noticed entertainer and procurer of talent. This would force Barbara to live in his shadow for years to come.
With a sister, young Barbara soon began to explore the world, always hungry to learn more. As Page depicts in the early chapters, Barbara was always feeling held back, as her sister had mental conditions, labelled retarded at the time but eventually thought to be autism. Barbara would always have to coddle her sister, but used books to escape her life and the crazy hours her father worked to gather talent around the Boston area. As Barbara aged, she would have to try to make a name for herself, which was difficult with all that he did and the people with whom the elder Walters surrounded himself.
After some post-secondary education at a reputable school, Barbara wanted to get into the world of advertising and media, with television still an early form at the time. Page recounts the many jobs that Barbara had and the limits she sought to push to ensure that she was never left behind. Her father’s fame helped open doors for her, but many still wanted her to stay in line as many other women might. Barbara would have none of it, always eager to forge her own path. She was offered many opportunities and took them, never looking back and always trying to challenge those before her.
When network television became more the norm, Barbara Walters used her intuitiveness to forge new paths for herself. Reporting on many issues, she was often seen as the lowly woman, though she was happy to climb any obstacle put before her. As Susan Page illustrates, Barbara made herself a key player and wanted to wrest control from men in the business. This was met not only with bitterness, but countless levels of a glass ceiling that Walters would have to smash through. As Page makes clear, while Walters cut herself on the shards, she was less worried about other women having a clear way to success, but rather wanted to lead the way, with others crawling through the trenches as well. There was never any coddling by Barbara Walters.
Page depicts many of the key battles that Walters had in her professional career, with anchormen refusing to offer her the same respect as they would their male colleagues. When Walters found herself at the anchor desk, she was shunned and given the cold shoulder, but she was less concerned about this, as long as she was making moves to better herself. She climbed and rose, jumping from NCB over to ABC when the time was right and she wanted to ensure her star never diminished.
Walters had a private life that was equally as hectic, as the biography depicts. Her numerous marriages and courtships became aspects of her life that would shape her until she died. Tied to that, a daughter who ran off as soon as she became a teenager, only to become addicted to drugs and be put in a rehab facility, while her mother’s star continued to rise. Walters struggled, there is no doubt, but she could not let her personal life take over the dramatic happenings in the world of journalism and broadcasting.
Walters soon became known as one of the top-tier journalists, interviewing heads of state and important people in all four corners of the world. She would be sought after by world leaders and celebrities alike, always pushing to get the deep and dark answers to the questions she felt the world wanted to hear. This reputation came with a cost, as Walters would have to combat other female journalists who followed in her footsteps. Susan Page talks of a few, especially the battles what Diane Sawyer at ABC. This proved to be a less that cordial battle that lasted until they both left the journalistic arena.
The latter portion fo the book looked at Barbara Walters and her later exploits, including daytime talk shows that would help create a generational expanse of knowledge and insight. Walters had done so much for the women around her that she wanted to give new generations a chance to challenge norms, which proved useful throughout the time Walters was associated with The View and other projects of the same ilk. It was only when she decided to step away that Walters truly saw some solace, though it was only for a brief time until her death in 2022. She lived a full and exciting life, always ready to push the envelop a little more and to challenge another person to see things from her perspective.
Susan Page takes the greatest of subjects and breathes new life into them. Walters was a formidable woman and always sought to push herself to the limits, leaving those around her to gaze. Great chapters build her up and show the progress that Barbara Walters had. There was no point in the biography that things turned stale even for a moment. Page has the ability to bring things to life and does so with well-paced storytelling and perfect anecdote inclusion, all in the effort to deliver a knockout punch for the reader to enjoy. Mixing all aspects of Walters’ life, using mostly a chronological format, helping the reader to see how excitement ebbed and flowed throughout the woman’s life. In a piece that is full of important interviews to coax out as many anecdotes as possible, Page provides a stunning look into the life of this amazing woman. I am happy to have taken the time to read this and will be back with another hard-hitting biography to help add depth and political punch to my reading challenge. I am eager to contrast the two pieces then.
Kudos, Madam Page, for this stunning biography.
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January 3, 2024
I've always admired Barbara Walters and her go to attitude and professionalism. However, reading this story, I was disappointed and disillusioned by her treatment of others and her method of getting ahead to reach her goals. Her "take no prisoners" mentality diminished my admiration. However, the title holds true, that she was a rule breaker and needed to be in order to break the barriers to rise in her field. How unfortunate thought that to do so was at the cost of her relationship with her daughter and family. It goes to show you that while you may see personalities on TV and think you know them, you don't. A difficult childhood nurtured her desire to take care of herself and achieve what she achieved. Interesting and enlightening, I think it is a good read to get to know someone so instrumental in setting the bar for women in journalism. Many thanks to #netgalley #therulebreaker #susanpage for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 4, 2024
A stunning meticulously researched and compulsively readable bio of the Queen of Broadcast TV. I grew up wanting to be her and was even influenced to go to J school because of her break-the-glass-ceiling success. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Opinions are mine.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Opinions are mine.
August 14, 2024
The Rulebreaker is a book that I saw on a friend's blog and I knew I had to read, or better yet, listen to it. I really enjoyed this look at the life of Barbara Walters, her early years, her rise in the news field and her work ethic. This book begins with her parents, specifically her father's work and his many rises and falls. This really shaped Barbara. We then get to follow her career, right up to her final retirement and death. We hear about her family life, marriages, divorces and her relationship with her daughter. Barbara was relentless when it came to her career. She knew she had to play the game at times, but never gave up. She was a trailblazer for the many women who came after her, and this book lets us see that. As it says in the synopsis, Susan Page conducted 150 interviews and extensive archival research to write this book.
Barbara Walters was one of the newscasters I watched growing up. There were times I admired her and times I thought she pushed something too far, but after reading this book, I can see why she did. She interviewed so many people that didn't normally give interviews, but her reputation preceded her. Not only did she have great relationships that enabled her to get some of these interviews, but she was respected by those she interviewed as well. She was pushy, sometimes sneaky, and perseverant, but the way she was treated by some of her male co-hosts was terrible. It put many of those male newscasters in a very different light for me. Her retirement show on The View had many of the female newscasters appear and thank her, and this was relayed in the book. I found that show on Youtube and watched it. Of course, when you are that ambitious in your career something suffers and for Barbara it is her family. She adopted a baby when an acquaintance turned it down because it was a girl and they wanted a boy. Barbara spent some time with her, but she was raised by a nanny and nursemaid. She goes on to have many struggles in her life. Is that Barbara's fault? Who knows. I really enjoyed this audiobook, narrated by the author, Susan Page. It gave me a detailed look into the life of someone who I knew from TV, but now see what drove her and how she became a role model and mentor for so many. If you watched Barbara Walter and want to know more about her, I definitely recommend you pick up this book.
Barbara Walters was one of the newscasters I watched growing up. There were times I admired her and times I thought she pushed something too far, but after reading this book, I can see why she did. She interviewed so many people that didn't normally give interviews, but her reputation preceded her. Not only did she have great relationships that enabled her to get some of these interviews, but she was respected by those she interviewed as well. She was pushy, sometimes sneaky, and perseverant, but the way she was treated by some of her male co-hosts was terrible. It put many of those male newscasters in a very different light for me. Her retirement show on The View had many of the female newscasters appear and thank her, and this was relayed in the book. I found that show on Youtube and watched it. Of course, when you are that ambitious in your career something suffers and for Barbara it is her family. She adopted a baby when an acquaintance turned it down because it was a girl and they wanted a boy. Barbara spent some time with her, but she was raised by a nanny and nursemaid. She goes on to have many struggles in her life. Is that Barbara's fault? Who knows. I really enjoyed this audiobook, narrated by the author, Susan Page. It gave me a detailed look into the life of someone who I knew from TV, but now see what drove her and how she became a role model and mentor for so many. If you watched Barbara Walter and want to know more about her, I definitely recommend you pick up this book.
October 19, 2023
The ‘No Regrets’ inscription on her tombstone matched accurately depicted the iconic Barbara Walters. While her life was spent pushing boundaries, she sacrificed family in the pursuit of fame.
Before reading the book, I idolized her ‘rule-breaker’ attitude and respected that she forged her own path in a male-dominated industry.
The fact that she was willing to put others down to succeed, I don’t respect.I’ve experienced firsthand women willing to throw others under the bus to succeed. I don’t respect that attitude and reading the novel, I no longer hold her in high esteem. That being said, I credit #Netgalley and the publisher for providing glimpses of the real woman behind the myth.
Before reading the book, I idolized her ‘rule-breaker’ attitude and respected that she forged her own path in a male-dominated industry.
The fact that she was willing to put others down to succeed, I don’t respect.I’ve experienced firsthand women willing to throw others under the bus to succeed. I don’t respect that attitude and reading the novel, I no longer hold her in high esteem. That being said, I credit #Netgalley and the publisher for providing glimpses of the real woman behind the myth.
March 17, 2024
This was a heavy read, it bounces around slightly in each chapter (it might be about let's say 1968, but then it also becomes about 1999, and 2018). Barbara Walters had an incredible career, and a very different childhood/life growing up than anyone would really have suspected, considering how her life as an adult was. She had many milestone achievements, and honestly, she was an incredible person it seems like.
This was a great read.
Thank you NetGalley for my E-ARC!
This was a great read.
Thank you NetGalley for my E-ARC!
April 28, 2024
This was an interesting read. I could have used the pictures in the middle of the book, but they were a nice surprise at the end.
June 13, 2024
THE RULEBREAKER: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters provides a full and apt summation of a woman who, despite the obstacles she faced in forging a career in broadcast journalism, became, by most objective measures, a reputable and successful journalist. She was the first woman to be co-host of a nationwide morning show and the first journalist to be paid a million dollar salary in 1976 (when she was briefly paired with Harry Reasoner as a co-anchor of the ABC Evening News).
I’ve always thought well of Barbara Walters from the time I used to see the TODAY Show on my parents’ TV in the early 1970s when I was a small child getting ready for school. Morning TV for me during the week (prior to 1975 when "Good Morning America" arrived, hosted by David Hartman and Nancy Dassault) was divided between “The TODAY Show” and “Captain Kangaroo.” I remember Walters along with Hugh Downs (later replaced by Frank McGee for a time) and Frank Blair giving the news. Besides, I also thought she was a nice looking woman. And yet, in reading this biography, I learned so much about Barbara Walters that I simply did not know. The more I read The Rulebreaker, the more I learned about how steep a price Walters had to pay ��� both professionally and in her personal life – to be the success she was in broadcast journalism.
This is a very readable book, which gave me full access into who Barbara Walters was: the striver (as was her father, who had been a booking agent, theatrical producer and founder of the famous Latin Quarter nightclub in New York who also made and lost fortunes, making Barbara's formative years at times unhappy and lonely), the pioneer journalist, the mentor for many women journalists who came after her, and regular person. Indeed, as Susan Page pointed out near the close of the book (whose chapter was aptly named "The End"), Barbara Walters "seemed unable to take comfort in the career she had, the life she lived. She had always been determined and competitive --- breaking ground demanded that --- but now she became increasingly angry and bitter. She was resentful and dismissive of some of the women who followed her, even the ones who paid her homage. Only Oprah seemed to be a worthy successor. None of the awards and accolades would be enough."
For anyone wanting to know about about this remarkable woman, I highly recommend reading The Rulebreaker.
I’ve always thought well of Barbara Walters from the time I used to see the TODAY Show on my parents’ TV in the early 1970s when I was a small child getting ready for school. Morning TV for me during the week (prior to 1975 when "Good Morning America" arrived, hosted by David Hartman and Nancy Dassault) was divided between “The TODAY Show” and “Captain Kangaroo.” I remember Walters along with Hugh Downs (later replaced by Frank McGee for a time) and Frank Blair giving the news. Besides, I also thought she was a nice looking woman. And yet, in reading this biography, I learned so much about Barbara Walters that I simply did not know. The more I read The Rulebreaker, the more I learned about how steep a price Walters had to pay ��� both professionally and in her personal life – to be the success she was in broadcast journalism.
This is a very readable book, which gave me full access into who Barbara Walters was: the striver (as was her father, who had been a booking agent, theatrical producer and founder of the famous Latin Quarter nightclub in New York who also made and lost fortunes, making Barbara's formative years at times unhappy and lonely), the pioneer journalist, the mentor for many women journalists who came after her, and regular person. Indeed, as Susan Page pointed out near the close of the book (whose chapter was aptly named "The End"), Barbara Walters "seemed unable to take comfort in the career she had, the life she lived. She had always been determined and competitive --- breaking ground demanded that --- but now she became increasingly angry and bitter. She was resentful and dismissive of some of the women who followed her, even the ones who paid her homage. Only Oprah seemed to be a worthy successor. None of the awards and accolades would be enough."
For anyone wanting to know about about this remarkable woman, I highly recommend reading The Rulebreaker.
June 4, 2024
I heard about this book on NPR radio and thought that I would give it a read. It had some interesting tales and I guess gave some background for this famous news anchor. I gave the book three stars and that may have been generous and of course free from the local public library
June 11, 2024
Even though this book is thoroughly researched and describes in detail how Barbara Walters battled her way to the top in an industry with very few women at a senior level, doing so as a single mother with no family support, the writing is rather dry. The chronology is disjointed and hops around from one page to another which can get confusing. There are interesting passages about Walters' ruthlessness in snagging high profile interview subjects but overall the writing is bland.
Perhaps unintentionally, Page paints Walters in a negative light -- implying that Walters didn't want to mentor other women as she saw them as her competition, and that Walters was angry or upset that the next generation of women reporters didn't appreciate the barriers that Walters had broken down before them. I wish there had been some more positive examples.
Perhaps unintentionally, Page paints Walters in a negative light -- implying that Walters didn't want to mentor other women as she saw them as her competition, and that Walters was angry or upset that the next generation of women reporters didn't appreciate the barriers that Walters had broken down before them. I wish there had been some more positive examples.
June 27, 2024
The Rulebreaker is an apt title for this fascinating Barbara Walters biography. Barbara virtually had no powerful women to follow in the TV news business. She had to break barriers and make demands and boy, did she pay a price for doing that. Barbara had a painful and insecure childhood and never really understood family dynamics since her own experience was far from normal. Her career was her passion and it took precedence over her personal life filled with divorces and a strained relationship with her adopted daughter. This book is evenly structured focusing on Barbara's accomplishments, failures and flaws. She could be arrogant and ruthless but was also capable of deep vulnerability making her the complex woman she was. I very much enjoyed this superbly researched biography.
July 29, 2024
Thank you to Simon Books for the finished copy to review.
A very well done biography of Barbara Walters that covers her entire life, flaws and all, and I thought Page did a wonderful job. I have always been fascinated by Walters and how she did what she did and got to where she was, so this was a wonderful read for me as I never knew the details of it all. I listened to this via audio which I prefer to do for books like this, and overall I recommend this one, it is an inspiring read for sure.
A very well done biography of Barbara Walters that covers her entire life, flaws and all, and I thought Page did a wonderful job. I have always been fascinated by Walters and how she did what she did and got to where she was, so this was a wonderful read for me as I never knew the details of it all. I listened to this via audio which I prefer to do for books like this, and overall I recommend this one, it is an inspiring read for sure.
October 19, 2025
14.5 hours on Audible. Incredible life story of rule breaker and newsroom pioneer Barbara Walters (1929-2022). Thoroughly enjoyed.
December 18, 2024
This was an amazing book. It kept me awake during Annie’s first cold and we listened to approximately 8 hours together in the night. Barbara’s life was a tragedy of Shakespearean proportion
June 4, 2024
Really enjoyed this! Barbara Walter’s broke quite a few barriers becoming a journalist. Her beginnings laid the groundwork for how she handled situations, and used her very different childhood to motivate her to succeed. Very entertaining, and very impressive accomplishments on the part of Barbara.
June 3, 2024
Ok…. I put up with 110 pages of anecdotal, quotes from her memoir and bunny trails that lead nowhere, contradicting voices….hoping the authentic story of Barbara Walters would eventually emerge. No such luck. What a huge disappointment. Ms Page….where did you do your research….other than Barbara Walter’s personal memoir? DNF!
September 27, 2023
Remarkably well-researched and engaging bio of one of the very first, and most famous, female broadcast journalists. Barbara Walters was the first woman to be co-anchor of a nightly news broadcast at a time when it was thought that an audience would only want to listen to men read the news. And she made headlines as being the very first woman to be compensated on the level of her male colleagues (naturally she was demonized for this, not congratulated). The amount of sexism she had to endure—including having this sexism shoved in her face in front of millions on TV, on a nightly basis—was staggering and would have sent most women (myself included) running to the women's loo for a good, hard cry.
The book delves into the extraordinary childhood that formed the basis for her dogged ambition. Her father, Lou, was very well known in the vaudeville and nightclub circuit as the founder of several famous entertainment venues, most notably The Latin Quarter in NYC. Barbara grew up in that show biz environment, but also watched as her family was repeatedly rich, then lost everything, then rich, then poor again. There was never a sense of safety or continuity to their finances. One day, penthouse living, the next, practically Skid Row. Meanwhile, Barbara had a younger sister, Jacqueline, who was developmentally disabled and would never be able to live on her own. Barbara felt hugely responsible for both her sister and their mother.
This gave her the fierce determination to succeed at all costs. Add in that at the time Barbara began working in broadcast, only one woman was allowed on a show at a time. This created even more gritty determination in Barbara, who learned she had to fight against every other woman on the scene or she'd get nowhere. Her main competitor was Diane Sawyer. Diane, being conventionally prettier than Barbara, always had it easier—so thought Barbara, anyway. And let's not forget "Baba Wawa" had a slight speech impediment—not exactly ideal for a broadcast reporter.
Like her or hate her, she paved the way for the women of broadcast journalism today. Thank you Susan Page, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of The Rulebreaker in exchange for an honest review.
The book delves into the extraordinary childhood that formed the basis for her dogged ambition. Her father, Lou, was very well known in the vaudeville and nightclub circuit as the founder of several famous entertainment venues, most notably The Latin Quarter in NYC. Barbara grew up in that show biz environment, but also watched as her family was repeatedly rich, then lost everything, then rich, then poor again. There was never a sense of safety or continuity to their finances. One day, penthouse living, the next, practically Skid Row. Meanwhile, Barbara had a younger sister, Jacqueline, who was developmentally disabled and would never be able to live on her own. Barbara felt hugely responsible for both her sister and their mother.
This gave her the fierce determination to succeed at all costs. Add in that at the time Barbara began working in broadcast, only one woman was allowed on a show at a time. This created even more gritty determination in Barbara, who learned she had to fight against every other woman on the scene or she'd get nowhere. Her main competitor was Diane Sawyer. Diane, being conventionally prettier than Barbara, always had it easier—so thought Barbara, anyway. And let's not forget "Baba Wawa" had a slight speech impediment—not exactly ideal for a broadcast reporter.
Like her or hate her, she paved the way for the women of broadcast journalism today. Thank you Susan Page, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of The Rulebreaker in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2023
Barbara Walters would be honored with this inspiring book by Susan Page, best-selling author of biographies. It’s well written with highlights from 150 interviews.
Page outlined Walter’s battles as a female in the 60s work field. She had to break through the barriers with men dominating the roles covering the news. She was a fierce competitor and worked diligently over time to make connections for hard-to-get interviews. She managed to win a $1 million five-year contract with ABC News co-anchoring the evening news with Harry Reasoner in 1976.
The book showed how her career took off over the years in amazing ways with powerful interviews of politicians, celebrities and even murderers. She had no fear of sitting down with Fidel Castro, Yasir Arafat and Menachem Begin with her carefully prepared set of questions.
However, the question for her was: can a woman have it all? While Walters had a strong career with a high salary, there was another side of her life. She had to rescue her father from his debt and help her anxious mother with a sister that was disabled. She had three failed marriages and an adopted daughter that was constantly having problems of sorts. Life wasn’t easy for her at home and yet she seemed to always prevail especially while delivering the news.
Anyone who reads this book will get a comprehensive view of one lady who dedicated her life to pave the way for female journalists. It’s engaging from the first page with details of her remarkable career. It shows a friendly side of Walters in the news room and at events but also reveals how intense she was when getting the story.
Her life always appeared like a picture of the wonder woman yet the book exposes the many challenges she had to endure. Gilda Radner famously made fun of her on Saturday Night Live. At the end, she had “no regrets.”
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 23, 2024.
Page outlined Walter’s battles as a female in the 60s work field. She had to break through the barriers with men dominating the roles covering the news. She was a fierce competitor and worked diligently over time to make connections for hard-to-get interviews. She managed to win a $1 million five-year contract with ABC News co-anchoring the evening news with Harry Reasoner in 1976.
The book showed how her career took off over the years in amazing ways with powerful interviews of politicians, celebrities and even murderers. She had no fear of sitting down with Fidel Castro, Yasir Arafat and Menachem Begin with her carefully prepared set of questions.
However, the question for her was: can a woman have it all? While Walters had a strong career with a high salary, there was another side of her life. She had to rescue her father from his debt and help her anxious mother with a sister that was disabled. She had three failed marriages and an adopted daughter that was constantly having problems of sorts. Life wasn’t easy for her at home and yet she seemed to always prevail especially while delivering the news.
Anyone who reads this book will get a comprehensive view of one lady who dedicated her life to pave the way for female journalists. It’s engaging from the first page with details of her remarkable career. It shows a friendly side of Walters in the news room and at events but also reveals how intense she was when getting the story.
Her life always appeared like a picture of the wonder woman yet the book exposes the many challenges she had to endure. Gilda Radner famously made fun of her on Saturday Night Live. At the end, she had “no regrets.”
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 23, 2024.
January 21, 2025
This was an eye opening book about Barbara Walters. What a rulebreaker for sure, she was quite the pioneer and lead the way for women in journalism today. I enjoyed learning about her and finding out about how tough and vulnerable she really was.
March 25, 2024
Simon and Schuster provided an early galley for review.
By the age I became aware of network news, somewhere in my childhood in the early 70's, the name and face and voice of Barbara Walters was known to me. As far as I knew, she was always there. I never questioned a woman in a high profile position of journalism. I just took it as a fact of life. When she shifted over to the weekly 20/20 or any one of her specials through out the year, it was something I found myself watching. She was a source to be trusted and admired.
When I saw the solicitations for Page's book, I knew this was one I and my library patrons would hopefully want to read.
The book moves right from the start with short chapters on family and growing up. One quote from Barbara I found illuminating was that she valued "interesting" over "normal". That certainly makes a lot of sense given how her professional life would play out.
One thing that also jumps out right from the start is that Barbara came up in a world that is vastly different than the one of the 21st Century we now how. This was a world of sexism and deal-making - often the price of doing business and getting ahead. It is very much a world I remember from the earliest half of my life. This might very well serve as an uncomfortable eye-opening experience for younger modern readers, but we learn from the lessons of the history of others.
It also becomes obvious as to why Page chose the title that she did. Barbara very much broke the rules, often doing whatever it took to make her way to the top and to stay there. She was very cut-throat indeed. I really found I learned a lot from reading this biography.
By the age I became aware of network news, somewhere in my childhood in the early 70's, the name and face and voice of Barbara Walters was known to me. As far as I knew, she was always there. I never questioned a woman in a high profile position of journalism. I just took it as a fact of life. When she shifted over to the weekly 20/20 or any one of her specials through out the year, it was something I found myself watching. She was a source to be trusted and admired.
When I saw the solicitations for Page's book, I knew this was one I and my library patrons would hopefully want to read.
The book moves right from the start with short chapters on family and growing up. One quote from Barbara I found illuminating was that she valued "interesting" over "normal". That certainly makes a lot of sense given how her professional life would play out.
One thing that also jumps out right from the start is that Barbara came up in a world that is vastly different than the one of the 21st Century we now how. This was a world of sexism and deal-making - often the price of doing business and getting ahead. It is very much a world I remember from the earliest half of my life. This might very well serve as an uncomfortable eye-opening experience for younger modern readers, but we learn from the lessons of the history of others.
It also becomes obvious as to why Page chose the title that she did. Barbara very much broke the rules, often doing whatever it took to make her way to the top and to stay there. She was very cut-throat indeed. I really found I learned a lot from reading this biography.
November 12, 2023
I would first like to thank the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.
The Rulebreaker takes you on a journey from start to finish of Barbara Walters’ life. The triumph, the failure, the shady, and the downright impressive feats she accomplished throughout her storied career. There is not a page left unturned by Susan Page. The interviews and mass amounts of facts within each sentence are incredible and make this a must read for anyone and everyone. Each one of us can learn something from Barbara Walters. After finishing this book, I want to watch every interview she has done. The history and the magnitude of what was accomplished keeps you turning the page. Well written and well done!
The Rulebreaker takes you on a journey from start to finish of Barbara Walters’ life. The triumph, the failure, the shady, and the downright impressive feats she accomplished throughout her storied career. There is not a page left unturned by Susan Page. The interviews and mass amounts of facts within each sentence are incredible and make this a must read for anyone and everyone. Each one of us can learn something from Barbara Walters. After finishing this book, I want to watch every interview she has done. The history and the magnitude of what was accomplished keeps you turning the page. Well written and well done!
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