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Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me Paperback – Unabridged, 14 April 2026
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An instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller!
From multi-award winner Whoopi Goldberg comes a new and unique memoir of her family and their influence on her early life.
If it weren't for Emma Johnson, Caryn Johnson would have never become Whoopi Goldberg. Emma gave her children the loving care and wisdom they needed to succeed in life, always encouraging them to be true to themselves. When Whoopi lost her mother in 2010--and then her older brother, Clyde, five years later--she felt deeply alone; the only people who truly knew her were gone.
Emma raised her children not just to survive, but to thrive. In this intimate and heartfelt memoir, Whoopi shares many of the deeply personal stories of their lives together for the first time. Growing up in the projects in New York City, there were trips to Coney Island, the Ice Capades, and museums, and every Christmas was a magical experience. To this day, she doesn't know how her mother was able to give them such an enriching childhood, despite the struggles they faced--and it wasn't until she was well into adulthood that Whoopi learned just how traumatic some of those struggles were.
Fans of personal memoirs such as Finding Me by Viola Davis and In Pieces by Sally Field will be touched by Bits and Pieces: a moving tribute from a daughter to her mother, and a beautiful portrait of three people who loved each other deeply. Whoopi writes, "Not everybody gets to walk this earth with folks who let you be exactly who you are and who give you the confidence to become exactly who you want to be. So, I thought I'd share mine with you."
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBlackstone Publishing
- Publication date14 April 2026
- Dimensions22.86 x 15.24 x 2.54 cm
- ISBN-13979-8874824365
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Product description
Review
"Bits and Pieces shows the rise of a beloved performer, and is a tribute to the loved ones who supported her along the way."
-- "People""[Whoopi's] new memoir is an emotional and uplifting exploration as, with her unique voice and trademark wit, she reflects on the people, places, and experiences that have made her the multi-award-winning icon she is today...Goldberg's fan base will be avid for the mix of memoir and guidance."
-- "Booklist""A beautiful, exquisite, and heartfelt memoir...I cried on every page."
-- "Nicolle Wallace, MSNBC news anchor, former White House communications director""A fine addition to biography collections."
-- "Library Journal""A masterful storyteller...Throughout this memoir, be prepared to laugh out loud and maybe shed some tears of joy and amazement."
-- "Los Angeles Public Library""A memoir about love, grief, and coping with losing those you love."
-- "Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday""A memoir full of simple life lessons that become vibrantly alive on audio."
-- "Booklist (starred audio review)""A poignant, enjoyable, and moving read...Readers will want to call their parents after finishing this behind-the-scenes look at the life of a major entertainer."
-- "Kirkus Reviews (featured review)""A rare gem among many ho-hum celebrity memoirs."
-- "New York Journal of Books""Anyone reading Whoopi's book Bits and Pieces will come away, as Whoopi puts it, 'knowing how to share the earth with other people' better than they had before. Thanks, Whoopi."
-- "Barry Josephson, producer""Entertainer Whoopi Goldberg's raspy timbre and amused tone make her the only person appropriate to narrate her memoir...The story of Goldberg's career is skillfully woven into anecdotes featuring her exceptional mother, Emma Johnson, and her unique older brother, Clyde...Her performance is entirely professional, loving and varied, serious one moment and funny the next, with a sprinkling of four-letter words throughout. Mom, Brother, and Caryn/Whoopi will remain in listeners' thoughts after hearing this singular memoir and performance."
-- "AudioFile""Filled with anecdotes that are intensely personal and yet read like the stuff of Hollywood legends...Goldberg's memorialization of herself and her late loved ones is emotional and so very informative."
-- "TV Insider""From the boardwalks of Coney Island to the lights of Broadway, Bits and Pieces is a tribute to the New York City of Goldberg's adolescence."
-- "Los Angeles Times""From witnessing her mother's mental breakdown when she was a child to growing up in the New York City projects, Goldberg looks back on the experiences that impacted her in this moving tribute to family."
-- "People (online) ""Goldberg relays the untold stories of her early years, starting with the projects in New York City. This sentimental story about family, identity, and determination was written after the loss of both her mother and brother. Much of the story describes the incredible guidance and opportunity her mother provided her, despite the trials and tribulations they experienced."
-- "Bookstr""Her book is remarkable...If you think you know [Whoopi], there's a lot you can learn about her that's extraordinary in this book--and her amazing mom, Emma, who sounds a lot like my mom."
-- "Anderson Cooper""Her most personal undertaking thus far."
-- "Vibe""It's a knockout...What a journey you took us on, Whoopi."
-- "Gayle King""Readers will be surprised at how full their hearts are by the time they reach the last page of Bits and Pieces. It's a beautiful look at not just Whoopi's soul, but the endearing moments she shared with her family, her ancestry, and ultimately with all of us along the way."
-- "Brit + Co""The pages are filled with fun and laughter, grief and sadness, and offer a rich tribute to the unbreakable love between mother and daughter."
-- "Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper""This is no dishy Hollywood tell-all--it's a salve for wounded souls."
-- "Publishers Weekly""This is the most amazing love letter."
-- "Sherri Shepherd, author and Emmy nominated & NAACP Image Award-winning host of Sherri""While many of us may think we know Whoopi Goldberg well, the actress and TV host shared a whole new side of herself in her memoir, Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me."
-- "SheKnows""Whoopi Goldberg has lived hundreds of lives."
-- "Salon""Whoopi Goldberg is getting ready to give folks an intimate look at her life...When fans learned the Sister Act alum would be publishing another book, they immediately rushed to the comments to congratulate her."
-- "Good Housekeeping""Whoopi Goldberg is looking back on a traumatic moment in her life when she decided to choose a better path for her future."
-- "BET""Whoopi Goldberg's trailblazing journey has been one of reinvention, determination...She says she was well-equipped starting with those lessons from her mom in that two-bedroom apartment in New York. It makes her perch here all that more impressive."
-- "Seth Doane, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent"About the Author
Whoopi Goldberg is one of an elite group of artists who have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards) and is the bestselling author of the Sugar Plum Ballerina series, Book, and Is It Just Me? While performing in the Bay Area she created the characters that became The Spook Show and evolved into her hit Broadway show, Grammy Award-winning album, and the HBO special that helped launch her career. Spanning decades, Whoopi's credits include roles in the well-known films The Color Purple, Ghosts of Mississippi, Sister Act, and Ghost. She produced the documentary Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley, and she appeared in and was one of the producers of the critically acclaimed 2022 feature film Till. She loves VW Bugs, working casinos, and comfortable clothing; is a passionate supporter of the audio arts and dedicated collector of audiobooks; and heads the Whoopfam Group, makers of Emma & Clyde, Whoopi & Maya, and other recreational and medicinal marijuana products.
Product details
- ASIN : B0DD51K7C7
- Publisher : Blackstone Publishing
- Publication date : 14 April 2026
- Edition : Unabridged
- Language : English
- ISBN-13 : 979-8874824365
- Item weight : 1.81 kg
- Dimensions : 22.86 x 15.24 x 2.54 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 1,185,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 126 in Death & Bereavement
- 3,576 in Theatre & Performance Artist Biographies
- 5,530 in Actors & Entertainers Biographies
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Whoopi Goldberg is the the author of the Sugar Plum Ballerinas books, as well as Whoopi's Big Book of Manners, illustrated by Olo. She has won a Tony, an Emmy, an Oscar, and a Grammy, as well as two Golden Globes. In 2001, she was awarded the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Whoopi Goldberg has appeared in scores of films and is a host of ABC's The View. She lives in New York and Vermont.
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Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 July 2025Format: AudiobookVery enjoyable listen. Whoopi is a great story teller
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 December 2024Format: Audiobook𝔹𝕚𝕥𝕤 & ℙ𝕚𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕤
My Mother, My Brother and Me
By Whoopi Goldberg
This is read by Whoopi Goldberg herself, and it's lovely to hear her talking about her relationship with her mother and brother.
They were definitely a solid unit together, and they always supported and cared for each other with open and loving advice and care.
It was interesting to learn about Whoopis childhood and teenage years and how she always wanted to be an actress. She truly believed in herself and the roles that she could play.
She spoke about aspects of her career and how she always celebrated the success of other actors.
I loved Whoopie in Sister Act and Ghost. They were two of my favourite films 🎥 🎞
She also speaks about becoming a mum and grandma and how the support and guidance from her own mother was priceless.
A mother's bond is the strongest connection you will ever have, and until you lose them and they are no longer there, you won't understand the true meaning of that emptiness that engulfs you.
Everyone's grief is different. Everyone's grief is valid!
A really wonderful, interesting memoir!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me! 🤓
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2024Format: HardcoverThis book was everything I wanted and more in many ways. You’d expect from the title a memoir rooted in family memories but what I wasn’t expecting was how much the narrative intertwines that theme with Whoopi as we perhaps know her in the public. She paints such a vivid picture of her mother you can really envision her being there at certain milestones in Whoopi’s career and other humorous scenarios shared (often involving encounters with well known celebrities). The writing often feels cathartic and this is where I was surprised as I felt it often spoke to my own deep fears of losing my own mother and how I might cope. The bonus anecdotes for me were the things you would want from a celebrity memoir. I think some of the insight into the color purple film have been shared here for the first time. Who knew Whoopi wrote Alice Walker a letter long before casting began?! I was also delighted by the mention of Dame Maggie Smith who really shines through as the loyal persona you would hope she was. The audible version is really worth it if you’re on the fence.
Top reviews from other countries
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Luis AlbertoReviewed in Mexico on 29 July 20245.0 out of 5 stars An amazing memoir
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseUna de las actrices más queridas del medio comparte en este libro algunas de sus memorias más entrañables al lado de sus seres queridos, dejando claro que, pase lo que pase, la familia es la familia.
Todo en orden: entrega y presentación. Se los recomiendo.
Una de las actrices más queridas del medio comparte en este libro algunas de sus memorias más entrañables al lado de sus seres queridos, dejando claro que, pase lo que pase, la familia es la familia.5.0 out of 5 stars
Luis AlbertoAn amazing memoir
Reviewed in Mexico on 29 July 2024
Todo en orden: entrega y presentación. Se los recomiendo.
Images in this review
Kathy ColeReviewed in the United States on 30 December 20255.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseJust loved reading this book it was a great read. Recommend everyone to read.
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Millena AlonsoReviewed in Brazil on 2 July 20255.0 out of 5 stars Qualidade excelente, chegou antes do prazo.
Qualidade excelente, chegou bem antes do prazo, vc em embalado! Amei!
Qualidade excelente, chegou bem antes do prazo, vc em embalado! Amei!5.0 out of 5 stars
Millena AlonsoQualidade excelente, chegou antes do prazo.
Reviewed in Brazil on 2 July 2025
Images in this review
Jamieson WolfReviewed in Canada on 30 May 20245.0 out of 5 stars Filled With Wisdom
Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseJust finished Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg. What a gorgeous, beautiful, and wonderful book. Told with frank honesty, this book is full of life lessons and wisdom. What a joy this book was to read. Whoopi tells how her mother and brother helped to shape who she is today, and it made me love my mom a little bit more. I love this book so much. I got the ebook, but now I want the hardcover!
Just finished Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg. What a gorgeous, beautiful, and wonderful book. Told with frank honesty, this book is full of life lessons and wisdom. What a joy this book was to read. Whoopi tells how her mother and brother helped to shape who she is today, and it made me love my mom a little bit more. I love this book so much. I got the ebook, but now I want the hardcover!5.0 out of 5 stars
Jamieson WolfFilled With Wisdom
Reviewed in Canada on 30 May 2024
Images in this review
Joanne E. DrummondReviewed in Canada on 6 June 20245.0 out of 5 stars best ever
Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseLoved everything about this book. Whoopi is the best. She has more common sense and and authenticity than anyone. This book is relatable to most people. Loved every page. Honest and raw. A must read. So many life lessons shared with all.











