Dona Munker: Writing a Biography

Oct 25, 2011 1:32 PM EDT

You ask some terrific questions, Dona. I don't see myself reading the Jobs bio in the immediate future, but I do have some general thoughts about the author of a biography giving vent to his or her own feelings in connection with a living subject. Seems to me those feelings are valid, and should be expressed, possibly in a Foreword or an Afterword. In one way or another, no matter how much the writer wants to be objective, these personal emotions are going to help shape the way the story is told, and so I feel strongly that they should be acknowledged. By the way, Scott Berg's tribute to his friend Katharine Hepburn is specifically NOT billed as a biography, because Berg felt he was unable to achieve the distance he knew that biography required.

- Beverly Gray

Oct 26, 2011 6:08 AM EDT

What If Isaacson had let himself be guided more by his human feeling for Jobs' plight, rather than trying to be rigorously objective? Nocera's complaint is that the biographer was too close to have perspective, but also that the passion for the subject that inspires truly insightful language is missing from the Jobs biography.

Sounds like the problem may have been not only the biographer's feelings about the subject, but also his feelings about what a biographer's attitude should be (detached, objective, controlled). I'm wondering whether the writing might have gained if Isaacson could have let some of his compassion for Jobs, or even an identification with him, creep in?

Of course, neither of us is in a position to comment, since we haven't read the book! And maybe an attitude of detachment throughout was what Jobs inspired in his biographer. In writing biography, every single case is just that, an individual case.

- Dona Munker

Oct 26, 2011 8:13 AM EDT

Afterthought: Having read some observations on the book in the Scientific American posted by Charles Shields today, I'm inclined to think Isaacson's feelings in the end were probably the kind that wouldn't have led to the sort of insightful language Nocera wanted. More like swearing, maybe.

- Dona Munker

Oct 12, 2011 7:50 AM EDT

"Don’t let the subject try to take control of your project, even if this means you’ll get extra help."

Amen, and that includes the children of the subject. I was once intrigued by the prospect of writing about a famous architect and his strong-minded wife, both deceased. Their personal and business papers were in an archive and open to researchers. When I approached their son, whom I already knew, and sounded him out to see if he would co-operate, he assured me that he would--provided I gave him a share in the advance and the royalties! I explained politely that it didn't work that way and went on look for another subject.

- Dona

Oct 12, 2011 10:06 AM EDT

It is not just a legal obligation to tell someone that you are taping a call but an ethical one as well. I will check but I think in California you have to get prior permission to tape a call, not just inform someone.

- Nevin

Oct 12, 2011 10:35 AM EDT

Important issue. Anything else? What's the situation in New York, Chicago, London, etc.?

- Dona Munker

Oct 12, 2011 10:59 AM EDT

You should always inform an interview subject that you are recording them, but on the ethical question, I have a different opinion. You are recording the call in order to quote or check a comment they made, save both your own and their time, and avoid the distraction of taking notes. It will also avoid the issue of people claiming you misquoted or misinterpreted what they said. Having the evidence protects both you and them.

- Les

Oct 12, 2011 11:01 AM EDT

You asked for links on how to know how to record a phone interview. This is handy:
Can We Tape? A Practical Gide to Taping Phone Calls and In-Person Conversations in the 50 States and D.C. (Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press
http://www.rcfp.org/taping/states.html

You may find helpful tips here:
http://www.patmcnees.com/work6.htm#bookmark9

Pat McNees
Writers and Editors
www.writersandeditors.com
www.patmcnees.com

- Pat McNees

Oct 12, 2011 12:22 PM EDT

Very helpful. Thanks to both of you.

- Dona Munker

Oct 19, 2011 12:50 AM EDT

Most consummate... Very insightful.

Haven't read the Ron Howard book (but it's on my list!), however, I found the Corman one to be one of most enthralling of film maker biographies.

- St. Keith

Apr 09, 2012 10:32 AM EDT

I don't tape; I type. During many years as a staff newspaper writer, I cradled the phone on my neck and typed as the source spoke. Now, mindful of the stress this puts on the neck, I use a lightweight Panasonic headphone (be sure your landline phone has the requisite outlet). Whenever I think a "query" call may result in an instant interview, I wear the headphone. Otherwise, I just take rapid handwritten notes -- another skill I picked up as a journalist. People tend to speak freely when you don't have to raise the specter of taping.

- Cathy Curtis

Apr 11, 2017 2:07 AM EDT

i dunno

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