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  • Mean Baby

  • A Memoir of Growing Up
  • By: Selma Blair
  • Narrated by: Selma Blair
  • Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (138 ratings)

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Mean Baby

By: Selma Blair
Narrated by: Selma Blair
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Publisher's Summary

**The Instant New York Times Bestseller**

Selma Blair has played many archetypal roles: gullible ingenue in Cruel Intentions. Preppy ice queen in Legally Blonde. Fire-starter in Hellboy. Muse to Karl Lagerfeld. Face of Chanel. Cover model. Advocate for the multiple sclerosis community. But before all of that, Selma was known best for being one thing: a mean baby. In a memoir that is as wildly funny as it is emotionally shattering, Selma Blair tells the captivating story of growing up and finding her truth.

The first story Selma Blair Beitner ever heard about herself is that she was a mean, mean baby. With her mouth pulled in a perpetual snarl and a head so furry it had to be rubbed to make way for her forehead, Selma spent years living up to her terrible reputation: biting her sisters, lying spontaneously, getting drunk from Passover wine at the age of seven, and behaving dramatically so that she would be the center of attention. 

Although Selma went on to become a celebrated Hollywood actress and model, she could never quite shake the periods of darkness that overtook her, the certainty that there was a great mystery at the heart of her life. She often felt like her arms might be on fire, a sensation not unlike electric shocks, and she secretly drank to escape. 

Over the course of this beautiful and, at times, shocking memoir, Selma lays bare her addiction to alcohol, her devotion to her brilliant and complicated mother, and the moments she flirted with death. There is brutal violence, passionate love, true friendship, the gift of motherhood and, finally, the simultaneous devastation and surprising salvation of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. In a voice that is powerfully original, fiercely intelligent, and full of hard-won wisdom, Selma Blair's Mean Baby is a deeply human memoir and a true literary achievement.

©2022 Selma Blair (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK

What listeners say about Mean Baby

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  • Overall
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Absolutely perfect

Such a raw and truthful book, Selma telling her story made me realise that it is okay, its okay to just be our messy, unadulterated selves. Thanks Selma Blair

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  • Overall
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Couldn’t stop listening

I love hearing celebrity author’s tell the stories of their lives, cutting out the media. Especially when they are people that we see acting roles….. to read/hear their real life thoughts, feelings and challenges. Particularly resonated for me the long time between onset of illness and diagnosis. A reminder that no matter who we are, life is challenging.

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amazing!

loved the way Selma tells her story! even though I am very different I can relate alot

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  • Overall
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Honest, open and interesting

Easy listening. Enjoy Blair narrating her own life in a deep, open and raw way

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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MS sucks!

A story well worth listening too. Thank you Selma.
You are an inspiration without knowing it.

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Good memoir, struggled with the narration

Like a few have said, the emotion seemed inauthentic however I learnt a lot about MS and empathise with Selma's journey through addiction and abuse.
Always happy to hear the author narrate their own stories but this one didn't land for me.

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Loved it

Beautifully written. I love Selma’s narration, she is able to make the words come to life

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Mean Baby

It took me a little while to get into it. After a few chapters, I found myself getting drawn into her story

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Fantastic

Can’t recommend this enough. Selma’s talented acting really brings her stories to life, it made a big difference having her read it vs if I had have read it myself. Really heart felt memoir - loved it.

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Absolutely brilliant…

The story, the way it was read… loved everything about this. New found appreciation for the author… what a warrior.

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