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  • Goddess

  • The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe
  • By: Anthony Summers
  • Narrated by: Donna Postel
  • Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (140 ratings)
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Goddess cover art

Goddess

By: Anthony Summers
Narrated by: Donna Postel
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Summary

Marilyn Monroe, born to deprivation and a series of foster homes, became an acting legend of the 20th century. She married famous men, Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, and her many lovers included President John F. Kennedy. Her death, at 36, is a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.

Anthony Summers interviewed 600 people for this book, which reveals unknown truths, some funny, some very sad, about this brilliant but troubled woman. First to gain access to the files of Monroe's last psychiatrist, he throws light on Monroe's troubled psyche and her addiction to medications. He establishes once and for all that she was intimately involved with John and Robert Kennedy, who probably covered up the circumstances of her death.

©1985 Anthony Summers (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

“A remarkable performance…. The ghost of Marilyn Monroe cries out in these pages." ( New York Times)

What listeners say about Goddess

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great

i loveed it and learnt a lot about the truth and background of her death what a read could not put it down

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Goddess! Yes she was....

Goddess is an amazing book as it details, pretty much, Marilyn's entire life. The undoubted desire to become a star and a much loved star at that. The thirst for knowledge and learning, I believe Marilyn was way more intelligent and had so much more to offer, above and beyond most people's interpretation which is as a blond bimbo sex goddess. The portrayal of the rich and famous, the powerful and almighty, shown to be what they are still today and have been since the day dot.... nothing more than self entitled, sanctimonious, corrupt individuals in positions of power and wealth, that use and abuse each and every one of us in some way, shape or form, within the playground of life!

The book is slow and hard in some places but no different to any other book or film, you have to set the characters in their correct place and position so as to understand the bigger picture in this game of chess that we call life.

The narration was fantastic, clear and concise and it enables the reader/listener to go along with Marilyn for the ride. To feel her happiness, her pain, her frustration and to a certain degree her own self entitlement.

All in all, I massively enjoyed this portrayal of Marilyn Monroes life and unfortunately, just like the JFK assassination or Jack The Ripper, we will never ever get to the absolute concrete truth of things, only speculation and conspiracy theory. I guess that is some of the attraction.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping, including up to date findings

There have been so many conspiracy theories about the death of Marilyn Monroe, so it was interesting to hear the recent thoughts and findings.
However this book covers MM life from the very beginning which I find incredibly sad as she was obviously a troubled and unhappy individual long before she met the Kennedy brothers. She never stood a chance.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant. another great Marilyn book.

I love reading anything about Marilyn and her extraordinary life. It's not as packed with detail as some Marilyn books.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic biography!

Very interesting listen about probably the most famous woman of the 20th century. So much intrigue surrounded Monroe & the author does an amazing job exposing this. Definitely well worth the time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

open the case now!

warts and all book, pulls no punches and is not the usual romantic Monroe biography. this needs to be listened to and this case needs to reopened. no one is innocent but some are less innocent than others and a family name shouldn't mean you get away with sinister behaviour. it's never too late for the truth !

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Illuminating and Sad

Poor Marilyn. Starting life damaged but able and willing to use her charms to achieve greatness, her end was that of every woman who has been used and reduced by men. Some of the scenes painted by the author are really sad and disturbing. It’s interesting to learn what a degraded figure she ended up as, but it’s not gratifying. Thank goodness her public persona shines on in the public’s collective hearts.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A must for Monroe Fans

I really enjoyed this book and even though I have been a fan of Marilyn Monroe for a while I still found out lots of things I previously was unaware of. The reader is excellent and really brought the story to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A very well researched book

I first read this book as a teenager, 25 years ago. It stands as one of the best books written about Marilyn and I’ve read many in the intervening years. Summers’s research is thorough & he presents the facts clearly, without sensation.

Very well read too.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Heartbreaking story

The story of a woman who we all think we knew. But thin book is an eye opener. The poor girl never reached her full potential. was used by men right up to the last few hours of her life. Excellent listen.

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