For the past twenty-five years - initially as the perky and spirited host of the 'Today' show, then as the only woman ever to anchor a network news program solo - Katie Couric has been a familiar visitor into millions of homes all across America. Yet, despite all her public exposure, no one - until now - has been able to penetrate the shield of her closely guarded personal life - to reveal her secrets and her struggles in the cutthroat world of television news.

In this stunning portrait of America's queen of news, bestselling author Edward Klein rips away the mask that has hidden the many faces of Katie Couric: the strong, independent woman and the needy wife and lover; the grieving widow famed for her kindness toward others and the fiercely competitive diva; the consummate television interviewer and the stumbling network anchor.

Drawing on scores of interviews of people who have never spoken openly about Katie before, Katie: The Real Story chronicles her meteoric rise to the top - from her early days at CNN and local television stations (where she was told she would never succeed) to her phenomenal fifteen-year run on 'Today'. For the first time, the author reveals the critical role Katie's father played in her risky decision to leave 'Today' for the hallowed anchor chair once occupied by Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.

What is made clear in this book, is that Katie's road to stardom has been paved by a series of rocky personal relationships: a turbulent marriage to Jay Monahan, who died of colon cancer; testy associations with her 'Today' cohosts Bryant Gumbel and Matt Lauer; and several star-crossed love affairs, including one with a man seventeen years her junior.

Katie: The Real Story by Edward Klein is a candid portrait of a folksy, charming woman, a loving single mother, cunning business woman, feminist icon and notorious diva. It is a remarkably insightful, honest and unflinching look at an exceptional woman and the media kingdom she sought to rule.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, it was an excellent and intriguing portrait of the perils of show business. It was very interesting and certainly opened my eyes to a side of Katie Couric that is rarely seen by the public. I give Katie: The Real Story by Edward Klein an A+! and am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. ( )

I found this a very readable biography, and I appreciated learning more about the role her parents (particularly her father) played in her career moves. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse of the inner workings of CNN, NBC, and CBS and their respective anchors. What I concluded from this biography is that Katie's niche is not that of a serious news anchor (possibly her dad's influence to be another Cronkite) but rather something more akin to that of a talk-show host where she can use her particular gifts to the fullest. ( )

BIOGRAPHY OF KATIE COURIC------FAIR