Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It [Import] [Paperback]

Cameron West (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 277 pages
• Publisher: Virago Press, Limited; New Ed edition (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860490344
• ISBN-13: 978-1860490347
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,536,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a Woman! What a Star! What an Ego!, August 22, 2003

By 

Gary F. Taylor "GFT" (Biloxi, MS USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It (Paperback)

Originally written in the 1950s and later updated in the early 1970s, GOODNESS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT is the autobiography of the celebrated Mae West, one of the 20th century's greatest stars of stage and screen. It is an entertaining read, and in her writings West perfectly captures that unique tone and way with words that made her world famous.

But whether she intended it to be so or not, the most interesting thing about the autobiography is its revelation of the incredible ego that drove her. To hear her tell it, West was born with absolute self-awareness, knew what she wanted from the cradle, and was well on her way to getting it before she could walk. Be it saving the life of a drowning child, doing a lion-taming act, or living out the life of sex goddess to end all sex goddesses, Mae West did it first--and if not first, at least better. And if either of those are a matter of opinion, there is clearly only one opinion that counts with West: hers.

Sometimes she is factually inaccurate, as in her assesment of the box office success of MY LITTLE CHICKADEE (it was not a big hit at the time.) Sometimes she simply ignores an unpleasant fact or two, as when she declares that her film work ended because no one could offer her a good script (in truth, her screen career ended because public taste had changed and her films simply weren't living up to box office expectations any more.) But the truly astonishing thing about her various claims is how often they really are correct: yes, she really did save Paramount from bankruptcy; yes, she really was the highest-paid star in 1930s Hollywood; yes, her stage work was every bit as legendary as she says it was.

If West's autobiography often comes off as boastful, it has reason to be so; even so, the tone of unending self-praise does have a way of wearing a bit thin after a while, and now and then a little humility would not have been amiss. And if you're expecting a litany of lovers and bedroom details, you will no doubt be disappointed in the book. West gives few details and names no names.

Even so, it is a fascinating--or should I say fascinatin'--read. It was a indeed a brilliant career, a remarkable life, a memorable personality. If you're a fan, this is a must have.

--GFT (Amazon.com Reviewer)--

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest has everything to do with it, August 25, 1999

By 

Anthony J DAguanno - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It (Paperback)

This is as close to a personal meeting with this remarkable woman as anyone could ever hope to get. Miss West's autobiography reads as though she were in the room dictating it word for word. It's all here; the humor, the wit, the history, and her life as she wanted it to be known. There are some great photos included as well. A lot of fun to read-I just wish it were longer!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Woman!!!, June 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It (Paperback)

This was an amusing and interesting autobiography by that goddess of sensuality and inventor of the innuendo, Mae West. If you like her, you'll love this book. If you're indifferent to her, you'll still appreciate this tale of life in the theatre and film industries from the early part of this century. If you don't like her, then all I can say is what's your damage?