Bootleg Betty
Bette Midler in Biography: The Essential Reading List
By Mister D
March 8, 2026
There have been several books written about Bette Midler over the decades, primarily unauthorized biographies, fan-oriented guides/scrapbooks, and critical/opinionated analyses of her career and performances. These include out-of-print titles from the 1970s–1990s, as well as more recent ones. Exact counts vary by source (e.g., fan sites vs. encyclopedias), as some are short bios, photo books, or niche works, and no single official tally exists. Comprehensive fan compilations and bibliographic references (e.g., Wikipedia, the Jewish Women’s Archive) point to approximately 8–10 distinct full-length books focused on her life, career, or persona.
Here’s a compiled chronological list of the main known ones (including out-of-print/used/rare editions), based on discographies, fan archives, and library references:
- The Divine Miss M! Bette Midler by Rob Baker (1975) — An early unauthorized bio covering her rise, style, and determination.
- Bette Midler by Rob Baker (1979 edition/variant, Popular Library) — Often listed separately as an expanded or reissued unauthorized bio (sometimes called “unexpurgated”).
- The Divine Bette Midler by James Spada (1984) — A photo-heavy bio with interviews, glimpses into her life, marriage, and eccentricities.
- Bette Midler: Outrageously Divine – An Unauthorized Biography by Mark Bego (1987) — Details her rocky path, vulnerabilities, and comparisons to legends like Judy Garland.
- Bette Midler by Ace Collins (1989) — A bio focusing on her dynamic career across stage, screen, and music.
- Bette: An Intimate Biography of Bette Midler by George Mair (1995, sometimes dated 1994/1996 in reprints) — A detailed look at her insecurities, rapid rise, relationships, and appeal to fans (often called the first “full-scale” bio).
- The Bette Midler Scrapbook by Allison J. Waldman (1997) — A memorabilia-style fan book with photos, career highlights, and personal details.
- Bette Midler: Still Divine by Mark Bego (2002, updated/expanded from his 1987 book) — The most comprehensive at the time, with interviews (including Barry Manilow), filmography, discography, and coverage up to her later career phases.
More recent additions:
- On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide by Kevin Winkler (2024) — A performance-focused critical guide analyzing her ethos, from early downtown theater to stardom (not a traditional bio but deeply about her work).
