The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters

Susan Page's biography examines the life and career of Barbara Walters, the most successful female broadcaster in television history. Walters emerged as a force in the 1960s as television expanded, and remained influential through decades of industry change. She broke barriers for women in broadcasting, expanded the television interview format, and interviewed more prominent figures—presidents, celebrities, criminals, and world leaders—than any other journalist. At sixty-seven, an age when many female broadcasters were forced to retire, she created The View, a new form of talk television. Page conducted 150 interviews and extensive archival research to explore Walters's personal motivations. The biography reveals that Walters's ambition was driven partly by her father's mental health crisis and suicide attempt, which created a lasting fear of financial instability. This fear compelled her to pursue opportunities no woman had previously sought, disregard cultural restrictions on women, outperform competitors, and maintain privacy around her personal relationships. Page uncovers details about Walters's career decisions and reveals secrets Walters kept throughout her life.