Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me BY Whoopi Goldberg

From multi-award winner Whoopi Goldberg comes a poignant and deeply personal memoir, Bits and Pieces, celebrating the profound impact of her family on her formative years. This intimate account reveals the powerful influence of Emma Johnson, Whoopi’s mother, who nurtured and guided her children with unwavering love and wisdom.

Growing up in New York City's projects, Whoopi’s childhood was marked by both struggle and joy. Emma, despite financial hardships, managed to enrich their lives with memorable experiences—from trips to Coney Island and the Ice Capades to magical Christmas celebrations. Emma’s resilience and commitment to her children’s well-being laid the foundation for Whoopi’s future success.

In this moving tribute, Whoopi shares untold stories about her mother and older brother Clyde, who passed away five years ago, leaving her feeling profoundly alone. Bits and Pieces reflects on Emma’s extraordinary ability to instill confidence and self-acceptance in her children, even as Whoopi discovers the depth of her mother’s struggles only later in life.

Fans of personal memoirs like Finding Me by Viola Davis and In Pieces by Sally Field will find Bits and Pieces a touching homage to a mother’s enduring love and a testament to the power of family. Whoopi writes, “Not everybody gets to walk this earth with folks who let you be exactly who you are and who give you the confidence to become exactly who you want to be. So, I thought I’d share mine with you.”