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 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 (musical and film) to the 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.
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.
From both a sentimental and a reviewer’s point of view, My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand was an unforgettable experience for me.
I admit that I went into this memoir with a bit of prejudice. I have loved Barbra Streisand since I was a teenager. I was too young to truly appreciate many of her films at the time, but I vividly remember how much my mother adored Funny Girl and Funny Lady.
I think it was that connection to my mother that compelled me to read this book. She certainly would have devoured it. My Name Is Barbra is what many would call a “doorstop” memoir, a book that is lengthy and immersive. I could not have been more excited to begin. I first heard about the audiobook from another reader who said listening to Barbra narrate her own story felt like sitting together in a coffee shop, simply listening to her talk. I completely agree. Even though I listened in segments, the memoir flew by because I was utterly enthralled by her stories.
One thing that deeply struck me throughout the memoir was how self-conscious Barbra has always been about her appearance, particularly her nose. I have always found her beautiful. Her voice affected me on such a visceral level when I was a teenager that I never paid attention to the things she believed detracted from her looks. It is a poignant reminder that insecurities exist even in those the world sees as extraordinary. Hearing her struggles with self-worth genuinely hurt my heart.
I was sixteen years old when I watched Lou Rawls perform on the Grammy Awards and momentarily freeze after choking during his performance. He recovered and finished the song, but the incident stayed with me. I remember asking my mother if that had ever happened to anyone else. She replied, “Not exactly, but Barbra Streisand has stage fright.”
That answer sparked my curiosity for decades, and this memoir finally satisfied it. Streisand explains why she went twenty-seven years without performing live. Since she quickly became my favorite singer, I had always wondered about that absence. Now, five decades later, I finally understand. Knowing the reason only deepened my admiration for her and never diminished my love for her music or the films of hers that I have seen.
From a reviewer’s perspective, Barbra Streisand’s life and career are nothing short of extraordinary. She has been a force in entertainment for more than six decades, and this memoir thoroughly explores that remarkable journey. Readers learn about her early rise to fame, her time on Broadway, and her success on the big screen. Beyond becoming an award-winning actress, she also established herself as a director, producer, and writer.
What especially fascinated me was learning more about her development as a singer. I have loved to see the tremendous success of her albums and the evolution of her musical career. While she discusses her films in great detail, both in front of and behind the camera, I realized that whenever I hear the name Barbra Streisand, my mind instinctively thinks “singer” first.
She also shares her political and social views, her passion for art and antiques, fashion, and the many other interests that have shaped her life. Her personal life is explored openly as well, including her marriage to Elliott Gould, their son Jason Gould, her divorce, and several important relationships throughout the years. I found many of those stories fascinating, especially the heartfelt account of how she met her husband, James Brolin, and the enduring happiness they have shared for nearly three decades.
There are definite advantages to experiencing this memoir in different formats. The audiobook is exceptional because hearing Barbra tell her own story in such a relaxed, conversational tone adds tremendous warmth and intimacy. The inclusion of audio clips from songs throughout her career was an invaluable treat. I also purchased the ebook because it includes a wonderful collection of photographs. If you are a Barbra fan - as I obviously am - you may very well want both the audiobook and the ebook. I know I am already looking forward to experiencing it again through Whispersync in the future.
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