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Personal History
Personal History
Author: Katharine Graham
In this bestselling and widely acclaimed memoir, Katharine Graham, the woman who piloted the Washington Post through the crises of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate, tells her story - one that is extraordinary both for the events it encompasses and for the courage, candor, and dignity of its telling.
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ISBN: 511001
Publication Date: 3/1998
Pages: 642
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0 stars, based on 0 rating
Publisher: Vintage
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Alohna avatar reviewed Personal History on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I'm not usually a biography reader, but this was great. If you're old enough to remember Watergate, that part is fascinating, but the best bit is her progression from housewife to chairman of the Washington Post. She is humble, uncommon enough from someone with her background and eventual responsibilities. I found it inspiring and a good piece of contemporary history.
reviewed Personal History on + 24 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I really liked this book as a description of grown ups in the 70's; she accurately describes herself and every other mother in the 70's. Also, it is a very good description of how a woman was treated before and after "feminists." Her story is good, Watergate is only a teeny tiny part of the book, but it is a very good commentary on her generation.
reviewed Personal History on
Helpful Score: 3
This is a wonderful, engaging and interesting book. Katharine Graham tells her personal story with humor, insight and a very personal look at the important political changes and developments of the 1960's and 1970's. It is a fascinating read on some of the people at the center of the Watergate scandal.
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reviewed Personal History on + 77 more book reviews
This is a big read, but I loved it. We used to live in Northern Virginia, and the Washington Post was my favorite paper. No, I'm not liberal, but I loved it anyway. Fascinating look at a woman born into wealth, but didn't really get to choose her path in life. Fascinating look at behind the scenes at big newspapers, what really goes on. The stresses of running a large paper, management issues, strikes, guilds and unions, Watergate, Pentagon papers, an inside look at Warren Buffett and many famous leaders: it's all here. An awesome look at women's issues through the century. Katharine Graham's mother was perhaps most liberated of all for the times...very outspoken. I enjoyed the family history.
valeriemaha avatar reviewed Personal History on + 14 more book reviews
This is really an amazing book in so many ways, not the least of which is the politico-historical perspective. Though it's long, I found it entertaining and enlightening...a glimpse at a woman in her time.
reviewed Personal History on + 10 more book reviews
This book has a lot of interesting detail of history and famous people that the author shared her life around in the political & business realms. She was a role model for future women in business as she paved the road.
knut avatar reviewed Personal History on + 59 more book reviews
There have been many books written about the women who have taken on and made made changes in our society. Katherine Graham piolted the WASHINGTON POST thrugh the crises of Watergate and the Pentagon Papers. This personal history of her life and times reflect the culture of those years. Read this to know some of the challenges women have faced in journalism and the politcal arena.
glomper avatar reviewed Personal History on + 5 more book reviews
Although I have a lot of respect for Katharine Graham and her story, I found the book too long and cumbersome to read.
reviewed Personal History on + 16 more book reviews
For those of you that like memoirs, this is an excellent read. What life is like for a woman who has grown up in a very powerful family and lives to tell the tale.

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