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Miss America (book)
Encyclopedia
Miss America is the second book by American
radio
and media personality Howard Stern
. Released on November 7, 1995 by ReganBooks
, it became the fastest-selling title in the publisher's history. This was a repeat to his first best-selling book, Private Parts
(1993) and publisher Simon & Schuster
.
The book's front features Stern dressed in drag
, with the first edition back featuring a picture of Stern with O.J. Simpson at the wedding of Donald Trump
in 1993. Three different versions of a paperback
edition was released on October 16, 1996, that featured Stern dressed as a drag with blonde, brunette and red hair. A selection of color photographs are also included that did not appear in the first edition.
on Fifth Avenue in New York City
opened at 6:30am in the morning of the book's release, with over 250 people in line. By the end of the first day, Miss America sold 33,000 copies at Barnes & Noble stores across the United States
, a first day record for the country's largest book seller. The book broke the previous record for the fastest selling book in one day, previously being Sex
by Madonna
in 1992. A week after its release, Miss America hit the top spot on the New York Times Best Seller list
, knocking off My American Journey by Colin Powell
. In total, the book was listed on the list for more than four months, a period of 16 weeks in total.
The book sold more than nine copies for every one copy of the next best-selling book on the list. By the end of 1995, Miss America had sold 1,398,880 hardcover copies, making it the third best-seller of the year, according to a March 1996 edition of Publishers Weekly
.
In 1996 alone, the book sold more than 1.6 million copies.
Miss America became the number one selling paperback of 1998 at Amazon.com
.
In the book's opening acknowledgements Stern thanks the Miss America Pageant for naming him "Miss America 1996" as well as Regis Philbin
and Kathie Lee Gifford
(hosts of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee from 1988-2000), his father Ben, God
and those who spent "endless hours in improving his physical beauty." The first chapter is about Stern's experiences with cybersex
on the on-line chat service Prodigy under various names such as "Holy Ghost" and "Captain Japan." In the second chapter, Stern details a private meeting with Michael Jackson
in New York City
. Stern in the third chapter reveals his past suffering with Obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
and media personality Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
. Released on November 7, 1995 by ReganBooks
ReganBooks
ReganBooks was an American bestselling imprint or division of HarperCollins book publishing house , headed by editor and publisher Judith Regan, started in 1994 and ended in late 2006. During its existence, Regan was called, by LA Weekly, "the world's most successful publisher". The division...
, it became the fastest-selling title in the publisher's history. This was a repeat to his first best-selling book, Private Parts
Private Parts (book)
Private Parts is the first autobiography of American radio presenter Howard Stern. Released on October 7, 1993 by Simon & Schuster, it is the fastest-selling book in the company's history. It was later adapted into a film in 1997 starring Stern and his radio show staff as themselves...
(1993) and publisher Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
.
The book's front features Stern dressed in drag
Drag (clothing)
Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
, with the first edition back featuring a picture of Stern with O.J. Simpson at the wedding of Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
in 1993. Three different versions of a paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
edition was released on October 16, 1996, that featured Stern dressed as a drag with blonde, brunette and red hair. A selection of color photographs are also included that did not appear in the first edition.
Sales
Stern biographer Luigi Lucaire reported that Miss America sold six printings within 12 hours of its release. The Barnes & NobleBarnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
on Fifth Avenue in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
opened at 6:30am in the morning of the book's release, with over 250 people in line. By the end of the first day, Miss America sold 33,000 copies at Barnes & Noble stores across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a first day record for the country's largest book seller. The book broke the previous record for the fastest selling book in one day, previously being Sex
Sex (book)
Sex is a coffee table book written by Madonna with photographs by Steven Meisel Studio and film frames taken from film shot by Fabien Baron. The book was edited by Glenn O'Brien. Sex was released on October 21, 1992 by Warner Books...
by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
in 1992. A week after its release, Miss America hit the top spot on the New York Times Best Seller list
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
, knocking off My American Journey by Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
. In total, the book was listed on the list for more than four months, a period of 16 weeks in total.
The book sold more than nine copies for every one copy of the next best-selling book on the list. By the end of 1995, Miss America had sold 1,398,880 hardcover copies, making it the third best-seller of the year, according to a March 1996 edition of Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
.
In 1996 alone, the book sold more than 1.6 million copies.
Miss America became the number one selling paperback of 1998 at Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
.
Prodigy, Michael Jackson and OCD
When asked on the book's title in a 1995 interview on Today, Stern replied with:In the book's opening acknowledgements Stern thanks the Miss America Pageant for naming him "Miss America 1996" as well as Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
and Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
(hosts of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee from 1988-2000), his father Ben, God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and those who spent "endless hours in improving his physical beauty." The first chapter is about Stern's experiences with cybersex
Cybersex
Cybersex, also called computer sex, Internet sex, netsex, mudsex, TinySex and, colloquially, cybering, is a virtual sex encounter in which two or more persons connected remotely via computer network send each other sexually explicit messages describing a sexual experience...
on the on-line chat service Prodigy under various names such as "Holy Ghost" and "Captain Japan." In the second chapter, Stern details a private meeting with Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Stern in the third chapter reveals his past suffering with Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
(OCD).
External links
- Miss America at HarperCollinsHarperCollinsHarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...