memoirs

Books on Sex Scandals
Books

Books on a Scandal: Would You Dig Into These Juicy Reads?

One of our October must reads, Arnold Schwarzenegger's memoir Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, hits bookshelves today.
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One of our October must reads, Arnold Schwarzenegger's memoir Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, hits bookshelves today. We can't help but be intrigued to hear what the former "Governator" has to say about his numerous affairs and hiding his out-of-wedlock love child from his former wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver. Arnold isn't the only famous person penning a tell-all book about a sex scandal. Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky has reportedly signed a contract for a tell-all book about her affair with Bill Clinton.

It's one thing to read news reports about the shocking scandals that rock the political or celebrity worlds, but it's even more enticing to dive into a firsthand account from someone who was there when it happened. These tell-all books include behind-the-scenes looks at some of the biggest sex-related scandals to grab headlines in recent years. Check out these juicy reads now and tell us if you'd read them.

Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story What Really Happened: John Edwards, Our Daughter, and Me Monica Lewinsky's Alleged Tell-All Book Honor Bound Once Upon a Secret A Paper Life High on Arrival
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Underrated Memoirs
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8 Underrated Memoirs

I asked what your favorite memoir was last week, and all you confession-reading lovers chimed in with your picks.
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I asked what your favorite memoir was last week, and all you confession-reading lovers chimed in with your picks. There were the usual suspects, like Angela's Ashes, but I was amazed by the variety and your less-than-obvious choices.

So out of all of your suggestions in comments and on Facebook, I picked eight underrated memoirs to put on your radar.

Have any to add?

Bristol Palin Memoir
Books

3 Things I'd Like to Read in Bristol Palin's Memoir

What can a 20-year-old say in a memoir?
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What can a 20-year-old say in a memoir? Well, Bristol Palin could say a lot. Nobody's expecting I Know Why the Caged Bird Signs, of course, but I'd like to see her, and her ghost writer, be defiantly honest.

The "Untitled Bristol Palin Memoir" listing was removed from Amazon after Political Wire pointed it out yesterday. I doubt that means it's not happening, but merely Bristol and her publisher were planning more pomp and publicity for its announcement. It was up long enough to note the book will be published by the same Harper Collins imprint, William Morrow & Co., as mom Sarah Palin's Going Rogue and America by Heart. So while I'll fear Bristol will take this as an opportunity to promote her — or her mother's — abstinence evangelism, it really would be in nobody's best interest. Especially her own.

She's writing a book to make money, so she'll have to get down and juicy if she wants it to sell. Sure, she may just be a 20-year-old from Alaska, but the last two years of her life have been whirlwind fascinating. Find three things I'd like to hear about below.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Will Pen Coffee Business Memoir No. 2
Books

Starbucks CEO Will Pen Coffee Business Memoir No. 2

There's never a dull moment at Starbucks.
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OnwardThere's never a dull moment at Starbucks. Just ask CEO Howard Schultz, who's just revealed the name of his second business memoir. The book, which drops March 29, is titled Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul and is available for preorder on Amazon, where a mock-up of the cover shows Schultz has already incorporated the company's controversial new logo.

The book will cover Schultz's return to the Starbucks helm after an eight-year hiatus as CEO, and detail the company's struggles with its core brand identity as well as its recent successes. This one's going straight to my brand-new Kindle. Will you read it?

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5 Captivating Tomes For the Literary Foodie
Holiday

5 Captivating Tomes For the Literary Foodie

In the age of iPod Nanos, bluetooth headsets, and Nintendo Wiis, there's something special about getting a loved one the time-honored gift of a book.
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Sex, Death, and Oysters by Robb Walsh

In the age of iPod Nanos, bluetooth headsets, and Nintendo Wiis, there's something special about getting a loved one the time-honored gift of a book. For the culinary-obsessed friend who has enough cookbooks, but loves to read as voraciously as he eats, consider one (or several) books to further whet his appetite for the finer food experiences in life.

Fork It Over by Alan Richman Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl Sex, Death, and Oysters by Robb Walsh Best Food Writing 2009
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The Big Rewind by Nathan Rabin, a Pop Culture Memoir
Books

Book Bag: The Big Rewind, a Pop Culture Memoir

On more than one occasion, I've imagined what song would make the perfect soundtrack for a moment I'm currently living.
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On more than one occasion, I've imagined what song would make the perfect soundtrack for a moment I'm currently living. One of my friends' favorite party topics is who would play us in our hypothetical biopics. We are a pop-culture obsessed culture, comparing our realities to that of reality TV stars and voraciously devouring VH1 specials and The Soup.

Naturally, I love the idea of The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought to You by Pop Culture by The Onion arts and entertainment writer Nathan Rabin. The book tells Rabin's autobiography through the context of the songs, books, movies, and other diversions that defined his youth.

If you're still looking for something to read this month, Rabin's memoir sounds pretty rich. Each episode is tied to a specific song, book, or show, whether it's a story about tripping on mushrooms at the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam or a stay in a mental hospital that's compared to Girl, Interrupted. To read some of what Rabin has to say about the power of pop culture, read more

Russell Brand's New Memoir
Books

Are You Interested in Reading Russell Brand's Book?

After introducing himself to American audiences playing a smug British rock star in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Russell Brand went on to host the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.
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After introducing himself to American audiences playing a smug British rock star in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Russell Brand went on to host the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Still, he's not quite yet a household name on this side of the pond.

So it's interesting to find his memoir on bestselling lists here in the States. Apparently My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up is a good read, thanks to Brand's honest and humorous writings about his troubled childhood and struggles with addiction. America's eating it up!

So what do you think? Are you interested in reading this funny guy's book?

Katherine Heigl to Star In, Produce Carolyn Jessop's Memoir, Escape
Books

Katherine Heigl to Take On Carolyn Jessop's Polygamy Story

Carolyn Jessop's memoir Escape will be adapted for the big screen, with Katherine Heigl attached to star and produce, Variety reports.
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Carolyn Jessop's memoir Escape will be adapted for the big screen, with Katherine Heigl attached to star and produce, Variety reports. Jessop, whose testimony helped convict polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, "was born into the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints sect. At 18 she married a man 32 years her senior; at 35, she fled with her eight children."

Another memoir focusing on this same Warren Jeffs case was also recently acquired by a movie studio, Elissa Wall's Stolen Innocence. Apparently this particular case is becoming a favorite headline for filmmakers to rip.

Do you think Heigl will do well with this weighty drama?

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YumSugar Gift Guide: Books for Cooks
Books

YumSugar Gift Guide: Books for Cooks

My sister is a big reader — she always seems to have her nose shoved into a book — that is starting to develop a larger interest in cooking.
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My sister is a big reader — she always seems to have her nose shoved into a book — that is starting to develop a larger interest in cooking. That's why this year I'm thinking about getting her one of the many wonderful cookbooks and memoirs that have recently hit the shelves. If you've got a reader in your family — or someone who just loves cookbooks — take note, there are some great gifts to be found. One of my top choices is Cooking by James Peterson; it is an impressive tome with over 1500 color photos and is a fantastic reference for any cook. However, if your bookworm is more book and less cook, you may want to try The Amateur Gourmet, a charming book that's difficult to put down. Scroll through for more gift ideas, including one for a Deluxe Cookbook Holder.