Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir [Hardcover]

Cyndi Lauper (Author), Jancee Dunn (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: September 18, 2012

Legendary and iconic singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper offers a poignant account of the journey that led her to become an international superstar—from her years growing up in Queens, New York, to the making of enduring hits like “Time After Time,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and “True Colors,” to becoming an actress, a mother, an outspoken activist, and maintaining a music career that has lasted more than thirty years.

After leaving her childhood home at seventeen, Cyndi took on a series of jobs: racetrack hot walker, IHOP waitress, and, as she puts it, “gal Friday the thirteenth,” as she pursued her passion for music. She worked her way up playing small gigs and broke out in 1983 with She’s So Unusual, which earned her a Grammy for Best New Artist and made her the first female artist in history to have four top-five singles on a debut album. And while global fame wasn’t always what she expected, she has remained focused on what matters most. Cyndi is a gutsy real-life heroine who has never been afraid to speak her mind and stick up for a cause—whether it’s women’s rights, gay rights, or fighting against HIV/AIDS.

With her trademark warmth and humor, Cyndi fearlessly writes of a life she’s lived only on her own terms.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir] doesn’t feel like an autobiography so much as a long, loud, deep interesting chat over coffee.” (Rollingstone)

"Lauper’s story echoes the hopes of a struggling artist portrayed in Patti Smith’s Just Kids. A moving story of an American musical original." (Kirkus Reviews)

"[Cyndi Lauper] was mouthy then and she’s mouthy now, and [...] when authority wags its stern finger in her face, she still responds with a finger." (The Washington Post)

About the Author

Cyndi Lauper has won a Grammy, two American Music Awards, an Emmy, three MTV Video Music Awards, and has been nominated for many more. She has sold more than thirty million albums globally and continues to tour around the world. An unwavering advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality, Cyndi created the True Colors Tour in 2007 and founded the True Colors Fund in 2008. Visit CyndiLauper.com. 

Jancee Dunn has written three books, including the rock memoir But Enough About Me. She writes for many publications, including The New York Times, Vogue, and O, The Oprah Magazine.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (September 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143914785X
• ISBN-13: 978-1439147856
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jancee Dunn grew up in Chatham, New Jersey. She was a writer at Rolling Stone from 1989-2003. She has written for many publications, among them the New York Times, Vogue, GQ, and O: The Oprah Magazine. She has been an entertainment correspondent for Good Morning America and, for five years, a veejay for MTV2. Her memoir "But Enough About Me," about her life as chronically nervous celebrity interviewer, came out in 2006, and the novel "Don't You Forget About Me" followed in 2008. Her collection of essays entitled "Why Is My Mother Getting A Tattoo? And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had To Ask" was a finalist for the Thurber Prize For American Humor. Most recently she collaborated with Cyndi Lauper for "Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir," released September 2012. She and her husband live in Brooklyn.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Once you start reading it you can't put it down September 18, 2012

By Mat

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Her life story reads like a novel that you can't put down. So true. It's a fascinating book. Very visual and compelling. You can hear Cyndi's talking about her life. A must read! It was so tempting that I read it within 1 day.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 'I'm Gonna Be Strong' September 18, 2012

By zombiederek

Format:Hardcover

Cyndi's track 'I'm Gonna Be Strong' could've easily been an alternate title for her book, detailing many intimate looks at her life. This novel is a must read for any Lauper fan or if you're just wanting a deepr look at the woman behind her music. Pain, love, life have been the subjects of her songs for many years, and Lauper and Dunn have so well crafted her life and those subjects in her life into words. I'm 25 years old and wasn't even around for most of Cyndi's heyday, but I've been a fan since the day I was born and I've so often wondered what has inspired her lifestyle, lyrics, music, etc and this book gets right to the point with it all. Some of the things she's gone through surprised me; What she really endured to become successful. Some of her stories downright made me laugh, some almost seemed unreal to picture. Within this detailed look at her life lies her background, her roots, her memories of heartache, love and life. Whether you're a Lauper enthusiast or a casual fan, you won't want to miss this fantastic story.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Across the Universe September 25, 2012

By John Rauch

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

As an admirer of Ms Lauper's since her ground breaking 80's "She's So Unusual", I was excited to see her Memoir come into existence. It seems there are few celebrities in our world like she. A person, who did her thing, and has done what she was called to do, and made a living doing so. The brillance of Ms Lauper, unlike Madonna, who I am a fan of for other reasons, is she is a more "human" celebrity. Instead of going with a "universal" trend, she did, and is doing her thing. I beleive she understands we are all celebrities, and are in this Universe to do what we are called to do.

I recently received her Memoir, and with the first couple of chapters, I am hooked. Especially with the "crazy" things she said or did in her younger years, and her response of "I think it scared" people, showing understanding herself, and not wanting to upset her fellow human beings. Or a classic line like "wow, look what God did to his son, Jesus, Now imagine what he's doing to do to me. I'm not even related."

She get's she is human, a celebrity, but nothing, and everything, special. I beleive she understands we all are. If only we could all think the same way!

I thoroughy recommend her Memoir.