I never knew about the background of Barbara Walters until I read this book. In this page turner, you develop a deeper understanding of what drove her career and who she was. It was a very interesting read. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one!

Thank you Net Galley for a digital copy of this book. All comments are my own, and are not influenced by any other person or entity.

Barbara Walters life unfolds like an enchanting drama under the pen of Susan Page. Page does an excellent job weaving Walters’ childhood backstory into the persona as seen on TV, explaining Walter’s motivations, her fear of failure, and how those fears not only influenced her job performance, but also almost every relationship in her life. This book makes history come alive.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know much about Barbara Walters (besides the obvious--that she was really good at interviewing people) before reading this book, and I enjoyed learning more about how her childhood and early career shaped her decisions later in life. The book is a page-turner, as far as biographies go. There aren't so many details and events included that you get bogged down in the minutiae. However, at times this book felt very choppy, like we were hurtling from one event to the next with very little connection or reflection. Compared to this author's biography of Barbara Bush, it felt rushed. Overall, still an enjoyable read! 3.5 stars.

“The Rulebreaker,” by Susan Page, is a biography of Barbara Walters. Walters wrote her biography “Audition” in 2008, so one might wonder what Ms. Page could add on in the nearly 15 since the publication of that book. Well, there’s more about Walters than what she, herself, documented. Ms. Page has done a lot of research - and it shows in this book. There’s a lot about Walters’s upbringing - parents, sibling, and how Walters felt like she never fit in. That Walters tried to keep most of this hidden - sometimes even lying - I found interesting as a women who always craved “the truth” from those she was interviewing. Walters was driven - and tough - and that is very obvious in this book. If you want to learn more about Walters - or have an interest in how someone worked her way to becoming a respected journalist - this may be the book for you to pick up.

Docket Page 80
The Rulebreaker
By Susan Page

CHARGE (what is the author trying to say?): To help us understand who Barbara Walters was.

FACTS: Barbara Walters summed up her “whole package” as “a dysfunctional childhood-a father she couldn’t ever remember ever hugging as a girl; a distracted and disgruntled mother; a disabled sister she both loved and hated.” She had three failed marriages and was estranged for many years from her only child, her daughter Jackie. This book is much more open and honest than Barbara’s own autobiography. Despite her achievements, she was never at peace. Her tombstone reads “No regrets, I had a great life.” But did she really? She died alone, surrounded only by paid employees. She had pushed away most of her friends. While it is undisputed that she made historic achievements and contributions to the field of journalism and broadcasting, it doesn’t appear that she was ever actually happy. Sometimes the price of fame is just too high.

VERDICT (Was the author successful?): Guilty, as charged.

#Netgalley #Therulebreaker

At first I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this book. I wasn't sure I needed to know such copious details of Walters' early life, but as time went on, it became clear that the author's purpose was to show how Walters' roots, particularly her relationship with her father, mother, and older sister, influenced her ambitions and her personality. She was driven to succeed, just as her father had been, and she was never truly able to enjoy her phenomenal success, always wondering when the bottom would fall out, because of the trauma of her early years.
The author handles the details of Barbara's career successes well, telling stories from various angles due to the amazing amount of research she did. The narrative is organized mostly chronologically, but when the author strays from the timeline, it is to offer interesting (sometimes juicy) details about such things as her fierce competition with Diane Sawyer, the lengths to which she went to get the biggest interviews, and her incredible preparation for those interviews.
By the end of the book, I found myself admiring Barbara Walters as the groundbreaker, as well as the rule breaker, she was. "Life and Times" is a great subtitle for this book, as the reader learns a lot about the times in which she lived. This was a great read that went fairly fast. In some ways, I was sorry when it came to an end.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book.

I made a note in my book journal that most members of my generation would be more likely to remember Gilda Radner's SNL parody of Barbara Waters than the woman herself, which is a shame, What an amazing story of a woman who pushed all kinds of boundaries in order to build herself a successful career in the very male-dominated, and often misogynistic field of journalism and reporting.
I found the story of her family background especially interesting. The cast of characters she met through her father's show business career, and the men she befriended who might have sent other, less bold women, run screaming in the other direction, clearly gave her an advantage in approaching and interviewing newsmakers later in her career.
My only disappointment, as a reader, was the fact that Page doesn't plan to include photos in the final edition, and I'm sure she has a reason for that. I found myself pausing, frequently to search for online photos for a visual timeline of Barbara's family, husbands, career highlights, etc.
Very well done.

Political columnist, commentator, and biographer Susan Page has taken on one of her most famous colleagues, the late Barbara Walter’s as the subject of her latest biography in “The Rulebreaker: the Life and Times of Barbara Walters.”
I admit that I have thought of Walters more as a celebrity than journalist. Her early accomplishments as a reporter and groundbreaking television newsperson have become eclipsed by her later work on celebrity interview shows. However, thanks to Page’s extensive research, readers will be reminded of Barbara Walters in her early news career and of the barriers she faced in the man’s world that was the news business. While reading I was reminded of Harry Reasoner’s disgust at being partnered with Walters on ABC’s evening news program. “He didn’t want to co-anchor the news with anyone. Especially with a woman.” Such was the atmosphere Walters faced. She was ambitious and driven, traits that were applauded in men, but denigrated in women like Barbara Walters when she began her career.
Walters’ early family and personal life is also described in the book. She was very protective of her family and her past, sometimes to the point of lying about some parts of her life, something I found interesting coming from someone who sought truth from the subjects of her stories and interviews. This portion of the book is a sometimes-unflattering account of Walters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy for review.

I’ve read a lot about Barbara Walters in the past. I also read her book Audition many years ago.
This was quite different. The author gives a unique perspective of just how hard Barbara had to push and ingratiate herself into a man’s world. She refused to give up and worked so hard! Many men refused to give her credit or even let her ask questions in interviews unless they allowed it. Unbelievable
Unfortunately, her incredible ambition superseded her marriages and child. Her relationship with her father had the biggest influence on her over everything.
I thought this book was tough on her at times. ( especially her competition with other women) I’m not sure Barbara would have approved. I enjoyed it. It was excellent writing and I’d recommend it.

You know why I love biographies, it’s because you get to see people like people and not like icons who have know flaws. I thinks it’s the flaws that makes us better and grow.

There were so many things I didn’t know about Barbara Walters, I didn’t know about her family, her husbands, her friends, her daughter. I didn’t know how hard it was to do what she did well or how much hate among the male reporters there was toward her and other women at the time, so sad. I also didn’t know what happened to her at the end until this book and it would have been a shame if I never knew.

I have always admired Barbara Walters because she seemed so strong and determined to accomplish what she set out to do and without it we wouldn’t have seen what went on behind-the scene of some very powerful people and we are better for it.

The book is very well written and easy to understand and doesn’t have a lot of fluff but has just the facts which readers should enjoy.

I want to thank Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of the story of Barbara Walters

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.

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.

What a groundbreaker! There's so much I didn't know about this icon! She definitely places a way for the next generation of journalists... Female journalists! What a great story!

Interesting biography. She knew a lot of evil people. She was good at interviewing evil people. Some so evil I had to skip the chapter devoted to one man in particular.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as Ms Page for the opportunity to read and review “The Rulebreaker” in exchange for my honest feedback. Ms Page does a wonderful job transporting us through Ms Walter’s magnificent life as a trailblazer and powerhouse.

Ms Walters forged her way through the male dominated industry while proving she could overcome nearly every obstacle in her way, personally or professionally. Ms Page does a wonderful job exploring and writing in detail how those obstacles were overcome through various interviews retold or had in this novel.

A must read for anyone interested in the life and legacy of Ms Walter’s as well as biography enthusiasts alike.

"At a time when ambition was seen as unladylike, Barbara plowed into a profession that wasn’t ready to welcome her."

Susan Page has written a strong, in-depth look into the life of Barbara Walters. Her research on this project was vast – conducting interviews with more than 150 people and diving deep into archival research.
As a woman currently working in the TV news industry, so many of us appreciate the path that Barbara paved. The whispered stories about her are legendary – her notecards filled with questions, the way she’d book her subjects, her endless research. It’s difficult to explain the admiration so many people had for her – while they also simultaneously dealt with the fear of crossing her. She was unapologetic about who she was, and Page’s biography truly captures who she was – a brilliant, but complicated figure who conquered journalism despite many roadblocks. Her determination got her her career – but cost her a great deal personally.
So often in memoirs details are buffed and polished. Page’s look at her is unvarnished – showing the highest highs of career and the lowest lows of her life. Throughout it all, it was made clear that Walters’ greatest motivator was her ambition – and that she put in more work than any other so she could have the career of a lifetime.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an advanced reader copy.

This is a well researched biography of Barbara Walters that features insights from over 150 interviews. It is a multifaceted portrayal of a life lived with fervor and tenacity. Her family life and childhood give insight into what drove her to succeed. The Rulebreaker is a well written biography that kept my interest throughout the stories of Walters’ life. I appreciate that women fought hard to overcome the struggles of misogyny, sexual harassment, and equal rights. Barbara Walters worked well into her 80s to show the world what she could do. She had an amazing life, I appreciated learning her life story. Thank you Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a very in-depth book on Barbara Walters’ life and career. I was bummed that she did put others down but that she did her own thing and didn’t let anyone stop her. It was interesting to read how she prepared for interviews.

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!

A great memoir for someone familiar with Barbara Walters. There were sometimes too many names to keep track of... and felt very non-linear. It was enjoyable as someone who watched her on 20/20 and The View. Most of my students wouldn't know her.