Book Description

The New York Times Bestseller

"Byron gets all the way to the heart of Martha Stewart."
— David McClintick, author, Indecent Exposure

Love her or hate her, the story of Martha Stewart and the history of her company are incredible. From the suburban kitchens of Connecticut to the boardrooms of Wall Street, her story is filled with power, drama, conflict, and tragedy.In this updated, new paperback, business writer and columnist Christopher Byron details the most recent events involving Martha Stewart. He gives you the inside story of Martha’s most horrible year, with headlines of possible insider trading and obstruction of justice, accompanied by the roller-coaster plunge in her company’s stock, and the deepening uncertainties regarding the future of her relationship with Kmart.

Out of an imagined bliss, Martha created a billion dollar media and merchandising empire devoted to the celebration of home, food, and family. Martha Inc. reveals how it all began, and then developed–and how it could all end.

"Enough dish to feed Martha Stewart lovers and loathers alike in this scrupulously reported bio."
–People magazine

"Jaw-dropping tales of excess and success."
–New York Times

"Christopher Byron has redefined the Martha Moment."
–USA Today

***A BusinessWeek Top Ten Business Book of the Year*** ... Read more

Reviews (102)

Just Desserts Is Better
Martha Inc. is a balanced biography of Martha Stewart, but short on recent details. I was hoping to read more about her life after she started Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, but most of the material is a re-hash of many events that one can read in Just Desserts. The epilogue contains information about Martha and Kmart after the tech bust and Kmart's bankruptcy, which is a nice follow-up. The author, Christopher Byron, seems a bit star-struck by Martha, too, calling her a "beautiful blonde" a few too times in the book. Martha Inc. is a good read for Martha followers like me -- subscriber to the magazine, viewer of her TV show, consumer of Martha products -- but to the reader who wants even juicier details, read Just Desserts first.

It's OK. Just OK.
The book was an interesting read, but that's about it. If you're looking for a book that shows the "insides" of her OmniMedia corporation, how the day to day operations work, how the corporation is structured, etc., you won't find it here.

If you are looking for a tell-all book on Martha, the woman, you really won't find it here either. (I presume Just Desserts is more of that ilk, although I haven't read it.) Many parts of her personal life, like her relationship with the millionaire Microsoft exec or any major details of her relationship with her daughter are entirely absent.

Instead what you get is kind of a amateur psychological overview detailing how Stewart's early childhood, specifically her relationship with her father, influenced the rest of her life, and more specifically how his behavior and treatment of others became her role model for dealing with everyone in her life.

It's a cliche that anyone of average intelligence could come up with. Coupled with the author's constant psychoanalysing, throughout the book the author seems hell-bent on constantly reminding us she was this poor little girl from Nutley, NJ. The two themes end up being repeated again and again and become monotonous by the end. Enough already. We get the point.

Perhaps Martha is just one-dimensional - a person with a sleep disorder and a job. And if we are to believe what's written here, that's pretty much her sole existence, aside from her constant reinventing of her past. And if that's the case, her efforts at creating the illusion of a deeper existence by appreciating the finer and simpler things in life is just that - an illusion. But the book doesn't really go much into Martha the human, but rather Martha the perception.

We're reminded of her marriage, but details behind it, during it, and after it aren't really fleshed out, simply used as another point that Martha inherited her father's temperment. We don't learn much about her current relationship with her daughter nor do we really have a clue as to what the rest of Martha's siblings do, other than a few work for her, and one hates her. Instead most of what we get are details from one of her former friends who seemed more co-dependent and willing to subject herself to the Martha-rath.

What is interesting however, in the book, is a pattern that evolves painting (although I believe unintentionally so) Stewart not as a real revolutionary with determined passion for bringing civility to a world spinning out of control, but rather someone who blindly fell into luck and whose fortune was not so much "made" by her, but rather invented by others. Examples such as her Kmart deal, her first book deal and the fact she didn't even write the book herself, etc. go to show that Martha not only didn't come up with these ideas, but barely was able to do the tasks required, or even negotiate the deals to her benefit. Instead, we learn, had it not been for her husband, or a whole cast of smarter characters, Martha most likely would still be making pies and catering Westport wingdings.

For me, these facts proved most the most fascinating piece of the book. ...

I don't love or hate Martha Stewart. But I am intrigued by her success. To that end, this book set out to explain how she came about such success. So anyone looking for a glimpse, not a detailed analysis of Martha's rise, will find the book at least entertaining. The author did research his topic and I certainly feel the information is accurate. But those who want more of Martha, won't get it here. And those who want a book more about the innerworkings and dealings of OmniMedia written with more than a pop-psychology, damsel in distress tone will be disappointed.

vampire Christopher
Christopher Byron's sensibility indicates that he is a small-minded, pathologically envious little weasle of a man, who tries to puff up his empty meaningless life by attempting to denigrate a great woman who has brought great beauty and grace to our culture. Unless you're one of those nasty-spirited people who find glee in joining the pack of hyenas who hate powerful, brilliant, talented women because the light from great women's souls is too bright and reveals too vividly your pathetic life, avoid this book. Byron is simply a mean little vampire, trying to suck money and notoriety from the life blood of Martha. Shame on John Wiley & Sons for publishing this book.

A successful woman always be treated unfairly
Successful women are deemed to be monsters all the time and in everywhere, from ancient to modern day and from east to west. Because Martha Stewart couldn't be that perfect and elegant, her other disgraceful side is uncovered by people who want to entertain public. That's main idea of this book, rather than to persent an insightful and true story.
In the content of this book, when Martha Stewart delivered her ideas of living to male executives, those men didn't understand how she can make money and lure audience by triming roses..... I don't need to mention the result that how successful she becomes. However, the above does reveal something, that man doesn't know what woman thinks and likes. He can't analyze or criticize a woman who he understands nothing.
In my country, it is like a curse that a woman succeeds in her career then her husband would become a loser.
I really hope people to be nice to these exhausted women.

okay, weird under-currents
If you're trying to figure out who Martha Stewart is, having only recently taken much notice of her thanks to scandal, this book provides an okay insight. I'd already assessed that she had a reputation for being bossy & determined, to say the least, so there wasn't much revelation here. I'd heard she had a strong temper. (this appears to be a greater crime if you're a woman) What struck me, however, wasn't Martha's domineering personality or her march to success, & failure, but what appeared to be an abundance of passive-aggressive people in her life. No doubt a strong, domineering person attracts them like flies, but their words are given like fact in this book, no motives questioned, though every one of her hangers-on (her husband especially) seem to have an agenda, and seemed quite intent on appearing victimized - though they clearly expected gain from their relationship with a powerful person. It just seemed kind of creepy to me. (especially the photograph of her wimpy husband hunkered down in an almost grotesquely passive position while she stands facing the camera - above.) Whatever else, one suspects Martha is better off without THAT guy!

One small thing struck me as odd - at some point in the book, the author uses Chicken Feeding as evidence that Martha over-worked her guests. This was stated as evidence to support some woman's assertion that she was misused, and Martha was 'mean.' Something about this struck me as peculiar. Chicken Feeding doesn't require hours of back-breaking labor. Maybe once a week, you fill up their feeders, you clean out their waterers. It occurs to me that such an act might be deemed fun, by someone who enjoys animals. The woman also mentioned having to 'let out the dogs.' How hard can THAT be? I hope she learns to pick real people rather than this type one day!

I can't say I liked Martha Stewart much before all this - but I felt more sympathy for her after reading about those who seemed... disingenuous at best. Martha struck me as overt, a wolf outright, & I think I'd rather deal with that than a horde of 'wolf in sheep's clothing' types, especially if they were befriending me with a notion of one day writing a book at my expense. (and increasing their own) ... Read more

Amazon.com

You'll want to wear old clothes: Jerry Oppenheimer's biography of Style Doyenne Martha Stewart is a frenzy of mudslinging. With chapter titles like "A Dysfunctional Family," you know exactly what to expect--but Stewart is such a big, fat target that the book is entertaining anyway. Obviously, the architect of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is no sweetheart. (Control issues? You don't say). But regardless of the muck, you'll come away with a mixture of respect for Stewart's talent and prodigious drive ("I can will an orgasm whenever I want"), and profound gratitude that she's not your daughter, wife, mother, friend, or business associate. Just Desserts affords brief glimpses of the private Martha. She was called "Marty" in high school. She modeled her way through Barnard. She may have engaged in wife-swapping. But anyone surprised that Martha the domestic goddess is a work of fiction misses the point entirely. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

It's NOT a Good Thing-being Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is...where do you start? She's a fascinating woman who has made it BIG in the business world but has stepped on just about everyone she has ever met if you can believe everything you read in this book. Although you admire her somewhat you are mostly left with a sour taste in your mouth after reading the descriptions of her work and family relationships. What bothers me most is how little credit Ms. Stewart has given anyone else in her world. Her relationships with her ex-husband, parents, siblings and most importantly her daughter are based on much research by the author. The amount of research shows. While fact-filled the book is only somewhat interesting and could have been shorter. We learned more than we wanted to about Ms. Stewart.

Revealing, interesting, a bit spiteful
Why didn't Oppenheimer call the book 'I don't like Martha Stewart' and appoint himself president of her not-fan club? We all knew Martha was hiding something. After all, anyone who professes to be 'that' perfect must have something to hide. And, after reading 'Just Desserts' we know it all. The real question is do we care? Oppenheimer treats each 'Martha' revelation as another 'sin.' The way she treated her husband, her partner, staff and anyone else unlucky enough to cross her path is the stuff of legend. Oppenheimer tries to be funny at times, but the effect is tragic, as he uncovers each layer of what appears to be an unhappy, desperate woman. The lengths to which she goes to hide the real 'truth' of her life are extraordinary. This is, of course, hearsay, but each chapter ends with an unwritten admonition ---'see, I told you she was a terrible person,' as he reveals one more betrayal, evil deed, or cunning move. I finished the book wondering what Jerry had against Martha. Sure, she was driven to succeed and was willing to sacrifice a lot to get there, but isn't that part of the 'American' way? Martha Stewart built an empire and she too, will pass, when people tire of her. For now, she has her fame and fortune and if that makes her happy and she keeps her millions of apostles happy, so what? I'd recommend the book if you're feeling particularly vindictive, or if you're on a long trip and need a diversion.

Fascinating book on one of pop cultures icons
Before the story broke about the insider trading scandal involving Martha Stewart, I did not have a good idea of who she was. I was curious to find out so I purchased "Just Desserts". The book did not seem to be a "hit piece", as others have portrayed this book. What I found was a writer who disected the image from the the real person. It is a very interesting study on Martha Stewart's troubled past regarding her domineering father and Martha's need to become rich and famous no matter what the cost and no matter who got in the way. I came away feeling very sorry for her. Whether you are a fan of her's or not, the book does a very good job of showing the fake from the real. The onscreen personae and her real actiions behind the scenes will shock and astound. The author also delves into the fantastic business savy that Stewart displayed throughout her career. Often underestimated, but always on top of things. A real modern day Jeckyl and Hide story. A very good read.

Martha Oh!
Martha Stewart is a tough and successful businessman in a women's body! Whether we like her or not, we have to admit that she's got what it takes to get where she is now: an enormous self confidence (wich is not bad in the business world) skill and an admirable creativity. She is a leader and she knows exactly where she is going. But things has to be done HER way and she won't accept any advice from anybody, she won't tolerate any competition, not to mention her dictatorial attitude towards her husband and daughter. And, frankly, reading about the latter was painful, and at one point I was almost afraid to turn the pages and read more about the terrible way she treated her family... she lost a husband who loved her deeply and would have done anything for her. But Martha wanted success at any cost, even if it meant neglecting her own family to achieve it...sad, very sad!!

It is obvious that the author hates Martha.
I'm not really a Martha "fan" as such, but I do enjoy her magazine "Martha Stewart Living" and have learned much from her. I was hoping to learn about her life, her experiences as a model, caterer, etc. and how she came to make this huge business grow as it has. Instead, this book was a diatribe against her. Nobody is ALL bad. And, in spite of the author's comments about Martha and her relationships with her parents, it IS possible to learn to love music, art, and nature from parents who are also abusive and nasty. I suggest you save your money and not even buy the thing. Amazon.com has many other books that are much more worth your time and money than this one. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Writer Oppenheimer is a major league talent! Bravo!
I am not surprised that Martha tried to stop this book from being published; Jerry Oppenheimer was threatened by Stewart and her legal arms--so he wisely attributed every single comment to the source. And there are many sources! "If it is true you can't sue." Everyone, it seems, wants to tell his or her personal story about this bizarre public figure that makes life hell for everyone around her.

This author must be smiling now because he wrote this 5 years before the current scandal over Martha's insider trading with Sam Waksal. And sure enough, this book contains a mid 1990's photo of Martha dating Sam Waksal!

The writing is New Yorker Magazine quality--erudite, well constructed, with the talent to get the characters under your skin. I really found myself sympathizing with family and friends who have suffered from Martha's tyranny. In the end it makes me think that Stewart is a warning to us all. A reminder that the "good thing" is not how material possessions look but how you feel inside. I'd rather have pizza with happy friends than suffer the stress of a "perfect" Stewart meal.

This book should be reprinted with an update on the last few years of the Martha story. Maybe this author will one day interview her cellmates?

Gossip and MORE
I recently read "Martha, Inc." and decided to try "Just Desserts". To say that I have overdosed on Martha is an understatement.

My voyeuristic look into her life and business dealings ending up making me feel very uncomfortable - I was overwhelmed with all the excess and with what is prioritized in her life. I like beautiful furnishings in my homes, tasteful decorating and good cooking -- but to elevate these to the level of sacraments the way Martha has is pretty pitiful. She is, however, a brilliant businesswoman to have achieved such success.

I know more than I ever wanted to know about this domestic diva. And even if only 10 % of what both authors wrote is true, I am glad I am not Martha's neighbor/sister/friend. Of course, It appears that she has no real friends, just people who serve and tolerate her.

There is not a lot I can add to the wonderful review written by Nancy Kay Owens - she wrote so well about all of the things that bother me about the superficiality of Martha Stewart and her empire.

I am glad I read this book. I still like looking at Martha's magazines (in the library - I do not add to her wealth)because once in a great while there is something practical I can use. But I am no admirer. And I have tried several recipes that were total failures!

I think Jerry Oppenheimer did a fairly good job of researching and depicting the life of this woman who has become a cultural icon.

A fascinating look at one of America's pop culture icons
Before the story broke about the insider trading scandal involving Martha Stewart, I did not have a good idea of who she was. I was curious to find out so I purchased "Just Desserts". The book did not seem to be a "hit piece", as others have portrayed this book. What I found was a writer who disected the image from the the real person. It is a very interesting study on Martha Stewart's troubled past regarding her domineering father and Martha's need to become rich and famous no matter what the cost and no matter who got in the way. I came away feeling very sorry for her. Whether you are a fan of her's or not, the book does a very good job of showing the fake from the real. The onscreen personae and her real actiions behind the scenes will shock and astound. The author also delves into the fantastic business savy that Stewart displayed throughout her career. She was very often underestimated, but always a step ahead of the competition. A real modern day Jeckyl and Hide story.

Not only does the book describe the interesting antics and unreal behavior of Stewart, it also touches on the gullibility of the people who surrounded her and how they naively followed her every whim. It is an interesting study of how people will believe in the image of a person and cling onto it no matter what the true reality is. In the case of several people such as her former husband and several business associates, they finally saw past the facade and saw the real person behind the disguise. This is a tragic story but very revealing on what motivates some people towards ultimate fame and power.

The Ultimate Stepford Wife-Martha!!!!!
Ok, first off, let me say that I have nothing wrong with a woman that is independent, hard working and creative.

What I do have a problem with is a woman that won't get therapy for her lack of people skills due to her lousy childhood.

Look Martha, not all women feel "inadequate" becaue they don't spend lots of time on silly compulsive activites such as gathering fall leaves from the backyard and matching them! (when you're rich and have a staff, then you can do these things)

Do I feel rage or jealousy becaue I don't do these things? No.

Do I realize that Martha would be nobody without her PR machine and spin doctors? Yes.

Does she make pretty stuff? Yes,

Does she have some serious interpersonal problems? Yes.

Good book all around.

I do feel sorry for her family.

And yes to some reviewers, even men have to contend with this.

Makes Oprah seem like a fuzzy kitten...
WOW, was this a ruthless illustration of Martha Stewart! She's described as an obsessive-compulsive insomniac (she would only sleep for 2-4 hours a night, then get up and paint her entire house in one day), who's main goal is to be on top through ruthless power and manipulation (she stole business ideas, designs and didn't give credit to friends, coworkers... to the point where if a person demanded royalties, she would find some loophole in the legal system to prevent them from getting any profits -- Me-YOW!) This depiction is a far cry from the soft-spoken homemaker you see on her show. She's described by family and friends as dominating, cold, sadistic, abusive and absolutely ruthless. She even cuts down her elderly mother in front of her family: "She only makes peasant food!" she snipes. I've never read anything like it.

It starts with Martha's family and where she came from in New Jersey. Apparently, Martha's father was a perfectionist who shoved his beliefs, anger and attitude down her throat; nothing was good enough in his eyes and because of him, the Monster-Martha is what is alive today. Even as a child, she sabotaged a little girl's cake recipe in order to take her little business away for herself. Signs that a powerful, heartless woman was going to surface.

Martha was cutthroat and vindictive. She pretty much screwed over anyone and everyone around her to further only herself -- she didn't even care about her family, including her daughter and husband, whom she brow-beated to death in front of family and friends until he (who was just wimpy from the start) finally had the nerve to leave her, prompting incredible stories of stalking, vandalism and public screaming fits -- till he had a restraining order put on her.

Martha is depicted as someone who never learned affection, or at least had an incredible dark side that was calculating and vindictive. She would purposely hire people who were creative and brilliant, but they either had low self-esteems to begin with or she broke them down. She DEFINITELY was masochistic and manipulated everyone who came in her path on her rise to power. The only time her affections seemed to be positive, were when sex was involved, and then she came across predatory. She's also illustrated as an incredible liar; family and friends reflect on her writings of her "happy past" and say all of them are either exaggerated or completely fabricated.

After reading what a terror she was in the past, I can actually believe the insider trading stories -- it just fits. Oh and the new edition adds that little chunk in the end.

Upon finishing this, I'm blown away at what a terror she was and has become. She is obviously a person who will stop at nothing to be on top, including her cheapness and just downright vicious scheming. She's also obviously brilliant, with a chip on her shoulder about her poor past and is also considered racist, sexist and as the book says: "WASPy in true form."

Martha Stewart is a nightmare in this book! I wouldn't want to come within 20 ft. of her (much less meet her in a dark alley) after reading this. Personally, I think she's mentally screwed up something fierce, but the fact that she concentrates all of it into her work is phenomenal.

4 stars -- one missing due to some anonymous sources (which I don't always trust as true) and the fact that it pretty much had NOTHING positive to say about her; I would have liked to see a little positive stuff. You know, to kind of balance it out. Then again, maybe there wasn't anything positive. This woman is the anti-Christ!

Otherwise, good trash to read! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I command you to read this book!!!!
Anyone would be insane to rate this book below five stars. One of the best reads of the year. Meachum has brilliantly tapped into the enigma that is the life of Martha Stewart. If you have kids, buy this book for them. Heck, buy one for yourself as well. You shan't regret it.

Intertesting reading tracking the journey of Martha's climb.
Marthat Stewart in herself is an interesting woman. She must have strong leadership to get where she is at. And honestly I was hoping to read more about her leadership capabilities, how she organizes her days in some depth and some of the obstacles she had to arise from. I did learn about her upbringing, all her successful steps and how she buys this and decorates and entertains that. It was good reading, but I was hungry for more and did not feel the price tag was worth it.

Yes! Yes!
Oh boy, I can't wait to read this book! And that's not just because I helped do the research for it (well, I Xeroxed an article and mailed it to the talented and lovely author, that is.) It's extremely well-written and Virgina Meachum has utterly mastered the difference between passive and active voice (I helped with that, too.) But seriously, it's an insightful and awesome book. ... Read more

Book Description

After working as a professional model and then astockbroker, Martha Stewart applied her creativity and incredibledetermination to the business of catering and party planning.In no timeat all, she was writing some of the world's best-selling books.She nowcontrols her own multi-million-dollar media empire and is undeniably oneof the most successful women in business today. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document, covering the life and work of Martha Stewart, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 3536 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description

Who could have guessed that the Queen of Perpetual Perfection was headed for a fall?Connor and Downey, the wise guys who brought the civilized world Is Martha Stuart Living?, naturally.Long before Martha Stewart's ImClone troubles made the front pages, the humor duo had started spoofing it up in anticipation of her own previously-announced-but-now-postponed autobiography, Marth, Really and Truly. Now, in Martha, Really and Cruelly, the best-selling humorists deliver their own version of events leading up to the scandal. "Ours is exactly like hers" quips Connor. "Okay, maybe not exactly, but pretty darn ... well not even close, I guess.Never mind."From opening chapters on "Ancestors" and "Infancy," cunning, greed, and treachery stalk this faux autobiography. Written in "Martha's" voice, the book reveals early incidents of unethical playing-house tactics, questionable Kool-Aid stand practices, highly suspect home ec grades, and devious dating strategies. And that's before she's out of her teens!If anyone can take uncannily accurate aim at the Dominatrix of Domesticity, it's the errant Irishmen. Their breakout national best-seller Is Martha Stewart Living? was followed by the best-selling Martha Stuart's Better Than You At Entertaining and Martha Stuart's Excruciatingly Perfect Weddings. Together, the parodies have sold more than 1.2 million copies to date and continue to sell year after yet. According to the authors, their latest effort is "the fourth in the Martha parody trilogy." As for Martha's likely reaction to the new work? "It's a bad thing." no doubt. In the past, she has complained about Connor and Downey's relentless attention to her details. "When is it going to stop?" she whined to one television interviewer. "Not anytime in the foreseeable future," replies Connor, the smaller half of the comedy team, who has a beef of his own. "What really burns my creme brulee," he gripes, "is that every time we write a parody, she comes out with another book."Lauded by Publisher's Weekly for their hilarious parodies, Connor and Downey fill their latest effort with hilarious black-and-white and color photographs from Martha's "family" album. It all adds up to a scandalously successful package that will have strong potential as both a front and backlist winner. ... Read more