Between You and Me: A Heartfelt Memoir on Learning, Loving, and Living

by Pearl Bailey

Beloved entertainer Pearl Bailey speaks straight from her heart on contemporary and timeless themes as well as personal matters. A college graduate at age 67, she discusses her many years in show business and her positions as a United Nations delegate and a goodwill ambassador.

460 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

American actress and singer. After appearing in vaudeville, she made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. She won a Tony Award for the title role in the all-black production of Hello, Dolly! in 1968. In 1986, she won a Daytime Emmy award for her performance as a fairy godmother in the ABC Afterschool Special, Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale. Her rendition of "Takes Two to Tango" hit the top ten in 1952.

Reviews

[Cynthia Bemis Abrams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is how influencers influenced before TikTok! Pearl Bailey led an extraordinary life and I am so glad she wrote freely about some of her most important personal moments - obtaining her college degree in her 60s and serving in the United Nations. I read this book as research for my podcast, Advanced TV Herstory. Her opinions are numerous and reflect a carefully curated persona as well as genuine warmth and concern for all humans. This book should be owned by every library.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again mostly it rambles along with no clear idea of what it wants to be. She has a voice unlike any other but no focus. Some stories were very telling though such as her friend John and getting AIDS.

[Marybeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts were enlightening as I did not realize how much she had done all over the world. She was far more than a singer. Her life story includes helping others all over the world.
I did find the book sometimes boring , so skipped part of it. I had wished there was more about ehr life and her personal experiences being an entertainer at the time before civil rights.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished 05/29/2013. Pearl recalls graduating from Georgetown when middle aged. Meetings with rulers, crown princes, presidents and premiers and their wives. Also with poor folks from Palestinians to ghetto dwellers and sharing love with all of the above.