Whoopi Goldberg Reflects On Her Life and the Inspiration Behind Her New Book

Whoopi Goldberg entered the Library of Congress with a standing ovation and with a lot of wisdom acquired from her extraordinary life.

Her new book “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me” is a love letter to Goldberg’s late mother Emma and brother Clyde. They have been an essential foundation for Goldberg’s success such as being an EGOT — that means she is one of 19 actors, producers, directors, and composers who have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. 

Goldberg is an exceptional listener and storyteller, as we experienced in her conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Ph.D. 

“The title of my book is a tribute not just to my mother but also to my brother,” Goldberg said. She further revealed a poignant truth. “With age, certain memories and experiences fade away. There are aspects of life one anticipates forgetting after turning 60, but there are also unexpected ones.”

The 68-year-old Goldberg transported us to her childhood home in the Chelsea district of New York City, where Christmas was a magical time. Their mother ensured that the grandeur of the holiday existed with decorations and gifts.  In her book, Goldberg reveals that her mother’s gift to them was the magic of Christmas.

“My mother kept that alive for us,” Goldberg said about one of her childhood memories. 

A Parent with Mental Health Challenges

At age seven or eight, Goldberg shared that her mother, Emma, had a nervous breakdown. Emma was hospitalized for two years, and she was given electric shock treatment. Because of Goldberg’s age, she could not visit her mother.

Years later, when Goldberg was in her 40s, she and her brother had a conversation with their mother about the hospitalization. Emma responded by telling her children a secret. When she came home from the hospital, she did not know who her children were. Goldberg’s mother was determined to never return to her mental health treatment by listening to her children to relearn her life.

“You know, one of the things I have to tell you is that when you got ill, it really changed my focus,” Goldberg said she told her mother.  “Understanding that things can happen overnight, you will not always have the information you need.” 

“Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me” is now available and published by Blackstone Publishing. Whoopi Goldberg reads the audiobook version.