Barbra Streisand

"I’ve been called many names like perfectionist, difficult and obsessive. I think it takes obsession, takes searching for the details for any artist to be good."

Barbra Streisand has been making waves in showbusiness for decades as a singer, actress, and director. She is one of just a handful of talented people who can claim an ‘EGOT’ – an Emmy Award, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. In other words, top accolades across television, music, film acting, and theatre.

Those awards don’t even acknowledge her other major talent – writing. Streisand has been several books, including her autobiography My Name Is Barbra, in which she goes into detail about her 60-year career and her breakout role in Funny Girl. Her other releases include The Essential Barbra Streisand, Barbra, and Barbra Streisand.

Meet Barbra Streisand

Barbra Joan Streisand was born in New York City in 1942. Her mother was a soprano singer in her earlier years, but eventually became a school secretary where she met Emanuel Streisand, a teacher and her eventual husband.

Sadly, Barbra’s father passed away at just 34 following an epileptic seizure, which led the family into years of near poverty. During her childhood, Barbra began discovering television and film, and knew then that she wanted to be famous.

In her late teens, Barbra entered a talent contest in Manhattan. She performed two songs to a stunned audience, who immediately went wild – after which she was invited to sing at the nightclub for several weeks. From here, her reputation slowly grew as she continued to wow audiences at nightclubs and in theatres, appearing on talk shows and eventually signing a record contract at 21.

She was just 22 when she landed the role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, and the rest is history. She has since recorded 50 studio albums, starred in numerous movies, and performed on stage around the world.

She has married twice, and famously dated a slew of high profile men, from Richard Gere and Clint Eastwood to Andre Agassi and Liam Neeson. More importantly, she has won countless honours for her work, from the National Medal of Arts to the AFI Life Achievement Award.

Which books has Barbra Streisand written?

She has written several books about her life and career, including the autobiography My Name Is Barbra, The Essential Barbra Streisand, Barbra, and Barbra Streisand. These titles focus on her career in music, film and theatre.

What genres and themes do her books cover?

Her books are primarily memoirs and career retrospectives, covering themes of showbusiness, performance, fame, and her six-decade career in music, film and theatre.

Where should I start if I'm new to her writing?

Start with her autobiography My Name Is Barbra for a comprehensive overview of her life and breakout role in Funny Girl. Other titles like The Essential Barbra Streisand offer curated perspectives on her work.

Are her books part of a series or meant to be read in order?

No, her books are standalone works, so there is no required reading order. You can read any title independently, though the autobiography provides the most chronological career overview.

Has she received major awards related to her writing or career?

While her books are best known as memoirs, Barbra Streisand has earned major career honors including an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), the National Medal of Arts and the AFI Life Achievement Award. The source does not list specific literary awards for her books.