Интимни части

by Howard Stern, Хауърд Стърн

The #1 bestseller and fastest selling autobiography of all time, "Private Parts, " will be released on March 14 as a major motion picture from Paramount Pictures and Rysher Entertainment. This is the event Stern's millions of fans have been waiting for. Yes, The King of All Media is back, letting it all hang out in his outrageous new movie. And here is the book that tracks the odyssey. In "Private Parts" Stern spills his life story, from his dysfunctional beginnings to his unlikely, turbulent rise to super stardom. In the process, he shares his views on everything from foreign policy to fatherhood and Madonna to masturbation, with lots of lesbians in between. No matter whose side you're on -- Cher's "I hate him. He's just a creep, " or Stallone's "I love him. I really love him" -- Stern's brutally frank "Don't ask, I'll tell" tome spares no group or institution. Studded throughout with Howard's favorite photos, pickings from the Hate-Mailbag and illustrations, this is the original, in-your-face manifesto complete with movie art that will once again have fans storming the bookstores...and everyone else running for cover.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Comedy, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Howard 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.

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a Stern fan to the point that I have archives on disc of most of the radio shows going back through most of the 90s and some before that. Yet, I had never taken the time to read Howard's book. Most of the stories in this book will be familiar to longtime fans. I have to say I enjoyed Robin's autobiography a lot more than this; it is much better written and far more thoughtful and insightful. Nonetheless, there were many times I found myself laughing out loud at Howard's tome, especially when he lists some of the outrageous questions Stuttering John hurled at bigheaded celebrities. The book seems padded at times and probably is best read by people who've listened to the show for a long time. Howard, unbeknownst even to himself, is a satirist, one who casts a wide net, puncturing pretense and slaughtering sacred cows. The people who don't "get" him don't bother to think beyond the statements he makes. He's the best critic of the hot air of celebrities (and sometimes, politicians) we have. He says what we think, but don't dare say ourselves. Transgressive affrontery. Problem was, once he broke barriers, too many practitioners of less skill thought they could do "dirty" humor on-air with the same finesse, and it led to a lot of bad radio. But Howard is no "rebel" in the strictest sense, he does pander and compromise and self-promotes shamelessly. He cultivates his rebellious cred as much as his fans unquestioningly accept it. Howard is more complex than that. He tells the truth and lies simultaneously. The trick is understanding that, and rolling with it, and having fun. -EG

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been an incorrigible Stern fan since my early teenage years, when I tried to impress my older brother by finding him funny; eventually, I really did. But for a brief and glorious two-month free trial of Sirius recently, I haven't listened to him in his satellite era, yet that fleeting reunion made me remember how much I like him. I saw this book at a thrift shop and thought it was worth a few bucks.

It surprised me how perfectly it captures Stern's voice. I had no expectations about the prose -- it always surprises me how the average person, say, can speak perfectly articulately but can't write at all -- and even the greatest entertainers usually write insipid autobiographies, but the book's written in Stern's exact voice. Whether that the credit ought to go to Stern or the writer who helped him, I can't say (from the acknowledgments: "Most people assume that the author of this kind of celebrity book just hires a guy to write a book for him. I always assumed that as well, so I went right out and hired Larry "Ratso" Sloman. Ratso's first job was to inform me that I'd have to wrte the book myself. I should have fired him for insubordination."), but it's like listening to a good episode of the show, with his neuroses and sexual obsessions and self-deprecation and fantastic embellishments and attention to bizarre details. Like, p. 50:

"Thanks to my overprotective mother, I was the target of every bully in the neighborhood. A fat neighborhood kid named Johnny, who used to blow his nose into his Italian ices, and then eat them with a wooden spoon, used to beat me up so regularly that my parents made me go to judo school to learn to defend myself. On the day of my first lesson I took a brush and scrubbed my feet down before I went. I knew in judo you had to take your socks and shoes off. I always hated to take baths or showers. I would go for days without washing until my mother would smell me and go "You stink!" and march me in for a bath. So I went to judo with my scrubbed feet, I took off my shoes and socks, and the Korean instructor looked down at my toenails and he freaked out."

Then the next paragraph is about how this sort of thing led him to do drugs and he'd buy pot from a friends older brother, "a big, fat, white Jewish guy who'd be lying naked on his bed like a beached whale wearing a sombrero while reading Penthouse and playing with himself... it was a disgusting experience." The guy's the best.

[Chris C · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5 star rating is based on what I thought when I read his book back in '96. One day I was watching a TV show called TGI Friday with Chris Evans and he introduced a guy I'd never heard of and in walks Howard Stern and he kind of dominated the whole segment, it was kind of like the US's top radio announcer outshining the UK's top announcer. I had an interest in radio so I immediately went and saw the movie and bought the book. I really enjoyed both. In the book I think my favourite chapter was titled "People Who I Hate" and in it he proceeds to stick it to various well-known people which is an unusual and refreshing thing to do in an autobiography and he especially sticks it to Oprah. The book was a bit dated even in '96 with some of the things he describes Oprah as doing must be from the 80s as I had never witnessed these things, so my point is if Howard's book was dated by '96 then it must be completely dated now. But look, Howard has remained pretty much on top and I wish I had access to all his radio interviews from the last 10 years because I view him as one of the best celeb interviewers in that he goes where some people don't. He has probably mellowed now but if you want a taste of when he was still angry and less old and have an interest in radio then give this book a go.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A head injury in book form.

[Laurie V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did this all out of order. The first time I'd ever heard of Howard Stern was when I saw the film version of Private Parts in 1997 with some friends who were fans. I then read Miss America soon after it was published, again not knowing much about Howard. Fast forward to 2010 -- I'm now a Sirius radio subscriber and daily listener of Howard's show. Because of this, I thought it was about damn time I finally sat down and read Howard's great literary achievement.

I liked Miss America a lot better than Private Parts. I enjoyed the first half of the book when Howard talked about his family and breaking into the radio business. I love hearing stories about Howard's parents and reading about them was just as entertaining. I wish he'd incorporated more of his family life (even life with his first wife Alison) into the book. He does do a lot more of this in Miss America though, so that might have been done on purpose so he'd have material for the second book. But I do wish he'd included more stories about his personal life after he got married.

The rest of the book suffers from being outdated, which isn't Howard's fault and doesn't reflect on the actual writing at all. Unfortunately, this was clearly meant to be read when it was published almost 20 years ago. Howard's opinion on several of the celebrities he mentions is now completely different. Jay Leno, for instance, is praised in Private Parts as being a nice guy who was set up for failure by Johnny Carson when he took over the Tonight Show. This is a strange opinion coming from Howard, who recently trashed Leno publicly in numerous outlets for how he handled himself when Conan O'Brien took over the Tonight Show. Howard also addresses topical-for-1993 news stories and issues that are hard to comprehend in 2010.

What I found most interesting with this book was the fact that I probably wouldn't have been nearly as big a fan of Howard if I'd been a listener when Private Parts was first published. He describes a good amount of juvenile schtick that seems beneath him in 2010. I understand that the schtick is how he built his name and reputation, but I very much prefer the mellower Howard of today. Given the choice between Butt Bongo Fiesta and Win Sal's Money, I'd take Sal in a second.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up to read on a whim. I got the book from a friend months ago and wasn't planning on reading it right away- I thought it'd be years before I actually started it. Then I just grabbed it one morning when I stuck on about three or four other books I just couldn't get into.
I started flying through these pages. I think you have to already find Howard Stern funny to like this though. There are scores of people who would be highly offended by even the "mild" stuff he says here. By even the most mild pictures in the book too. But for people used to Stern's sense of humor and for people that enjoy his sense of humor, this is an awesome book.
I laughed numerous times, actually out loud. More than once I had someone look at me like I was nuts.
I will admit that he does come off as full of himself. I don't know, there are much worse things than being full of yourself in my opinion so that tends to not bother me so much. Just something I noticed- it's hard not to notice it actually.
I enjoyed the parts where he talked about the FCC the most I think. I knew about some of it but I had no idea they'd gone after him to that extent. I think it's insane. I can't believe certain stores banned his book and sold others that showed more nudity on the cover and/or had more explicit subjects. Makes no sense to me. That a store would blot out Stern's name and his book title from a LIST and actually alter another companys list is absolutely crazy to me. I don't think it's fair for anyone to tell me what I can and can't read.
The letters from fans and from non-fans were awesome too! I loved how he stuck some little stories in from Allison and Robin- it was cool to her their thoughts on things too.
I'll definitely read it if he writes another.

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a Stern fan although I once was so that may influence my review but I did not find it funny nor informative.

It is however, as other reviewers have noted, quick mindless reading so there's that. I think one's appreciation of the book will vary depending on how a big a Stern fan one is. Since I am not a fan, I sped through this, was bored much of the time and was glad when I finished it.

[Hank Stuever · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one AND "Miss America." Whichever one in which he talks about proper ass-wiping etiquette would have to be my favorite...

[Patrick Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of my favorite books I have ever read. Many times I have had to put the book down over the years because I am laughing so hard.

[The Badger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... It seemed as if Howard was trying way too hard to be interesting.

[Tim Reisner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read 10 or 15 years ago after enjoying the film many times. Works better as a film in my opinion.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Private Parts was a deeply conflicting read. At times, I was thoroughly entertained, completely immersed in the chaos of Stern’s world. Yet, just as quickly, I found myself repulsed by the darkness of his psyche, questioning whether I could finish the book.

I’ve been a fan of Stern’s radio show—at least, I was, until Artie Lange’s departure in 2009. Lange was the last remnant of the show’s original, unvarnished comedic magic, and his absence marked a shift in the tone of Stern’s broadcasts. Stern’s transformation over the years is undeniable, but Private Parts doesn’t just recount his rise to fame; it serves as a time capsule, transporting readers back to a moment when Stern was in perfect sync with the bloodthirsty, perverse cravings of his audience—pushing boundaries like no one had before, and going further than anyone dared.

At the time, Stern was the quintessential mascot of modern hedonism—a champion of a worldview that prioritizes pleasure above all else, unapologetically free from moral constraints. His public persona was built on indulgence, shock value, and the rejection of societal norms. But within the chaos, there’s a darker side to Stern that is hard to ignore—one that frequently crossed the line into mean-spiritedness and cruelty. His treatment of women, often objectifying and dehumanizing them for entertainment, exemplifies the toxic nature of his brand of hedonism. His relentless exploitation of vulnerable people, unapologetic racism, combined with a penchant for public malice towards "enemies," paints a picture of a nihilistic, self-serving worldview. Stern’s version of pleasure wasn’t just about personal gratification—it was about indulging at the expense of others, a disregard for the harm caused in pursuit of fame and power.

This is where the tension in Private Parts lies: the same audacity and fearlessness that made Stern an icon also reveal the darker forces behind his success. His narrative is as much a celebration of excess as it is a cautionary tale about the emptiness that comes with unchecked self-interest. The pursuit of fame at any cost may propel you to the top, but it can also hollow you out, leaving you to confront a life devoid of ethical grounding. In this sense, Stern’s story becomes less about his rise to stardom and more about the toll that his philosophy took on his humanity.

Of course, Stern has long since distanced himself from the persona that shaped Private Parts. Today, he is a shell of his former self; a more introspective figure, often reflecting on his personal growth and the need to evolve beyond the excesses of his past. Whether this shift is a positive change or a betrayal of the raw, boundary-pushing energy that defined his earlier career is up for debate. The question remains: Is he abandoning the very essence of what made him great, or is he simply shedding the toxic aspects of his former self?

What is undeniable, however, is that Stern redefined the boundaries of "good taste" in mainstream media. His willingness to confront taboos, speak truth to power, and defy conventions made him a trailblazer. Stern didn’t just challenge norms—he pissed all over them. His audacity, while often troubling, left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. There will likely never be another Howard Stern, because no one else has had the balls to push it as far as he did.

Private Parts could easily serve as the manifesto for “edgelords” and anti-woke crusaders. It’s hard to imagine it being published today, and frankly, it's astonishing it was ever published in the first place.

Ultimately, Private Parts is a reflection of a man caught between his most primal impulses and the undeniable impact those impulses had on the world around him. Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t help but admire Stern’s honesty, his comedic genius, and his ability to captivate an audience. Stern’s legacy is messy, complex, and, at times, uncomfortable—but it’s impossible to deny that he forever altered the course of media and popular culture.

[Adam Helsel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I, like many of my peers, became a Stern Show fan in the mid/late-90s in my adolescence. “Private Parts” came out in 1993 making it a little before my time. I am a huge Stern Show fan but as for Stern himself i am lukewarm at best. The homophobia, arrogance, and flirting with racism are all accessories to the main crime of Stern being unfunny at best and annoying at worst in “Private Parts”. These things don’t just shine through in “Private Parts”, they blind the reader.

I considered this book required reading as a Stern Show fan and I also thoroughly enjoyed Bababooey and Artie Lange’s books. This is a trudge. The autobiographical passages are entertaining and interesting. The rest of the book is trash. Stern has admitted that in the early days he would say anything to get his listener to stay tuned it in order to get ratings. This worked on air for decades, but in book form this just doesn’t work. I would’ve had more respect for him had he just printed the word “boobs” over and over for 100 pages and omitted the boring interviews with (get this) LESBIANS. For example he devotes an entire chapter to “why I dislike the French” spouting aged corny frog and “we saved your ass in WW2” jokes. On air this absolutely could’ve angered someone into listening for an hour. In a book it’s just tedious.

The Stern Show works best when the bits can breathe and when Stern plays the straight man to his curated world of Wack Packers and people on the fringe. This is why the show worked for so long on satellite. He could negotiate with Eric the Actor for 45 minutes uninterrupted. In the era of “Private Parts” the show has to be punchy and rapid fire to appease advertisers and station breaks. The book follows this pattern. Lesbians! Boobs! Howard was very subversive in many ways but when it came to sex he was always a child.

Also, as has been said time and time again, Stern’s disengaging interview style is brilliant and basically predated and predicted the way Americans currently consume celebrities. There’s some of this in “Private Parts” but it’s a mix bag. For every Donald Trump or Joan Rivers there’s a bit about Jackie Stallone or Enuff Z'Nuff. Most of the book is his “hot take” on celebs which have considerably cooled since 93.

“Private Parts” (in 2018 at least) manages to accomplish none of what Stern’s show does when it’s firing on all cylinders. I wasn’t hanging on to every word, I wasn’t engaged, I wasn’t entertained. I was bored. “Private Parts” is proof positive that Howard isn’t much without his supporting cast of characters and writers. He’s a brilliant curator, interviewer, and provocateur but the man himself borders on interesting. I am a die hard Stern Show fan who felt obligated to read this book, don’t make the same mistake. Bababooey’s book is better, it’s at least honest.

[Jennifer England · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I have to say I actually liked this book. I never even thought that much about Howard. Had heard about him. My guy has Sirius radio and we sometimes do take 3 - 6 hour trips. More so in the summer months. Car shows and camping. Over the past few years I have been subjected to listen without being able to get away. At first I was a bit annoyed as many others but then after a couple of interviews I realized he is interesting in a different way. I love to read and some of the books I have read are by far worse (not actually the word I feel I must use but cannot think of a replacement) than anything Howard has ever broadcasted on his radio or done live. Anyone ever read "Natural Law" by Joey Hill? So I am giving a 5 rating because it is a well written book and does give a biographical story of Howard's life. With that said what inspired me to get this book was he has a new book coming out. When I looked into this I found this one so I felt the need to read this before I got the new one. Thumbs up to you Howard and your team. Especially Robin!!!!! And regarding hate mail.....this only proves that you have to "listen" or "watch" to make the choice to send what I call a review.

[RL Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up listening to Stern and have tuned in and out over the last decade. New car with Sirius led me back in. I never read this book so gave it a shot. First off it's pretty clear going in that this book is going to have some outdated jokes. But for all the tasteless sexual and racial jokes; I'll be the first one to say that Stern's subject matter in the 90s honestly did clear the path for some progress. Where else was a kid in rural America in the 90s hearing about gay culture? Even if it was done in jest, it helped it become less taboo.

So with that out of the way, if you can look past the non-PC stuff the rest of the book again is dated. The funniest stories here were done better in the movie or are ones Howard is still talking about nearly 30 years later. The format is also all over the place. When it came out it was probably awesome but in a 2019 lense, if you haven't read it by now; there's no point.

[Lucinda’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was born in 1990 and grew up hearing all about how horrible and disgusting Howard Stern was. As a child, I had no idea what the hell he was talking about or why is was so bad. My parents never gave me an explanation, just a 'he's scum' when I asked. As an adult, I now have a certain level of respect for the man.
I know this book was published twenty plus years ago but it still holds a lot of value and truth about the world we live in. The FCC and government are still censoring and controlling what you read, listen to, and watch. There's still an immigration problem going on. People still get offended over the dumbest things. People take things too seriously and overreact.
Howard Stern is an ass hole. And he's hilarious. This book was entertaining and ridiculous! I'm glad he is still around and still doing his show.

[UnemployedGamer138 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to warn you people, stay away if you aren't a fan of The King of all Media. I loved this book but I know is because I'm a Super fan, I think only a Stern listener will understand the references and dedications for this book. It was really interesting to find out how Howard stern got started and what he had to go through to become the King! And how he met his wife Allison and how he met Robin and Fred. I was really engaged, some rants I could have lived without but then again It's Howard Stern. They even made a movie based on this book (Also recommend). So, if you love Howard, Gary, Fred, Robin, Jackie and the Stern gang well what are you waiting for?! Bababooey to you all! And F Jackie!

[Aydan Schlaffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private Parts was a great book to read, as it was very entertaining, but also informative of some of the life of Howard Stern. As a big Howard Stern fan, I was very fortunate to get a hold of this book. The book had me laughing all the way through. This book consists of interviews from the Howard Stern Show, articles, pictures, information on his life, and how he got to where he was, and also his opinions on certain people and concepts. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Howard Stern.

[Melissa Lambert · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remember going to the library to find Howard Stern's book Private Parts after I watched the movie that came out in 1997, based on this book, also called Private Parts. I thought the book would have a more in depth look at Howard's family life, and filled with more personal stories. The beginning of the book is Howard talking about masterbating while listening to the radio in his car, among other things. This was definitely not what I thought it would be. I only read the first chapter. The movie is better.

[Sully Augustine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars out of 5 - I read a softbound from the library over the past few evenings. There are some laugh out loud funny parts but it could have used some editing down. And the pictures may have worked in the hardbound version but they were all but indecipherable in this format. Reminiscent of the movie Dumb And Dumber, only a bit less mature. Definitely worth a read by any male still in his teenage years, or interested in revisiting the funny bone of his adolescence.

[Peggy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in library school as one of several examples of controversial books. The point was to have a sound collection policy that either included or excluded these books.

To my surprise I ended up really enjoying this particular book. Stern's book was surprisingly entertaining and made salient points about free speech. I'm not a huge Howard Stern fan in general, but I did really like this book.

[Jodi Sorenson]

I decided not to rate this book because it was a strange mix of feeling gross for reading it and also laughing at what he wrote. I read this in college and do not remember it being so politically incorrect...but I almost stopped reading it a few times because I couldn't believe how wrong most of what he said was. Though it was a crazy flashback to the 90's so I kept reading strictly because of the nostalgia.

[Steve Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was what expected and more. It's all about the King of All Media. I remember reading it in the Albuquerque airport years ago when I was waiting for my mom and my sister. I have never started laughing out loud in public before. It's a genuine story that really personifies Howard Stern in a well presented manner.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever Howard spoke honestly about growing up, his family, his staff, and his hatred for his bosses, I was hooked. I lost interest when he gave his thoughts on events of that time period and ranted about celebs he hated (Ironically most of the celebs he hated back then were guest on his show later.)

[Ricky Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book first came out, I quickly bought it in 1993 and this book did not disappoint me to no end. Plenty of funny and crude jokes about everything, everyone and more. Some jokes are brutal as well. Howard Stern was the master of everything when it comes to this book. I still remember I devoured the whole book in less than 6 hours.

[Deyth Banger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"January 16, 2020 –
90.0%
January 16, 2020 –
70.0% "What a story... honesty... and from the beginning up to the end... whoa... total kill!"
January 16, 2020 –
50.0%
January 16, 2020 –
10.0% "28:15"
January 16, 2020 – Shelved
January 16, 2020 – Started Reading"

[Jami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the parts about his early life and getting into radio and annoying his bosses. I never listened to his show, but I liked him as a judge on AGT, which was why I chose to read the book. Some of the stuff from the show I didn’t find funny and it was repetitive.

[Maki Vano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this before I heard Howard. After I heard Howard, he sounds exactly like the voice in the book.

[Deanna Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a laugh-out-loud-when-you-are-by-yourself kind of funny! The contrast in showing tender, emotional moments in his life made it all the more enjoyable.

[Matthew Stetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuff on the comedians was hilarious. Especially Kinison and Andrew Dice Clay.