In Pieces

Sally Field

Sep 2018 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this ebook

In this intimate, haunting literary memoir and New York Times Notable Book of the year, an American icon tells her own story for the first time -- about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother.


One of the most celebrated, beloved, and enduring actors of our time, Sally Field has an infectious charm that has captivated the nation for more than five decades, beginning with her first TV role at the age of seventeen. From Gidget's sweet-faced "girl next door" to the dazzling complexity of Sybil to the Academy Award-worthy ferocity and depth of Norma Rae and Mary Todd Lincoln, Field has stunned audiences time and time again with her artistic range and emotional acuity. Yet there is one character who always remained hidden: the shy and anxious little girl within.
With raw honesty and the fresh, pitch-perfect prose of a natural-born writer, and with all the humility and authenticity her fans have come to expect, Field brings readers behind-the-scenes for not only the highs and lows of her star-studded early career in Hollywood, but deep into the truth of her lifelong relationships--including her complicated love for her own mother. Powerful and unforgettable, In Pieces is an inspiring and important account of life as a woman in the second half of the twentieth century.

Ratings and reviews

I felt my emotions rising and falling with Sally's many times... I certainly shared her feelings of being a person with many scattered and often shattered pieces. I'm a bit disappointed that she really seems to have such negative feelings about her roles as Gidget and The Flying Nun. I was young then too and quite enjoyed them. I am glad she has shared her story... Many of us have been left feeling ashamed of acts we were not in control of. it's time to tell adults to leave children alone!

As if you couldn't love Sally anymore, never realized how someone so extremely talented could be so insecure about her talent. It showed us the human side of the people we think have it all, and the fact that she included the not so nice "pieces" of her life makes her story that much more relatable.

This is a stunning picture of a complex personality. In her careful attention to detail, a portrait emerges of a woman as complicated and diverse as the roles she played. I've always enjoyed her work and felt drawn to what I've seen her in. Now I want to watch them all again, to revel in knowing the person behind those performances.

About the author

Sally Field is a two-time Academy Award and three-time Emmy Award winning actor who has portrayed dozens of iconic roles on both the large and small screens. In 2012, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 2015 she was honored by President Obama with the National Medal of Arts. She has served on the Board of Directors of Vital Voices since 2002 and also served on the Board of The Sundance Institute from 1994 to 2010. She has three sons and five grandchildren.