Where to Start with Bette Midler’s Books
Bette Midler is globally celebrated as a multi-award-winning powerhouse of stage and screen, but she has also brought her unique, brassy voice to the printed page. Because her bibliography is small—consisting of one adult memoir and two children's picture books—readers do not need to worry about complex chronological timelines or multi-volume fantasy series. Instead, choosing where to start depends entirely on what kind of reading experience you are looking for.
For adult readers wanting to experience her signature wit and theatrical persona, the absolute best starting point is her debut book, A View from a Broad. Written at the height of her early fame, it captures the raw energy, humor, and chaos of her first world tour. If you are looking for a story to share with younger readers or want a modern, heartwarming fable, start with her latest release, The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern Fable, which combines photography, illustration, and a gentle message about community.
Bette Midler Books in Publication Order
Midler’s books span four decades of her career, serving as snapshots of her life and artistic interests at different times. Here is the order in which her books were originally published:
- A View from a Broad (1980) – A humorous travel memoir detailing her first major international concert tour.
- The Saga of Baby Divine (1983) – A rhyming children's picture book about a unique baby who loves all things theatrical.
- The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern Fable (2021) – A family-friendly picture book inspired by a real-world New York City celebrity bird.
A Closer Look at Midler's Written Works
Memoir: A View from a Broad (1980)
Originally published by Simon & Schuster in 1980, A View from a Broad is Midler’s primary non-fiction work. Rather than a traditional autobiography detailing her childhood or rise to fame, the book serves as a travelogue-meets-diary of her exhausting and exhilarating world tour. Midler takes readers behind the curtain to show the unglamorous side of show business: endless rehearsals, jet lag, the terror of flying, and the logistics of transporting a massive production across the globe. She populates the narrative with eccentric characters, theatrical crew members, and her own self-deprecating humor. In 2014, Simon & Schuster reissued the book with a brand-new introduction by Midler, where she reflects on the book as a capsule of her younger self—capturing a specific, wild moment in time before the demands of Hollywood shifted her career path.
The First Picture Book: The Saga of Baby Divine (1983)
Shortly after her memoir, Midler collaborated with artist Todd Schorr to create The Saga of Baby Divine, published by Crown. Written entirely in rhyming verse, the story introduces Baby Divine, a newborn with a shock of bright red hair who enters the world wearing miniature high heels. Rejecting standard baby talk, the infant's first word is a demanding 'More!' rather than 'Goo.' The book is a campy, theatrical fable that mirrors Midler's own 'Divine Miss M' stage persona. It celebrates individuality, self-expression, and the magic of performing. Notably, the book also contains printed sheet music and lyrics for a lullaby, making it an interactive experience for parents and children.
The Modern Fable: The Tale of the Mandarin Duck (2021)
After a long hiatus from publishing, Midler returned to bookstore shelves with The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern Fable, published by Random House Children's Books. The book was inspired by the real-life Mandarin Duck that suddenly appeared in Central Park in the winter of 2018, capturing the hearts of local New Yorkers and tourists alike during a dreary season. Midler’s narrative focuses on the duck's colorful presence and its ability to bring people together, encouraging busy city dwellers to stop, look up, and connect with nature and one another. The book is highly collaborative, featuring real photographs of the duck taken by prominent literary critic Michiko Kakutani, alongside whimsical drawings by illustrator Joana Avillez.
Practical Reading Advice and Caveats
Because there is no narrative continuity between these three books, they are entirely standalone works that can be enjoyed in any order. However, readers searching for these titles should keep a few minor caveats in mind:
- Avoid Title Confusion: When searching for Midler's 2021 book, be careful not to confuse it with The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks (plural), a highly regarded 1990 children's book by Katherine Paterson based on a Japanese folktale.
- Choose the Right Edition: If you are planning to read A View from a Broad, look for the 2014 reissue. The added introduction provides valuable, mature perspective from Midler looking back at her youth, which enhances the reading experience.
- Audiobook Formats: For the full 'Divine Miss M' experience, the audiobook version of The Tale of the Mandarin Duck is highly recommended, as it is narrated by Midler herself.