celebrity memoirs

Notable celebrity memoirs

Notable celebrity memoirs
Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re sad. One thing is certain: The lives of celebrities are rarely dull. This month a famous actress revealed family pain in her new memoir. Read on to learn about compelling autobiographies that’ll have you laughing, crying and yearning to read more.

Ashley Judd
The film star wrote her recently released memoir, “All That Is Bitter And Sweet,” to talk about the humanitarian causes she supports around the world. But revelations about her dysfunctional childhood rose more than a few eyebrows. Find out what she revealed.

Portia de Rossi
Her long struggle with a serious disorder threw the “Ally McBeal” and “Arrested Development”  actress into a dark hole. In “Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain,” she writes glowingly about the long climb out and the important person who helped pull her up.

Barack Obama
“Dreams From My Father” was published in 1995, the year President Obama began his political career. It was hailed as an evocative, lyrical memoir of his life up until the time he entered a prestigious Eastern university.

George W. Bush
The former president explains the processes he went through to make major “Decision Points” that established national policy. Bush recalls the aftermath of his administration’s reaction to a natural disaster that tarnished his tenure.

Carrie Fisher
Funny, candid and self-deprecating, the memoir penned by a former movie princess and current novelist is chock-a-block with juicy gossip and lacerating send-ups of Hollywood culture. She writes of her bouts of drug and alcohol addiction and much more in “Wishful Drinking.”

Carnie Wilson
In two separate memoirs, “Gut Feelings” and “I’m Still Hungry,” the singer/songwriter describes her battle with morbid obesity and her decision to undergo surgery to help control it.

Anne Heche
Another in a long line of Hollywood actresses who grew up with abuse, Anne Heche details the violations she withstood as a child and young adult and the strength she invoked to rise above them, in her 2001 biography, “Call Me Crazy.”

Frank Zappa
In “The Real Frank Zappa Book,” the rock guitarist lays it all out on the line: his hilarious, dagger-wielding take on the music industry, raising kids, capitalism and art. He dispels a few myths about himself, and he flings more than a few Zappaesque zingers on deserving prey.

Condoleezza Rice
The former Secretary of State writes tenderly of her parents in her 2010 book, “Extraordinary Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family.” She recounts how they raised her to rise above the racism and sexism she encountered in her hometown.

Roman Polanski
The film director’s 1984 book, “Roman by Polanski,” catalogues the self-destructive behavior he indulged in, especially after the untimely demise of his beautiful wife

Read more »

2010 Quotables

The year was filled with buzz-worthy sound bites, tweets and gaffes. Some had us seeing red, some made us laugh, and others had us scratching our heads. Let's review who said what in 2010.

Oprah Winfrey

The tables were turned in early December, when Winfrey was the one being grilled for a change. She had a tête-à-tête with another talk show queen (video,) and topics included her relationship with her best friend.


Christine O'Donnell

As the Delaware Senate race heated up, the Republican candidate released a commercial with a simple message:

"I'm not a witch."
She kick-started the witch rumors herself, during a 1999 TV guest spot. It wasn't her only memorable quote during the race (try this one), but it was a winner.

Tony Hayward

The former oil and energy exec was under fire after this national ordeal began, and he indicated that he was fed up.

"I'd like my life back."

After the May 30 comment, he was pressured to apologize, but it was too little, too late. Then-Cabinet member Rahm Emanuel cracked wise about the quote.

Sarah Palin

Plans for a controversial addition to the New York landscape caused an uproar this year. Despite the Muslim founder's stated intentions, Palin spoke out against it via Twitter.

"Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate"

Her new word drew a lot of attention

Nancy Pelosi

When speaking to a group of bureaucrats in March, Pelosi addressed what she called "the fog of the controversy" that was surrounding the president's pet project.

"We have to pass the (health care) bill so you can find out what is in it."


LeBron James

When the NBA star finalized his decision about which team he'd play for, he traded his home team for a new one.

"I'm going to take my talents to South Beach."

The July 8 statement caused quite a stir


Chilean miners

After spending 69 days trapped in an underground mine, all 33 miners were rescued alive, as the world watched (clips) and praised them.

"Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Los mineros de Chile!"

One of the miners, Mario Sepulveda, waxed poetic about the ordeal:

"I was with God and I was with the devil. They fought over me but God won."

Jimmy McMillan

This political personality -- here's his sometime alias -- has run for New York office multiple times since 1993. His platform during the most recent campaign was simple:

"The rent is too damn high."

Antoine Dodson

Having just defended his sister from a would-be attacker in their home, Dodson spoke angrily to a news crew

"Hide your kids, hide your wife and hide your husband, 'cause they rapin' everybody out here."

This made him an overnight sensation, spawning musical remixes and Dodson-inspired merchandise.

George W. Bush

Rapper Kanye West lobbed a remark at former President Bush in 2005 (video) that reportedly still sticks to him.

"I faced a lot of criticism as president … But the suggestion that I was racist because of the response to Katrina represented an all-time low."

Thus goes a passage from his best-selling book. He also discussed the incident on-air recently.

Pope Benedict XVI

During a spring visit, the pope commented on the huge crisis ailing the Church.

"The greatest persecution of the Church doesn't come from enemies on the outside but is born from the sin within the Church."

This contradicted earlier statements from the Vatican on the subject.


Gloria Steinem

In a newspaper interview, the founder of this seminal movement gave her opinion of why one key word became a hot-button issue this year -- discussed by everyone from Sarah Palin to Lady Gaga.

"Because it's been demonized by the right wing. Every time I can bear to turn on Rush Limbaugh, he's talking about femi-Nazis. It has been distorted, just as 'liberal' has."

Betty White

Who knew an 88-year-old could still be an "It Girl"? White enjoyed a career revival -- thanks in part to Facebook -- and had roles on TV, commercials and movies throughout the year. She told an interviewer:

"Retirement is not in my vocabulary. They aren't going to get rid of me that way."

In January, she received this honor for her body of work.

Silvio Berlusconi

Italy's prime minister faced accusations of hosting scandalous parties but denied the claims.

"I unfortunately have never in my life been to a wild party."

He offended many, though, as he tried to further defend himself.

Virginia Thomas

In October, Thomas left a voice mail message for Anita Hill, who accused her high-profile husband of sexual harassment nearly 20 years ago. The controversy was big news back then.

"I just wanted to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology sometime and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband."

Iker Casillas

Spain's prized soccer goalkeeper boasted about his team's big win this year. Whom did they beat?

"Spain's name will be on top of the world for the next four years."

Kevin Smith

Film director Smith -- known for both cult hits and big flops -- had to rearrange his travel plans in February.

"If you look like me, you may be ejected from Southwest Air."

This was the tweet he sent after the airline told him he didn't fit within company policy. Southwest later apologized.

Paul Vasquez

You have to watch this viral video to fully understand how excited Vasquez was about seeing a double rainbow.

"Double rainbow! What does it mean?"

The video has been viewed millions of times and earned him some time in the spotlight.


Snooki

The reality TV phenom made a comment regarding the "T" in "GTL."

"I don't go tanning-tanning anymore because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tannin. … He did that because of us."

Her statement moved Sen. John McCain to respond with a tweet of his own.


Ke$ha

Though her music hit the top this year, the pseudonymous pop star's wardrobe hit rock bottom.

"I think it's cool to wear roadkill. If I died and somebody wanted to wear my teeth around their neck to VMAs, I'd feel honored."

It Gets Better Project

In September, journalist Dan Savage established an online project in response to the year's high-profile instances of homophobic violence.

The project employs testimonials from hundreds of individuals -- including actors, the president and the employees of a film studio -- all delivering the same message to troubled gay youth:

"It gets better."

Sharron Angle

In January, the Republican candidate was interviewed by a right-wing radio host. When asked about her stance on this constitutional issue, the Tea Party member had this to say:

"… if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies. They're saying: 'My goodness, what can we do to turn this country around?' "

Warren Buffett

Billionaire CEO Buffett announced to the news media that he isn't afraid to dig deeper into his own coffers at tax time and thinks others who are wealthy should do the same.

"The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we'll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you. But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on."

Read more »