Private Parts (book)

Private Parts

Company type	Book
Industry	Publishing
Founded	October 7, 1993 (1993-10-07)
Founder	Howard Stern
Products	Autobiographical book
Parent	Simon & Schuster

Private Parts marks the debut book by American radio host Howard Stern, published on October 7, 1993, through Simon & Schuster with editorial guidance from Larry "Ratso" Sloman and Judith Regan. By mid-1992, Stern’s radio program The Howard Stern Show had risen to become the leading morning broadcast in New York City, alongside his role as host of a Saturday night television show on WWOR-TV. After an unsuccessful attempt to produce a film with New Line Cinema, Stern secured a book deal with Simon & Schuster in early 1993.

The book quickly achieved commercial acclaim, entering The New York Times Best Seller list at number one and maintaining that spot for five consecutive weeks. Within just five days, it became Simon & Schuster’s fastest-selling title ever. A paperback version featuring additional material was released in 1994. The autobiographical content was later adapted into the 1997 film Private Parts, starring Stern and his radio colleagues portraying themselves, which led to a renewed paperback publication.

Background

By 1993, Stern had been the morning host at WXRK in New York City for more than six years. In January of that year, his show expanded into syndication across ten markets and became the first radio program to simultaneously hold the number one ranking in New York City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. In addition to radio, Stern hosted television programs on WWOR-TV and E!. Nevertheless, plans for a feature film centered on his Fartman persona with New Line Cinema stalled and were ultimately canceled in 1993.

In February 1993, Stern began discussions with Simon & Schuster regarding a book project, aiming to strengthen his "King of All Media" image. The publisher pursued him after observing the success of conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh’s bestseller The Way Things Ought to Be. Stern accepted a substantial advance rumored to exceed $1 million from the esteemed publisher. On March 23, 1993, he publicly announced the agreement during his radio broadcast, setting an intended release date for October.

One of Stern’s key motivations was frustration over frequent misrepresentations in the press; authoring a book provided an opportunity to communicate directly in his own voice. He highlighted honesty as a fundamental aspect of his appeal and sought to unveil fresh dimensions of his character for his audience. Among early ideas was dedicating the book to singer Cher.

Potential titles such as Mein Kampf: Settling Accounts were dismissed by the publisher due to concerns over controversy, particularly among Jewish readers. Another tentative title was Sort of the World According to Howard.

Writing

Stern completed the manuscript in roughly six months, describing it as the most demanding endeavor of his professional life despite initial assumptions it would be easier. He deliberately avoided recycling previous material, focusing instead on producing compelling content that could attract new listeners. His writing routine typically began after his radio show ended and continued until dinner or around 8 p.m. Although he initially anticipated finishing within three months, only an outline was ready by then. Editors Larry "Ratso" Sloman and Judith Regan collaborated closely with him, even staying at his residence to help meet deadlines. A research assistant transcribed radio segments and interviews into approximately 10,000 words for Regan’s refinement; nevertheless, the final text remained authentically Stern’s own. Sloman contributed as a creative partner by helping select content and proposing chapter sponsors—an idea that was eventually abandoned.

When announcing the book project, Stern developed his narrative style by brainstorming with producer Gary Dell'Abate and concentrating on behind-the-scenes stories. His primary writing location was a basement office on Long Island where he used either a computer or dictation software. His wife occasionally reviewed drafts and offered input. To support his writing process, Stern utilized a computerized archive cataloging nine years’ worth of radio shows and media appearances.

Each chapter is introduced by a different woman holding a card displaying the chapter number; for this photo shoot, Stern shaved body hair. Early title considerations included War and Piss, I, Moron, and Penis—the last chosen for its potential headline-grabbing effect. The final title, Private Parts, was selected as a compromise with the publisher and suggested by co-host Robin Quivers to ensure broad appeal without alienating readers. One chapter titled "Mein Kampf," outlining Stern’s early career stages, was retained while another focusing on FCC fines was discarded for being overly complex. Additional chapters about his rise in Philadelphia and work at WWOR-TV were also omitted. Names of women from his Boston University days were altered to protect privacy.

Stern engaged psychotherapists Sheenah Hankin and Richard Wessler—who had no prior familiarity with him—to analyze the manuscript; their eight-page psychological profile appears at the book’s conclusion. Although initially uncomfortable with their evaluation, Stern eventually accepted its accuracy. Celebrity endorsements were collected by Chaunce Hayden, editor of Steppin Out, though he was erroneously credited as "Chaunce Howell." Upon finishing the manuscript, Stern learned it exceeded length limits by 45,000 words, necessitating significant revisions of several chapters.

Cover

Simon & Schuster declined an initial cover design that depicted Stern alongside two nude blonde women grasping his crotch. The publisher modified the artwork, removing the women and obscuring Stern’s genital area with a banner featuring the book’s title. The discarded photographs were included inside the book.

Release

Private Parts debuted on October 7, 1993, with a first print run of 250,000 copies. According to a Simon & Schuster representative, between 50,000 and 75,000 copies were sold on opening day. The following day, the publisher placed an order for an additional 500,000 copies, marking their largest single print run ever—surpassing the previous record of 400,000 set by Limbaugh's The Way Things Ought to Be. Within five days, Private Parts became the fastest-selling title in Simon & Schuster’s history. By October 26, it had reached its eighth printing with over one million copies distributed; by November 1995, total sales hit 1.1 million.

Stern bolstered sales through a nationwide book signing tour that attracted unprecedented crowds. The inaugural signing occurred at Barnes & Noble in New York City on October 14, followed by a book launch party on October 27.

Although reviews were mixed and some retailers declined to stock the book due to its content, it achieved strong commercial success. On release day, wholesaler Sapak Inc. canceled orders, citing concerns that the material was too explicit for "family oriented" clientele. The Caldor department store chain altered its display of the New York Times Best Seller list to omit Private Parts from the top spot. Additionally, library inclusion faced frequent challenges in subsequent years. The book maintained the number one position on the non-fiction best-seller list for five weeks from October 9 to November 6, 1993, before being overtaken by Rush Limbaugh’s See, I Told You So. In total, it remained on the list for twenty weeks.

Stern’s extensive radio audience played a crucial role in driving rapid sales despite assumptions that his listeners were not typical book buyers. His popularity stemmed from a populist rapport with middle-class white male listeners and a reaction against political correctness.

Upon its release, Private Parts set a new sales benchmark for Simon & Schuster and was later adapted into a 1997 film featuring Stern and his radio team portraying themselves.

Reception

Critics offered mixed assessments of the book, frequently drawing parallels to Lenny Bruce's 1965 autobiography How to Talk Dirty and Influence People. Much like Stern’s radio program, it encountered considerable backlash due to its provocative content and ranked number 86 on the American Library Association's list of the "100 Most Frequently challenged books Between 1990 and 1999." A paperback edition released in September 1994 by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, saw an additional print run of 2.8 million copies. In late 1995, Stern followed up with a second book titled Miss America.

Stern’s literary effort drew similar criticism as his broadcast work. While some reviewers positively compared Private Parts to Bruce’s autobiography, many perceived it merely as an extension of Stern’s radio persona without substantial new material. He was commended for his populist appeal that attracted readers who typically eschew books; however, critics often dismissed the content as immature, focusing predominantly on themes involving anatomy and bodily functions such as "breasts, behinds, penises, masturbation, defecation, and flatulence."

Among those likening it to Bruce's memoir, some regarded Stern’s work as the most notable comedian memoir since Bruce’s, while others felt it fell short or lacked influence relative to Stern’s radio ratings in specific radio markets.

Given Stern's prominence as a leading radio personality, comparisons between his book and show were unavoidable. Reviews often evaluated the book through the lens of his broadcast style. Some critics praised the book even if they disliked the radio show, but more frequently it was dismissed as a printed compilation of radio highlights presented with more explicit detail. Editorial constraints occasionally prevented full reproduction of certain stories.

The juvenile tone and visual style of the book also drew attention, with comparisons made to Bruce’s work and comic books due to its heavy reliance on images and diverse fonts. Margo Jefferson from The New York Times praised its segmented format that allowed readers to engage non-linearly. The emphasis on sexual and bodily subjects was seen by some as limiting its broader appeal. Notably, one review was contributed by a high school student.

Publication history

• Stern, Howard (1993), Private Parts (First edition – Hardcover), New York: Simon & Schuster (October 7, 1993), ISBN 978-0-671-88016-3
• Stern, Howard (1994), Private Parts (Second edition – Mass Market Paperback), New York: Simon & Schuster (September 1994), ISBN 978-0-671-51043-5
• Stern, Howard (1997), Private Parts (Third edition – Mass Market Paperback – tied to 1997 film release), New York: Simon & Schuster (March 1, 1997), ISBN 978-0-671-00944-1

References

1. Freeman, "Stern delivers his usual blend of smut and arrogance," The San Diego Union–Tribune, November 7, 1993
2. Gardner, James, "Private Parts," National Review, February 7, 1994
3. Githens, Lauri, "Howard Stern in Print: Outrageous and Successful," Buffalo News, October 26, 1993
4. Gleiberman, Owen, "Revealing Himself," Entertainment Weekly, October 22, 1993
5. Greto, Victor, "Stern exposes more than just shock / 'Shock jock' aims for honesty," The Gazette (Colorado Springs), October 31, 1993
6. Jefferson, Margo, "Books of The Times; Masters of Self-Comedy," The New York Times, November 24, 1993
7. Kening, Dan, "'Private Parts' offers little substance," Chicago Tribune, November 12, 1993
8. Macintyre, Ben, "Champion of the masses?," The Times, November 4, 1993
9. Mills, Joshua, "Redefining gross revenue success," The New York Times, October 24, 1993
10. Naudi, Jack, "Sexual content becomes tiresome in Stern's memoir," The Grand Rapids Press, November 7, 1993
11. Pintarich, Paul, "Howard Stern's humor lacks wisdom," The Oregonian, October 29, 1993
12. Roeper, Richard, "Book readers becoming scarce," Chicago Sun-Times, November 11, 1993
13. Santiago, "Howard Stern – candid and humorous," The Plain Dealer, October 25, 1993
14. Saracino, Chris , "Shock or schlock? Is Howard Stern genuine? Perhaps it doesn't matter," The Ottawa Citizen, January 1, 1994
15. Stern, Howard. Private Parts. Simon & Schuster. New York. October 15, 1993. ISBN 978-0-671-88016-3
16. Stern, Howard. Miss America. HarperCollins. New York. March 1995. ISBN 978-0-06-039167-6
17. Thomas, Betty (Director). Private Parts [Film]. Paramount Pictures. United States. March 7, 1997.