A review by erinkayata
Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand by William J. Mann

4.0

As a huge fan of Funny Girl, this book caught my eye. It only further increased my admiration for Streisand and her work. The biography reads like a story, flowing, intimate, and detailed. Mann certainly did his research, leaving me quite impressed. He also does an excellent job connecting Streisand's timeline to world history, referencing events like JFK's assassination and the Beatle's coming to America to set the scene and time period of the book. It's interesting to see how Streisand got to the top. Her ambition is admirable and relatable. I also now see a lot of her ways in today's celebrities; her use of her "kooky" personality to gain the publics attention is something that stars such as Lady GaGa have imitated. As a journalist with an interest in PR, I also found myself particularly intrigued by the snippets Mann offers from old newspapers and the tactics of Barbra's team to help her gain publicity. While it can be difficult to keep track of all the characters, ups, and downs at times, this book is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Barbra or the rise of a celebrity.