Mike Wallace A Life [Hardcover]

The untold story of how the world's most feared TV reporter transformed his inner darkness into a journalistic juggernaut that riveted millions and redefined the landscape of television news

In his four decades as the front man for60 Minutes,the most successful show in television history, Mike Wallace earned the distinction of being hyperaggressive, self-assured, and unflinching in his riveting expos?s of injustice and corruption. His unrivaled career includes interviews with every major newsmaker of the late twentieth century, from Martin Luther King to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Behind this intimidating facade, however, Wallace was profoundly depressed and haunted by demons that nearly drove him to suicide. Despite reaching the pinnacle of his profession, Wallace harbored deep insecurities about his credentials as a journalist. For half his life, he was more TV Personality than reporter, dabbling as a quiz show emcee, commercial pitchman, and actor. But in the wake of a life-changing personal tragedy, Wallace transformed himself, against all odds, into the most talked-about newsman in America.

Peter Rader'sMike Wallace: A Lifetells the story of a courageous man who triumphed over personal adversity and redefined the landscape of television news.

Rader's book does a fine job of tracing Wallace's life and times, but it does an even greater service in showing us the unexpected, private side that nearly capsized -- but didn't -- his celebrated career. Los Angeles Times

During four decades on 60 Minutes, Wallace was famous for his tough interviews of major newsmakers, including Malcolm X, Richard Nixon, Anwar Sadat, Vladimir Putin, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But behind his assertive and self-confident facade was a man troubled by anguish and selfdoubt since childhood. Filmmaker Rader examines the twists and turns of Wallace's career that landed him in the position of esteemed television reporter and the messy plH