Audition

A Memoir

By: Barbara Walters

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 26 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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

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

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

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

©2008 Barbara Walters (P)2008 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

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

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

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

Long but extremely entertaining

It’s a long listen but I feel it was well worth it!! Goes through her life, career and amazing interviews!!

If you want to get into her head

26 hours seems like a very long book, but actually the length of this book is one of the reasons that I picked it. I was looking for a great memoir of a great person. Someone that would inspire and entertain me.I also wanted to get my moneys worth. I have never been a Barbara Walters fan, but I am now. I don't agree with a lot of her politics, but that is beside the point. This book is like sitting beside her as she is talking to her best friend. Its so candid and unscripted. I feel as though she has given me so much information (carte blanch) that I understand her and others who are like minded to her in a much fuller, richer way. I have only finished one quarter of this book to date. I wil update this review as I get further into the memoir. If you are the kind of person who people watches and pays attention to little details of a persons mannerisms and personality and listens to a persons history in order to get information about who they are and how they became this way, then this book will not disappoint you.If you want to get to the meat and potatoes without all of the back story and history, then move on to a different memoir.By the way I have never reviewed a book before so I hope this helps you.

Absolutely Fascinating

Even if you've never been a Barbara Walters fan, you have to appreciate her career.

I found this entire memoir to be captivating, interesting, enlightening and hard to 'put down'. The history alone of what Walters has accomplished is incredible.

If you ARE a fan, you must purchase this and give it a listen. Great narration and wonderful storytelling.

Absolutely Incredible Listen!

This book introduces you to the world of journalism for the past 50+ years. Barbara Walters' account is honest, engaging and inspiring at the same time. She gives you inside information about many of the people she has interviewed over the past 4 decades and you get to see them in a different light. Without realizing it, you also learn a great deal about recent history. Most importantly, she is a facinating figure and if like me, you've wondered about who she really is, she covers everything in this book. It reads like a good and thorough conversation--you feel as if she is seated on a sofa in your living room and, at your request, is telling you her life story. The Narrator does an incredible job in bringing her to life.

I Love the Details

Walters generously delivers behind-the-scenes gems. It's like having her alone for a 24-hour dinner party.

an inspiration for all

This book is so inspiring. The interviews, the family story and the travel is so well told. I felt like I had a taste of what each decade was like. the heart felt pain as well as love was so beautifully written and then potrayed by a great narrator. thank you Barbara Walters for sharing your story.

educational, inspiring, and interesting

Any additional comments?

a great book about a pioneer of women in broadcasting. whether or not you like barbara walters, you have have to admit she had to have something to have attained the successes she has, and i wanted to learn what that might be. Unlike many long books, which i prefer but not infrequently tire of halfway through, i was drawn in for the duration of the tale, all 26 or so hours . . . which says as much about the narration as it does the telling of the story. what a career she has had, and i say good for her. it wasn't handed to her on a silver platter. Definitely one of my favorite Audible "reads."

Interesting memoir about an interesting woman

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

Any fan of Ms Walters would enjoy this audiobook.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ms. Walters has lead a fascinating and somewhat sad life, and I think the stories about her father, Lou Walters were my favorite. He was successful yet tragic, a risk taker and someone who had passion. He had so much and ended with so little for all of his efforts.

Which scene was your favorite?

Because I knew so little about her personal life, all of the the stories about her family were my favorite.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Barbara Walters: her life life with royalty, the famous and the infamous.

Really good read

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

a terrific insight into the woman. If you don't know her background, you won't know the woman. It about Barbara's drive and patience to get to where she wanted to be, NO ONE worked as hard as Barbara to see to it that she was respected and taken seriously.
And she did it all with grace, and dignity

What was one of the most memorable moments of Audition?

Her relationship with her parents and how much she wanted to do what she could to help them when they need it.

Which scene was your favorite?

It was all good. Maybe the way she handled her interviews with the powers in other countries
and her encounter with Guilda Radnar when Guilda imitated her as Barbara Wawa

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Maybe not in one sitting, but Yes to two sittings

Any additional comments?

I have a new found respect and appreciation for how hard she worked for everything thing
she got.

Her Memoir Spans the Age of Television to 2000's

Hi,

It was shocking to me, to learn of Barbara Walters' childhood. She didn't tell it particularly sadly and yet, I found it profoundly sad. She had to learn how to adapt and adjust to her changing circumstances. Her parents seemed very neglectful although she didn't write it tragically.

Her style is rather matter-of-factly which one would expect. She still manages to express her deepest regrets and feelings about her friends and family.

I admire her tenacity and getting through some tough times in her career. No matter how she got treated she tried to keep good relationships with people. She also had enduring and lasting friendships which shows she is a loyal person.

It was fascinating to learn about her early years as a television host and then to learn how things have changed so much now.

So glad she wrote her memoir.

The narration is okay although a bit stiff I think it did match the words and sense of what she was reading as it wasn't an overly emotional book.