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My Name Is Barbra Hardcover – November 7, 2023

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 7,726 ratings

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The long-awaited memoir by the superstar of stage, screen, recordings, and television

Barbra Streisand is by any account a living legend, a woman who in a career spanning six decades has excelled in every area of entertainment. She is among the handful of EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) and has one of the greatest and most recognizable voices in the history of popular music. She has been nominated for a Grammy 46 times, and with
Yentl she became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major motion picture. In My Name Is Barbra, she tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl on stage and winning the Oscar for that performance on film. Then came a long string of successes in every medium in the years that followed. The book is, like Barbra herself, frank, funny, opinionated, and charming. She recounts her early struggles to become an actress, eventually turning to singing to earn a living; the recording of some of her acclaimed albums; the years of effort involved in making Yentl; her direction of The Prince of Tides; her friendships with figures ranging from Marlon Brando to Madeleine Albright; her political advocacy; and the fulfillment she’s found in her marriage to James Brolin.
 
No entertainer’s memoir has been more anticipated than Barbra Streisand’s, and this engrossing and delightful book will be eagerly welcomed by her millions of fans.
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Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

A NYT Bestseller MY NAME IS BARBRA by Barbra Streisand. The long-awaited memoir.
Exuberant and glorious... there are just so many scintillating Streisands, says The NYT Book Review
Undeniably moving.... Streisand's chatty, discursive presence hums on every page — The New Yorker
The celebrity memoir I've coveted most is that of the singular Ms.Barbra Streisand... says NPR
It's shake-your-head funny and hand-to-mouth surprising, says The NYT about My name is Barbra

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for My Name Is Barbra

"A 970-page victory lap past all who ever doubted, diminished or dissed her. . . . Exuberant and glorious. . . . There are just so many scintillating Streisands to contemplate over so many years: singer, actress, director, producer, philanthropist, activist, lover, mother, wife, friend, autobiographer."
—Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times Book Review

"The book is undeniably moving—it does not, even for a moment, read as false. . . . Streisand’s chatty, discursive presence hums on every page. . . . Riveting . . . . All the usual memoir forms rear their heads. There’s the sob story, the gallant bildungsroman, the louche chronicle of various addictive behaviors, the righteous making of an activist, the victory lap. Streisand’s book, in its sheer breadth and largesse, attempts to be all of these things, and thus becomes something incredibly rare. . . . If something interests her, then it is interesting, full stop. In a way, she draws on an old-fashioned idea of celebrity: to be a star is to be golden, and to make everything you touch look the same. . . . Streisand has never thought it necessary to contain herself, and there’s no reason to start now."
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker

"The celebrity memoir I've coveted most is that of the singular Ms. Barbra Streisand. . . . We don't see a diva, we see a genius. . . .  In a society that tends to value women's passivity while lauding their accomplishments in hindsight, it's a distinct pleasure to look back with
My Name Is Barbra and marvel at how the real she came to be."
—Brittany Luse, NPR
 
“[
My Name Is Barbra is] enlightening. It’s shake-your-head funny and hand-to-mouth surprising. The lady who wrote it is in touch with herself, loves being herself. . . . Streisand’s boundlessness, her capaciousness — the lack of precedent for her whole-enchilada ambitions, the daffiness, the sexiness, the talent, orchestration, passion, originality; her persistence and indefatigability; the outfits; the hair — were a watershed.”
—Wesley Morris, The New York Times

My Name Is Barbra is not to be dismissed, even at its astonishing length. It shows a busy intelligence at work and a fair degree of self-knowledge. I find much to admire about Streisand in her memoir, including her refusal to play down her own innate power.”
—Daphne Merkin, New York Review of Books

"Everything you could want from a Barbra Streisand memoir. . . . Scintillating. . . . The memoir is as sharp, funny and refreshingly candid as Streisand herself."
USA Today

“A gloriously massive memoir from a sui generis star. . . . What a talent, what a career, what a life, and what a treat to relive it all with this most down-to-earth of demigods.”
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This memoir is as extraordinary as the woman who wrote it."
Booklist (starred review)

"Charming . . . funny . . . . Chatty and sincere, the book reads like a conversation, complete with asides and self-corrections. . . . The effect is like she's sharing coffee cake with us. . . . It feels like it's Streisand telling us all the things she's wanted to say for all of her 81 years on Earth. . . . If you've ever been a fan, even if it has been a while, I can't imagine you'd want to miss it."
—Chris Hewitt, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"
My Name Is Barbra dispels rumors and myths but doesn’t hold back on scintillating tales of love affairs, on-set drama and unfiltered anecdotes about her discomfort with fame."
Los Angeles Times

“The question of her talent was never really in doubt. . . . In Streisand’s book, though, there’s more than just talent; we are shown craft, intelligence, a winning, rare curiosity.”
Independent

About the Author

Barbra Streisand is an American singer, actress, director and producer and one of the most iconic figures in music and film, the only recording artist in history to have earned #1 albums over six consecutive decades. She has received the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honor, the National Medal of Arts, France’s Légion d’Honneur, and America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She founded The Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai, helping to raise awareness and push for more research into women’s heart disease, the leading cause of death among women. Through the Streisand Foundation, which she established in 1986, she has supported national organizations working on preservation of the environment, voter education, the protection of civil liberties and civil rights, women’s issues, and nuclear disarmament. In 2021 she launched the Barbra Streisand Institute at UCLA, a forward-thinking institution dedicated to finding solutions to the most vital social issues.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking; First Edition (November 7, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 992 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525429522
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0525429524
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.95 x 9.56 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 7,726 ratings

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Barbra Streisand
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Barbra Streisand is the only artist ever to receive Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Directors Guild of America, Golden Globe, National Endowment for the Arts, and Peabody awards, as well as the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center Honors.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
7,726 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and relatable. They appreciate the author's insights and talent. The memoir provides an intimate, honest look at the author's life. Readers praise the author as honest, truthful, and authentic. They find the humor amusing and touching at times. The book covers a variety of topics including history, arts, film, people, music, and politics.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

364 customers mention "Readability"335 positive29 negative

Customers find the memoir engaging and enjoyable to read. They appreciate the author's storytelling talent and find the first few chapters relatable.

"...She has a great talent for storytelling, no matter what the medium. And she's able to tell stories from multiple points-of-view...." Read more

"...It’s a woman’s life. She has terrible tragedies and beautiful successes. She gives people their privacy, but tells us what she feels we need to know...." Read more

"...It was so personal, revealing, vulnerable, and your absolute truth. I admire that. You would tell people what you thought, but with no malice...." Read more

"I really enjoyed many parts of the book...." Read more

143 customers mention "Insight"143 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's insight into the author's life. They find it insightful and enjoyable, putting rumors to rest. The book is detailed in terms of her music and movies, going album by album, film by film, and event by event through her life.

"This book is classic unfiltered, honest, candid Barbra, which is so consistent with her total career...." Read more

"...She’s intelligent and naturally gifted...." Read more

"...You question everything. The little things do matter. You are not afraid of a ‘Chain of Command.’ You aren’t afraid to ask, ‘Why?’..." Read more

"...This book is so full of information about her life, her career, movies, songs, records, etc.,..." Read more

122 customers mention "Talent"122 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's talent. They find her talented, a great writer, singer, and actress. Readers are inspired by her and say she is a genuine human being with a big heart.

"...is classic unfiltered, honest, candid Barbra, which is so consistent with her total career...." Read more

"...And to top it off, everything she does, she does passionately and impeccably well...." Read more

"...What you are doing is a mitzvah. You are an incredible author, singer, songwriter, actress, and mensch. Anshel Bomberger..." Read more

"...Barbra Streisand is a beautiful woman and such a fantastic singer and actress and I am so glad I took the time to read this wonderful book." Read more

59 customers mention "Life"49 positive10 negative

Customers find the book interesting and inspiring. They describe it as an intimate, honest journey through the life of one of the most talented people. The story details a long career with many tangents in the middle.

"...you are taken on an intimate, honest, nuanced, journey through the life of one of the most accomplished artists o our time...." Read more

"...It's a fairytale ending to a remarkable life." Read more

"I am in awe. I loved the book! It highlighted all of her extraordinary accomplishments...." Read more

"...Her talent is beyond words. She is an intelligent, interesting and caring woman. I thank her for sharing her life with us!!!" Read more

57 customers mention "Honesty"47 positive10 negative

Customers appreciate the author's honesty. They find the book sincere, real, and authentic. The author also has the opportunity to put rumors to rest or explain her reasoning.

"This book is classic unfiltered, honest, candid Barbra, which is so consistent with her total career...." Read more

"...It was so personal, revealing, vulnerable, and your absolute truth. I admire that. You would tell people what you thought, but with no malice...." Read more

"...Barbra is open, honest, relatable and vulnerable...." Read more

"...She rings authenticity. 2. She is very, very generous in her gratitude to those many people who helped her build and maintain her career...." Read more

45 customers mention "Humor"45 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor and positive tone. They find it amusing and touching, making them laugh and cry at times. Readers appreciate the author's acting ability to make them laugh, cry, and think.

"...The audition for I Can Get It For You Wholesale is HYSTERICAL! And it’s so “shades of Fanny Brice” with her interactions with Ziegfeld...." Read more

"...And I revelled in chapters about FUNNY GIRL, HELLO DOLLY, and THE WAY WE WERE,my favorites...." Read more

"I haven't read it, but knowing who Barbara is, it can't be bad! Funny story...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the first few chapters, which are chatty and in her Brooklyn voice...." Read more

31 customers mention "History"27 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They praise it as an excellent biography and a great read about a living legend. Readers are reminded of various time periods through the memoir, including American history.

"I really enjoyed many parts of the book. I also enjoyed the historical references and appreciated her involvement in being a Democrat and helping to..." Read more

"This is a great book one of the best bios I've ever read. Barbra did a really good job." Read more

"...She truly is a one-of a kind miracle with a lifetime of memorable performances, discography, and filmography that she has graced us with since she..." Read more

"...Other than those complaints it's a great memoir and should be read by every Streisand fan. For that matter should be read even if not a fan...." Read more

63 customers mention "Length"21 positive42 negative

Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it engaging and detailed, describing it as a great choice for long-time fans of Barbra Streisand. Others feel it's too long, with too many pages devoted to her first movie.

"...3. The length of the book is a "beat down." If Streisand were directing a song or movie, she would never let it get out of hand in length...." Read more

"A well-written autobiography that is long (naturally) but so readable. As a result, I have revisited several of her films...." Read more

"Yes, the sheer size of the book is daunting. It's heavy and lenghty...." Read more

"...But honestly, the book was a bit too long and I ended up getting restless and looking forward to the end...." Read more

From the first page
5 out of 5 stars
From the first page
I first fell in love with Barbra Streisand when I was ten years old. Our mom would take us to Radio City Hall in New York City for Easter to watch a movie and the famous Rockettes.And that movie was “What’s up Doc”. Imagine a ten year old so impressed with someone at that age. This book does not disappoint. It got me from page 1. I’ve purchased this book three times and given away to special friends and family.What a special read. If you are a Barbra Streisand fan, pick up this book. It will not disappoint.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2023
    This book is classic unfiltered, honest, candid Barbra, which is so consistent with her total career. I’ve read other autobiographies but they don’t read like this one. After Chapter 3, I thought, “Why did she wait so long to write this?” because it’s quite instructive for newbies just starting out, but then I thought, “Oh, who cares?” What is immediately notable is how funny she is. Of course, if you know anything about her, she is the exemplary Funny Girl, but her humor in this book is such a treat.

    The audition for I Can Get It For You Wholesale is HYSTERICAL! And it’s so “shades of Fanny Brice” with her interactions with Ziegfeld. There she is, in the dark, and the voice of Arthur Laurents booms over the theatre, Can you sing? And she’s thinking, “So why else would I be here?” Understand, this is her first audition for a Broadway musical, a dream come true for anyone. But Barbra says, “So … what do you want to hear?” And she starts with that crazy song Value. Then does I Stayed Too Long at the Fair, which clinches the deal. Producers are impressed, ask for her to come back and here’s Barbra, “But I have to get my hair done before a singing gig that opens tonight. Why can't you decide now?" In every chapter, Streisand takes you with her and you feel like you're right there in the room, on the set, in the studio, at the theatre. She has a great talent for storytelling, no matter what the medium. And she's able to tell stories from multiple points-of-view. She also owns her mistakes, owns her decisions.

    It’s the truth to herself that remains a vigorously consistent theme. She never, ever did or said what she thought people wanted to hear, even if it meant risking her goal at the time. That’s integrity. And of course, early in her career she lost plenty of gigs (here’s this teenager, telling casting directors anything but the standard answers). I wonder what the people who turned her town thought when she catapulted to stardom. By age 28: Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy. Who does that? Barbra I guess -) When she first met with Jule Styne (for the stageplay, Funny Girl) her initial reaction is, “I’m not sure I’m right for this.”). The story of how these discussions ebbed and flowed ultimately toward Barbra is fascinating.

    What’s revealing is that Marty Ehrlichman recognized this young talent when she was 18, when most people were saying things like, “she lacks discipline” or she’s kooky. Then there’s Doris Vidor (daughter of Henry Warner of Warner Brothers) who said, “Barbra is Fannie Brice.” Along the way, she does meet people that she finds very talented and important that can help her, and with these types (Jerome Robbins) she wants to impress them. But, she just can’t swerve from her creative instincts. In a Funny Girl audition, Robbins says, “You’re supposed to cry at that line.” And she says, “Sorry, but I can’t cry with these words.” Honesty trumps “what THEY want” again. Isobel, the writer, says “I agree, the words aren’t right, and they’re my words.”

    What is also interesting, at least to me, is that business people in show business make decisions based on the past. Makes sense, they are paid to avoid risk. But art can’t move forward if you don’t break with the past, and break what you THINK are the rules. And it’s the risk takers that show up for Barbra and reap the payoff. I mean, this is a girl who rose to super stardom during the rock-and-roll rage by singing ballads (often those that were obscure, but perfect for Barbra’s voice, style and interpretation). I guess the moral of the story is: people will always respond to talent, but it better be extraordinary. What few people understand during her early years is how self-aware she is. Why? Because people at that young of an age are not … hell, neither are 50-year-olds. But somehow Barbra knew at age 7, who she was and what she wanted to be.

    BTW, I hope Barbra knows her fans also tell people Strei-SAND like sand on the beach. When someone actually gets the chance to interview her, and says her name wrong I scream, My God, you can at least pronounce her name correctly? Would you say, “Here’s Emma Stones, or Julia Robert, or Brad Pidd?” Come on, people! And for the love of God, stop asking her the same old questions.

    The stuff with Arthur Laurents, wow. The man was cruel and manipulative, even though now, we know he wrote The Way We Were for her. But, he trashed her first album, which won a couple of awards .Barbra doesn’t just tell us about it, but re-prints the nasty letter he wrote. So, she writes back and says “I agree” then expands on his criticism. But then, Laurents doesn’t even have the decency to congratulate her on winning two Grammys, Album of the Year and Best Female Vocal Performance. Even with all the production issues, that raw talent came through and Barbra was on her way.

    The details she provides regarding the making of The Way We Were are remarkable. So many challenges and differences of opinion, but Barbra, the diplomat was able to mediate between Arthur Laurents and Sydney Pollack (who didn't like each other) and of course, no one got along with Ray Stark. The deleted scenes are tragic, and I didn't realize that the blacklist activity continued into the early 1960s, not far from 1972 when this was filmed. People weren't ready for this topic and of course it offended the republicans. Hence Barbra admits she understands the pressure Pollack was under to delete the "red scare" scene where Katie's college chum informs on her. The scene explains the Katie/Hubble breakup, and it's deletion was a huge mistake evidenced by the critics who universally agreed it was a confusing decision.

    Nevertheless it was one of Columbia's top grossing films (Pollack, in his biography, notes that Barbra single-handedly saved Columbia from going under, having done two of the industry (and Columbia's) biggest revenue generators: Funny Girl and The Way We Were.

    My favorite sentence: “I was a star on Broadway, but I never thought of myself as a star. (I still don’t). “
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
    Hot Toasty Rag
    Review of 'My Name Is Barbra'

    “It’s only the best fruit the birds pick at.”
    Although not said by Barbra Streisand, the above quote from Bette Davis (written to Ms. Streisand after she received harsh words from others) sums up the unwarranted criticism of this immensely talented lady. I was probably a unique reader (unfortunately) and hadn’t heard any bad rumors about Ms. Streisand. I’d seen most of her films, listened to her Christmas album every year since its release, and her warmth and sensitivity immediately made an impression. I never thought she was unreasonable, difficult, egotistical, or didn’t know her place. My heart aches for her that she’s been criticized for decades and that untrue stories were circulated. A good portion of her memoir is dedicated to correcting those stories and telling the truth. Truth is very important to the authoress, and when we read how lies and betrayals were commonplace in her both her professional and personal lives, it’s quite painful. As I wrote in my fan letter, the honesty in her writing makes it easy to hope when she struggles, beam when she triumphs, appreciate her dedication, pain when she sorrows, and rejoice when she finally finds the love of her life.
    Ms. Streisand is an incredibly sensitive and deep-feeling woman. She’s intelligent and naturally gifted. It was surprising to me to learn that she’s never had a voice lesson in her life – especially since my mom had told me the story of a woman who claimed to be Ms. Streisand’s voice teacher! Yet another example of people taking advantage of Ms. Streisand and lying for personal gain. In addition to detailing the life events that most readers already know about (her Oscar wins and snubs, relationships with Elliot Gould and Jon Peters, and political involvement), she also takes us through private struggles and intimate sorrows. She’s quick to explain her remarks that were either taken out of context or misinterpreted. From walking out on Celine Dion’s performance due to a medical emergency to deliberately editing interview footage to twist her words against her, it’s incredible how many people attacked her because they had issues within themselves and didn’t care what damage would be done to an innocent woman.
    On a positive note, everything Ms. Streisand develops an interest in becomes a passion and success. Had she not become an actress (or singer or director or producer or writer or activist), she would have excelled in any number of other fields. Her love of food will leave you hungry; her respect for history will leave you thirsty for knowledge. She dabbles in the stock market, she knows how to mix sound tracks and edit video footage, and she even does her own makeup in every single film. And to top it off, everything she does, she does passionately and impeccably well. As a film production major (with an emphasis in editing), I appreciated her dedication to her films, and her ingenious method of taping a copy of the dailies on her camcorder so she could review the footage at home without adding to the budget or lab time. She’s the kind of person who’s constantly learning – and constantly loving. Reading about her love of little English tea sandwiches brought such a smile to my face. Although she has great moments of insecurity and can be her own worst critic, she still finds joy in all the little things.
    And what a memory! She remembers what she ate, what she wore, who said what, the order of her songs in her first nightclub act, making My Name Is Barbra a truly personal memoir. This isn’t a dish-the-dirt book, nor is it an I-like-everybody “tell all”. It’s a woman’s life. She has terrible tragedies and beautiful successes. She gives people their privacy, but tells us what she feels we need to know. She’s had friendships with Marlon Brando, Stephen Sondheim, and President Clinton, but she also writes about private moments with her doggies. She discusses pre-, post-, and mid-production of her films (which you’d better watch beforehand, because she reveals all the plots), the conceptions of her albums, and dreams that were never realized. (In case you were wondering why she never played Mama Rose, you’ll find your heartbreaking answer.) As an avid biography reader, I was so impressed by her collection of photos: dozens and dozens, including a full page of her favorite album covers and another dedicated to her husband.
    Don’t be daunted by the length; it will fly by and you’ll long for more once you’ve turned the final page. My mom and I read My Name Is Barbra together every day for a month. She was an integral part of our days, and we already miss her. Although, buying McConnell’s coffee ice cream at the store and re-watching her movies makes us feel closer to her.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Douglas Giltner
    5.0 out of 5 stars A delightfully detailed and very enjoyable autobiography
    Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2024
    What a source of joy and nostalgia this book has been to me! When I was in my late teens, I saw Funny Girl at my local theatre and from that point forward was a devoted Barbra Streisand fan. To be taken through Streisand’s life in this detailed and highly readable autobiography has provided an opportunity for me to revisit so much of her brilliant work and, by extension, my own life as a fan. While I read the book, I took the time to listen to the albums and watch many of her movies, in some cases for the first time in years. This is a massive and exhaustive account of her life and work, but always interesting and highly enjoyable to read. An unparalleled talent as singer, actor, director and producer, Barbra Streisand here reveals herself to also be a skilled writer and storyteller. This book is highly recommended to fans old and new.
  • Pepe Aguilar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Soy fan de Barbra de toda la vida
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 4, 2023
    Lo estoy leyendo ,muy recomendable
  • Hugo Magalhaes Pinheiro Filho
    5.0 out of 5 stars Meu nome é Barbra
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 2, 2024
    Finalmente recebi meu tão esperado (auto)presente: a autobiografia de minha querida @barbrastreisand ! Agora, tenho a oportunidade de guardar essa preciosidade em minha estante, apresar de já ter lido de forma digital, já que esse livro capa dura iria demorar mais de um mês para chegar. A experiência de poder lê-lo novamente tocando suas páginas será única! Obrigado a AMAZON por ter me enviado esse livro, mas, principalmente, obrigado a @barbrastreisand por passar 10 anos para escrevê-lo e, sinceramente, confesso que fiquei surpreso com muitas das revelações. Ela esclareceu muitas coisas, que até um fã bem informado como eu não sabia.
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    Hugo Magalhaes Pinheiro Filho
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Meu nome é Barbra

    Reviewed in Brazil on January 2, 2024
    Finalmente recebi meu tão esperado (auto)presente: a autobiografia de minha querida @barbrastreisand ! Agora, tenho a oportunidade de guardar essa preciosidade em minha estante, apresar de já ter lido de forma digital, já que esse livro capa dura iria demorar mais de um mês para chegar. A experiência de poder lê-lo novamente tocando suas páginas será única! Obrigado a AMAZON por ter me enviado esse livro, mas, principalmente, obrigado a @barbrastreisand por passar 10 anos para escrevê-lo e, sinceramente, confesso que fiquei surpreso com muitas das revelações. Ela esclareceu muitas coisas, que até um fã bem informado como eu não sabia.
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  • Fer min
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gür Barbara Streisend Fans
    Reviewed in Germany on February 18, 2025
    War eine geschekn Für meinem Frau und sie sagt, dass das buch super ist
  • Neil Hardy
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2025
    What a great singer, one of the best. This book has been a great insight into things I didn’t know about Barbra and lovely remembering the things I did know.