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You Have to Stand for Something, or You'll Fall for Anything »

Book cover image of You Have to Stand for Something, or You'll Fall for Anything by Star Jones

Authors: Star Jones
ISBN-13: 9780553762136, ISBN-10: 0553762133
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Date Published: November 1999
Edition: (Non-applicable)

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Author Biography: Star Jones

Star Jones rose to senior assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, New York, where she was renowned for her successful prosecution of high-profile homicide trials and community-sensitive cases. She debuted on television in 1991 as a commentator for Court TV, and later became the legal correspondent for Today. In 1997, she was selected by Barbara Walters to be one of the daily co-hosts for the unique new Emmy Award-winning television show, The View, which has become a favorite of millions of women viewers.

Daniel Paisner has written bestselling books with Geraldo Rivera and Montel Williams.

Book Synopsis

Strongly held beliefs, a wicked sense of humor, and take-no-prisoners opinions -- as a co-host of ABC-TV's hit show The View, her many fans have come to expect all this and more from Star Jones. In this remarkable book, the former New York City prosecutor shows why she has become one of the most quoted and respected media personalities of our time. Here she touches fearlessly on subjects both conventional and controversial, such as the importance of family and friendship, the law, racism, abortion, television, politics, and her relationship with God. And she does it all with a unique and refreshing viewpoint that will make you think twice about everything you thought you knew. Here, too, is her powerful and intensely personal story, told with warmth, humor, and sometimes painful candor. This is an empowering memoir by a remarkable woman who not only walks the walk and talks the talk but challenges you to do the same.

Publishers Weekly

The flamboyant and outspoken Jones is well known to TV viewers for her past work as a legal commentator on Court TV and Today and for her current membership on the resident panel on The View. In this collection of autobiographical essays, Jones reveals her gifts as a storyteller, describing the strong influence of family and church on her childhood, ethical dilemmas she faced as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, a brush with death at the age of 22 and the responsibilities of the news media. Willing to share stories of her own mistakes and lessons she's learned the hard way, Jones is as much herself on these pages as she is on TV, her language articulate, bright, conversational and always direct ("these good people with their hearts in the right place were being threatened by these others with their heads up their butts"). A self-proclaimed "diva," Jones writes about clothes, glamour, friendship and romance, while managing to inject her opinions on abortion, affirmative action, racism and child-rearing. Crediting her family, especially her mother, Shirley, for her refreshing strength of character and self-confidence, Jones provides a powerful role model along with a very enjoyable read. (Sept.)

Table of Contents

Standing Tall1
Bringing Something to the Table (Other Than an Appetite)7
We Shall Overcome25
That Sweet, Sweet Spirit41
Awakening57
Stabbing Myself89
Who You Gonna Get to Drive the Bronco?101
Be Careful What You Pray For121
Trumping the Race Card137
Lottie, Dottie, and Everybody153
It's Not Who You Are, but What You Wear169
Strength of a Woman185
Pass It On205
... And Justice for All213
Pieces of the Same Pie229
Acknowledgments241

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