Howard Stern: King of All Media : The Unauthorized Biography (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Howard Stern talks about himself on his syndicated radio show 5 days a week, 4 hours a day. Howard Stern already has published two best-selling books based on his life and career. This leaves very little of interest for the author to say about Stern who, after all, is popular partly because he blabs so freely about his own (married) sex life and the mundane humiliations of his past. Colford flips the coin and bets the reader will be interested to hear how NORMAL and NOT shocking the shock-jock's life really is. Some will be more interested than others.

From Library Journal

There are many reasons not to like this tape. Narrator Elliot Gould sounds as if reading it is the most painful and embarrassing thing he has ever done. He mispronounces names and terms that anyone with a passing knowledge of Howard Stern would know and is unable to produce the accents needed to provide a better understanding of some portions of the book. In addition, author Colford, a radio columnist and author of The Rush Limbaugh Story (St. Martin's, 1993), seems to focus on Stern's failures and acknowledges Stern's only success as being able to rise from adversity. On the plus side, this is a straightforward retelling of the facts of Stern's life without the slant provided by Stern himself in Private Parts (S. & S., 1993) and Miss America (HarperCollins, 1995). Since Colford was unable to interview Stern or his intimates, he relies on interviews with past employers and newspaper clippings. He does quote extensively and offer some information not found in Stern's or his colleague Robin Quivers's books (Quivers: A Life, Audio Reviews, LJ 9/1/95). Colford's book provides a balance to Stern's autobiographical tomes. Librarians should consider buying Stern's or Quivers's books first and buying Colford's audio to supplement them.?Danna Bell-Russel, District of Columbia P.L.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 271 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312142692
• ISBN-13: 978-0312142698
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,144,821 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Howard Stern : King of All Media., March 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Howard Stern: King of All Media (Mass Market Paperback)

It pretty much is a factual account of Howard Stern's life from his childhood days to his days in Detroit and WNBC radio. Nothing risque is really discussed. I would recommend it to someone who is looking for a viewpoint of Howard's life other than Howard. The author neither supports or chastises Stern, but presents the facts without any bias one way or the other, and that's nice to see in journalism. It's definitely worth checking out.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the Howard Stern fan who has everything -- almost., July 2, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Detroit, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Howard Stern: King of All Media (Mass Market Paperback)

I found Paul Colford's book interesting, well-written, and entertaining. I have all of Howard Stern's books, videos, CDs, and a large collections of magazine articles and such. King of All Media is a nice addition to my collection. But don't take my word for it. Go to the nearest bookstore and check it out for yourself. Then get online and order it for less $$ from amazon.com.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Confidence Is Being Bold Enough To Be Yourself!, September 23, 2003

By	Joseph J. Janos III (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

America has been known the bastion where you have a right to be different if you have the confidence to stay with your beliefs in the face of societal ridicule. Pioneers end up two ways, some find prosperity by starting new paths, and some end up with arrows in their backs. After reading this book, Howard Stern is a Pioneer that prospers due to his will to be different and confident at work and in life.

It was a joy reading an unbiased book on Howard Stern. I enjoyed his radio show once in awhile but admit I have had to tune it out and off now and then too. The book gave interesting information on the salaries of his staff and inner workings of Radio and TV Stations and how programs acquire airtime.

I agree with author who never trashes Howard Stern but actually gives a good picture of him and his struggles to being a Top Radio personality. I admire Howard's sheer determination to work hard at job, support his family and talk about anything.

I really enjoyed learning how the Stations Sponsors who advertised on his show were impressed with his professionalism and interest in knowing and learning everything about their products and services they were selling. This is a true mark of an honest man living up to his job as a professional.

I was surprised to learn that Infinity did pay off his FCC fines to avoid problems with a merger later. I feel Howard has been a pioneer with the airwaves and first amendment issues to the public benefit not to anyone's detriment.

Since losing his marriage and wife as well as Jackie the Joke Man it is not the same show. But is still entertaining. I now use it as one of three stations I use walking in the morning. I find National Public Radio more enlightening, Jim Quinn for more thoughtful and Howard and crew interesting and delightful on entertainment issues of our day.

In the end, Howard learn to be confident in his own ideas, own behavior and always paid attention to his sponsors, people who helped him and mutual friends and professionals. I believe having supreme confidence in you like Howard Stern demonstrates every day. Those seeking to banish him just need to tune him out or off, but not remove him in anyway