Being Martha: The Inside Story of Martha Stewart and Her Amazing Life

By Lloyd Allen

Book Overview

Martha Stewart is one of the most influential and charismatic women in the

world. She has revolutionized our idea of what "lifestyle" means and has tens

of millions of devoted fans. For years, we have heard a stream of negative

stories purporting to reveal the "real" Martha. Yet the real, complex woman

behind the iconic image and brand has never come through--until now. Being

Martha finally sets the record straight.

With Being Martha, Allen introduces you to the flesh-and-blood woman

behind the glamorous public image. Drawing on hundreds of hours of exclusive

interviews with Martha; her family, including her mother, her daughter, Alexis,

her sister Laura, and her brother George; and many of her closest friends and

colleagues over the years, the author at last shows us the real Martha: an enormously

talented, passionate, determined, and hard-working woman who has

achieved phenomenal success by inspiring and enriching the lives of millions.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471771015
• ISBN13: 9780471771012
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Trade Paper Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

PLEASING OBSERVATIONS WRITTEN BY A FRIEND

First I must state I am not particularly a fan of Ms. Stewart. On the other hand, I really have absolutely nothing against her. I don't know her, and in all likelihood never will. I do know that she has received some pretty bad press and a lot of hack writers have made a bit of money taking cheap shots at her. That being said, I rather enjoyed this work. I see absolutely nothing wrong in a friend writing about a friend and saying nice things about the friend they are writing about. The author's style is a little too gushy for my taste i.e. "to die for" is not the way people I know describe cookies. On the other hand, the author's world is different than mine, and that is okay. I dare say the author never uses phrases such as "damn, this is good stuff" when describing cookies. I do admit to finding Ms. Stewart a fascinating individual, and while, as I said, I am not a particular fan, I do admire what she has accomplished. The author gives us yet another view of this woman's life, and that is always refreshing. Like her or not, she certainly has made an impact on our society. It is people such as her we should all know about. This is a fast read and you certainly will not be the worse for wear by reading it and might even enjoy it. Overall, recommend.

Surprisingly Real

I was so impressed to finally read writings about Martha that were neither sappy and artificial nor spiteful and mean spirited. Allen is a true friend to Martha the kind that sees her how she really is faults and all and obviously still respects her. I love that he doesn't immortalize her as some sort of goddess but yet you can sense that he has a great deal of respect and admiration for her. I have always been a huge fan of Martha especially after she was, in my opinion, held up a bit unfairly as an example of how the government was cracking down on big business. This book takes a true and accurate look at the women, wife, mother, friend and incredible business women that Martha is. She has a temper like most of us, she is moody just like most of us, she likes nice things just like most of us. The difference is that her every move is scrutinized in most cases negatively and out of context. Yet she handles it all with grace and dignity as best she can and strives more recently to open herself up and let us her fans in. I highly recommend this book to her fans as well as those who through negative press have decided they do not like her. Give it a chance it might change your mind. Thank you Allen for an excellent view into the true Martha. Thank you Martha for Being Martha.

Well written, The real Martha

I didn't know what to expect, but I can say I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I found out that the Martha we see in the press is nothing like the real person. I found out that Martha is a kind caring person who wants success for others around her as much as for herself. She has helped and inspired countless people both personally and professionally. I was inspired by this book. A great read. I would buy it again.

Finally, the truth about Martha

So many, many lies about Martha have been written by total strangers (they shall remain nameless; they know who they are) that it was a bit shocking and very refreshing for me to finally read the truth about Martha as told by someone who has actually known her for years. As the editor of SaveMartha, I have dissected many of the false stories about Martha, each of which was eventually proven to be untrue. I got to know who Martha is by being there at her trial, by speaking with her friends, family and employees, and came to understand that almost nothing the public knows about this woman is even close to the truth. Before Christopher Byron's Martha Inc. was published with all of it's negative rumors, stories and innuendo, Martha had been planning to release her own autobiography. To her own misfortune she put it on hold. Thus Byron became the "authority" on all things Martha, and the negative impact all of that bad PR likely had on her reputation and on her trial cannot be denied. Martha Stewart was ultimately tried and convicted for being Martha Stewart. That is why Being Martha is the perfect title for this book. Everyone wonders who the real Martha Stewart is. Finally, here is a book without any hidden agendas. Lloyd Allen has known Martha and her family for years. And he shows us Martha--warts and all--as only a good friend could. He has no illusions that Martha is "Miss Perfect" or that she even portrays herself that way. But she is a very hard worker; she strives for perfection and for the best way to do things. And then she shares that knowledge with the world. Have there been bumps along the way? Has anyone's feelings been hurt or have friendships been lost along the way? This book shows us that course they have, and that it was inevitable for anyone on the kind of meteoric ride Martha's career has taken. Being Martha puts that all into perspective and lets the reader understand that Martha Stewart the celebrity is also Martha Stewart the human being. Lloyd has shared with the world his own very real insider information, and this book is unlike anything I have ever read about Martha Stewart. And I am certain it is unlike anything she has ever read about herself. Finally we have it, the truth about Martha...