Between You and Me

A Memoir

By: Mike Wallace, Gary Paul Gates

Narrated by: Mike Wallace

Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

In this candid and revealing audiobook, Mike Wallace tells the behind-the-scenes stories from his remarkable 60-year career. Here are intimate anecdotes, off-camera antics, never-before-told tales, and, most important, Wallace's insights about some unforgettable characters.

Over the course of his career, Wallace has interviewed all but one of the presidents of the past half-century; First Ladies including Eleanor Roosevelt and Nancy Reagan; cultural figures from Frank Lloyd Wright to Johnny Carson; social revolutionaries such as Malcolm X; and performers ranging from Itzhak Perlman to Tina Turner. He has also interviewed crooks and con men. And what made it onto the television screen is only part of the story, for here Wallace offers anecdotes that reveal volumes about the true character of these celebrated people, and why they did what they did.

Wallace recounts how he first got an interview with Martin Luther King, Jr., and how their friendship developed over time; the story of the Secret Service agent who felt responsible for not saving John F. Kennedy; a poignant interview with Nancy Reagan concerning her husband's Alzheimer's. Wallace tells how he infuriated all sides with his reports from the Middle East; of his conversations with Begin and Arafat; of his interviews with the shah of Iran; and of his unflinching question to the Ayatollah Khomeini. There are moments of great levity, too: with Itzhak Perlman and Shirley MacLaine.

Wallace also turns his questioning eye on his own life and career, offering a frank and frequently surprising self-portrait. And he writes of his childhood, his professional friendships, and his battle with depression.

Mike Wallace's challenging and perceptive questions often evoked reactions from famous figures that have sometimes changed minds and, occasionally, history. Between You and Me gives listeners a behind-the-scenes looks at one of the great broadcast journalists of our time.

©2005 Mike Wallace (P)2005 Hyperion

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Achievement in Production

Wish it had been available unabridged...

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

Sure, if they were the age to know who Mike Wallace was, and be interested in the stories he would tell.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Between You and Me?

I liked all the stories, which were on varied topics - as you would expect. The part where he discusses his fight with serious depression, and how his doctor blew him off was poignant.

What does Mike Wallace bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

HIS stories told in HIS voice. Perfect. Since he was a reporter, we are used to hearing his voice. It would seem very strange hearing someone else narrate his stories.

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

I do not think this is suitable for a film.

Great book

Really good book. Love that Mike Wallace did the narration. Miss his wonderful familiar voice. The only thing I wish is that it was longer !

Great Memoir By A Great Newsman

What did you love best about Between You and Me?

I picked this up after the recent passing of Mike Wallace to hear some of the behind the scenes stuff for his landmark interviews and I wasn't disappointed. The fact that Mike read the book was nice especially since his voice is now silenced.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Between You and Me?

I never knew how close of a relationship he had with Nancy Reagan.

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

It was that compelling but I listening sporadically in Automobile University.

Just What I expected !

60 Minutes has always been a great Program, and that is why I bought this audio. It lived up to the quality that I've come to expect from 60 minutes.

Great audio, just wish they all was this simple to understand, and wonderful to listen to.

SoSo

I'm a big fan of Wallace and this book did hold my interest but ultimately I found it rather disappointing. The summary claims "Wallace offers anecdotes that reveal volumes about the true character of these celebrated people", but I found most of the anecdotes pretty superficial. The only one that really sticks with me is where he interviews the devastated Secret Service guy who blamed himself for JFK's death. Anyway, I suspect the audio book may have lost a lot in the abridging process.

Great listen!

Could have listened to Mike for another three hours. Great narrator as he was a journalist.