Dr. Laura: The Unauthorized Biography

I've always been fascinated by people who move to California to "become" what they felt they couldn't back in their home town. Those who set out to reinvent themselves seldom fully succeed--and proof positive of this fact is Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Vickie L. Bane interviewed a great many people and carefully researched other press and anecdotal accounts of Schlessinger's rise to radio stardom.The picture isn't pretty, and time after time, Dr. Laura's own life completely refutes the ideas that she presses forcefully on her callers to her radio programs, some of whom appear acutely masochistic, if not unrealistic to believe that they can "fix" what ails them in a three-minute phone chat, often laced with sarcasm, hostility or even abuse from Dr. Laura.Dr. Laura doesn't believe in divorce, pre- or extramarital sex, or writing off one's family members, and yet she has done every one of those things: She became estranged from her father, mother, and younger sister. She dumped the nice Jewish orthodontist she married and never mentions. She engaged in an enthusiastic affair with Los Angeles radio legend Bill Ballance (who speaks very candidly with Bane), who helped her get into radio. Dr. Laura lured her current husband, Lew Bishop, away from his wife and three children, had her tubal ligation reversed in order to conceive out of wedlock. Eventually she and Bishop married and produced a child as goopily extolled (and, to my mind, as exploited) as Kathie Lee Gifford's kids Cody and Cassidy. Child of a Jewish father and Catholic mother, Dr. Laura converted to Orthodox Judaism, a choice that she uses as a bludgeon to people that she perceives as less "committed" to her brand of situational morality.Bane neatly debunks Dr. Laura's "I'm My Kid's [Full-Time] Mom" shtick by documenting how and when Laura returned to work after her son's birth. As a child, Deryk ran wild in the hallways of KFI. For quite awhile, Dr. Laura used her visibility as a radio shrink as bait for prospective patients, one of whom details a disturbing breach of professional ethics, that of respecting strict boundaries of behavior between therapist and client. This former client was also a "friend" to Dr. Laura, and went shopping and lunching with her, as well as babysitting for Deryk. This book, though complete as is, would benefit from an update with events that also reflect upon Dr. Laura's post-publication life--such as the failure of Dr. Laura's television show, her defection from Orthodox Judaism, and the fact that her mother, to whom Laura had not spoken for years, died alone in her apartment in Beverly Hills and wasn't found for days.Isn't it funny-peculiar how right-leaning cheerleaders for their own definition of morality extend the statute of limitations on their own personal "youthful indiscretions" well into their forties? Schlessinger is no exception(...)

Of course, as another reviewer noted, my opinion, the best way to form an opinion of Dr. Laura's character is to listen to her show. And I can't help thinking "sanctimonious" whenever I do.

I've listened to "Dr" Laura over the years, and noticed her becoming more vicious, condescending, and cruel. This book fills in the blanks of "Why would she act like this?" The book does not take undocumented pot-shots, nor does it conflict with any of the other written materials I've seen or what I've heard on her show: it portrays her as energetic, quick, and far too eager to believe in her own supremacy.An enlightening read.

As a local listener, I have been increasingly concerned with the strident, and unnecessarily harsh manner which she treated callers. This book provides more background on why.I was sad to see that the harsh, self-righteous pronouncements made in the guise of advice were based in the life of a harsh, self-righteous person. More disturbing to me was the ungrateful manner in which Dr. Laura seems to have treated people unfortunate enough to have come in contact with her during her career. Other hosts have made oblique references to her personality and how she has acted in the past, and this book confirms what had been a gnawing impression that Dr. Laura is not all that she wishes to project.While I support some of the stands which she has made in the defense of children and responsibility, I fear that her actions may yet do more harm than good to her causes.I've switched to Jazz in the afternoons.

I personally know the subject quite well and the author has portrayed the good doctor to a tee. There is no malice here...this is the true essence of a woman with so many psychological promblems she should be calling her own show. She is pure entertainment (a la Rush Limbaugh) and a cunning business woman. I have seen her operate and find this portrayal reality. Unfortunately the dim-witted people who find her a hero won't bother to pick up this book...the sheep too dumb to learn about the obnoxious Derek and Dr. Laura