Joan Rivers Confidential: The Unseen Scrapbooks, Joke Cards, Personal Files, and Photos of a Very Funny Woman Who Kept Everything

by Melissa Rivers, Scott Currie

Joan Rivers is an enduring icon of the 20th century, and her wildly popular humor has appealed to generations of fans. With a career that began in the late 1950s, Joan kept mementos over the course of her entire working life, and Joan Rivers Confidential is a compilation of never-before-seen personal archives. Assembled by her daughter Melissa with Scott Currie, the book contains scripts and monologues, letters from famous friends, exchanges with fans, rare photographs, as well as classic and never-before-heard jokes—many simply scribbled on everything from hotel stationery to airplane boarding passes. Touching on subjects from her 50 years in show business ( The Tonight Show , Las Vegas, Elizabeth Taylor, Heidi Abromowitz, the red carpet, and Fashion Police ), this is a revelatory and humor-filled insider look at the popular, multitalented comedian.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Biography, Comedy

336 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2017

About the author

Melissa Joan Rivers is an American television co-host and the daughter of Joan Rivers.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Joan Rivers suddenly passed away, my significant other was definitely upset. We'd met her at a charity event in NYC once, and she embodied telling the truth in a fair and straightforward way, even if sometimes it was mostly to get a laugh. Never spiteful, she truly just wanted to entertain and be honest. Loved her show and the relationship with her daughter. The book brought up so many great and scary moments, and you never really know what's happening behind the scenes. Glad to read this and reconnect with an idol.

[Fifi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Joan

It was a little hard on kindle I hope I saw everything and every picture. I love that she was a wonderful grandmother.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting way to visit history and how many things have changed--or not changed--since the 1950's. I would not call myself a huge Joan Rivers fan, but she was very clever. I was amazed by her organization, and you can't help but get the feeling that she was constantly trying to prove herself. I do remember when she played at the Embers in Indianapolis in the '60s (I would have been too young to go).
There were several laugh-out loud moments, as well as many, "I can't believe she said that." Some of the jokes crossed the line (ex: about Anne Frank?), but the book does show how she was still friends with (perhaps even admired and respected) by some of those who were the butt of her jokes (i.e. Elizabeth Taylor, Charles and Camilla) At times the book seems to almost try too hard to serve as a tribute, but what would you expect from a daughter?
This is a book where you need to read every single word (in many cases, it's darn near impossible), but I read about as much as I could. It makes one think- what impression would people get from the things you collected in your life, the things you left behind?

[Cynthia Bemis Abrams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past month, this is the fourth Joan Rivers book I've read as research for my podcast, Advanced TV Herstory. It perfectly complements Joan's own works and her daughter Melissa's narrative. This "show and tell" adds color and spark, via Joan's own scrapbooks and files, to a career that was very much based on invention and re-invention.

If you're into better understanding those who have incredible stories of persistence, professionalism and inner drive to compete and excel, this is an essential read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Rivers wrote a number of books throughout her decades long career. Although she did not technically write this one, it is the best. The clippings, show transcripts, and joke files demonstrate the hard work and dedication Joan put into her career. Further, I have read every book Joan wrote over her life, and I still learned new biographical information about her. Her personal files and career
documents are an invaluable show business archive, and I hope they are preserved as such.

[Deborah Cleaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

When one saves everything, nothing has importance. For fans who want every glimpse, this compendium will be fascinating. For those who want to see the woman behind the personna, however, prepare to remain uninformed. Somehow this semi-autobiography fails to dip beneath the superficial and you will never perceive the why beneath the what happened.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional collection of jokes, scripts, photographs and other memorabilia presented scrapbook style. A true gift to fans. Beautifully organized.

[Susan Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

It takes a very devoted fan like me to read through every page of this book. Having said that, this is a very large (Melissa says it weighs 3 pounds!) coffee table book featuring the snippets, jokes and memorabilia of Joan's life as selected by her daughter and co-author, Scott Currie. I got it from the library and I'm not sure I would pay $40 + tax for it, but, many other devotees may. Honestly, I savored every word and page and did not want it to end as it did, sadly. Joan will be forever in my heart and I still miss her very much......every single damn day.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice book about Joan.I liked that Melissa broke it up by decades.

[Joyce Driggers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely tribute to a fantastic, funny lady. I really enjoyed all of the stories and snippets of entertainment history.

[PAUL EDWARD NASH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still laughing !

Joan was very funny and timely. She showed us how to laugh at ourselves. She wasn't done. Good bye. RIP.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge Joan Rivers Fan - especially liked reading all the joke cards. I miss her.

[Shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! You get an idea of what a smart woman she was.

[Westley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Joan. She was a pistol.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really love anything Joan Rivers related!!!

[Ronald J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of scrapbook clips, files, photos and joke cards put together by Joan River's daughter, Melissa Rivers. It gives you some insight in Joan's rise to stardom, and her fallout with Johnny Carson. Her Husband's suicide is dealt with as well. An incredibly funny woman who would probably be cancelled today. She always gave credit to Phyllis Diller for blazing the comedy trail for women.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this on a whim after seeing it in the library and I'm glad I did. I remember Joan Rivers on TV in her later years, but I did not know much about her history or influence. This book, by her daughter, obviously paints her in a good light but is extremely interesting. It is made in a scrapbook format, so I liked that it was mostly historical pictures, handwritten scripts, or notes from celeb friends. Much of it is hilarious to read, even without someone delivering it verbally. I thought it would be quick to flip through, but there is SO much information. A lot of the newspaper clippings were too small to read too, which was a bummer. I was inspired by quite a few of her random quotes, and I learned about the late night show biz circuit, which I did not expect to!