The Making of Dr. Phil: The Straight-Talking True Story of Everyone's Favorite Therapist - Hardcover

Sophia Dembling; Lisa Gutierrez

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 047146726X ISBN 13: 9780471467267

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2003

Synopsis

The first biography of Dr. Phil McGraw and his rise to fame
Millions look to Dr. Phil for advice on everything from relationships to life. But Dr. Phil is more than just a pop psychologist. He's also an amazing businessman who has started and run a number of flourishing ventures. In The Making of Dr. Phil, award-winning journalists Sophia Dembling and Lisa Gutierrez take readers inside the world of Dr. Phil and his media and self-help empire. From his early days as a young athlete and student pilot, to his failed first marriage and decision to study psychology, The Making of Dr. Phil captures the courageous rise of one of today's most well-known celebrities. Full of exclusive interviews, this comprehensive portrait explores Dr. Phil's true motivations and inner drives. It also reveals the full dimension of his personality, beyond the "down-home doc" image portrayed in his books and on television. The Making of Dr. Phil offers a rare inside look at the real Dr. Phil McGraw and provides a firsthand account of how he became such a huge success.
Sophia Dembling (Dallas, TX) is a veteran journalist and former reporter for the Dallas Morning News. She was recently featured on the Dr. Phil: E! True Hollywood Story and will also appear on the upcoming A&E Biography on Dr. Phil. Lisa Gutierrez (Overland Park, KS) is an award-winning journalist. She obtained the first exclusive interview with Dr. Phil's first wife, and her reporting on Dr. Phil has appeared in numerous newspapers around the world.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Although he was virtually unknown just a few short years ago, Dr. Phil McGraw has become a media sensation. Since his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1998, Dr. Phil has made himself into the man people turn to for help in solving the problems of their lives.

But Dr. Phil is more than just the world’s most famous pop psychologist. He’s also a gifted businessman whose empire includes a blockbuster television show, bestselling books, and sold-out live seminars. In fact, the rise of Dr. Phil–and his ever-expanding media and self-help operation–is one of the most fascinating success stories in recent years.

The Making of Dr. Phil takes you inside the world of this global phenomenon. Both an engaging biography and business success story, this comprehensive portrait introduces you to the real Dr. Phil, from his early days as a young athlete and student pilot, to his failed first marriage, decision to study psychology, chance meeting with Oprah, and other big breaks along the way that set the stage for his incredible career. Authors Sophia Dembling and Lisa Gutierrez dig deep to uncover Dr. Phil’s motivations, inner drive, and the full dimension of a personality more complex than the "down-home doc" portrayed in his books and on television.

This fascinating book reveals:

• What Dr. Phil’s childhood and young adult years were like, including exclusive interviews with his friends and former classmates
• How Dr. Phil’s win-at-all-costs attitude has enabled him to build a multimillion-dollar business and media empire
• What Dr. Phil’s relationship with Oprah is really like, and what goes on behind the scenes of his hit TV show
• Why some say Dr. Phil’s brand of pop psychology is harmful, and how he responds to these charges
• What rules Dr. Phil lives by that have led him to achieve such amazing success

Complete with interviews from his family, childhood friends, former business associates, and many others, The Making of Dr. Phil offers a rare glimpse into the life of one of today’s most fascinating celebrities. It provides an up-close look at how he worked his way to the top, and is must reading for every Dr. Phil fan or anyone wanting to uncover his secrets for achieving their wildest dreams.

From the Back Cover

Essential Reading for Every Dr. Phil Fan...and Anyone Hoping to Learn the Secrets of His Incredible Success

The story of Dr. Phil’s rise to the top is not one of a well-thought- out and carefully executed plan, nor is it entirely a tale about the rewards of hard work–although McGraw is clearly driven by his own success. Rather, it is the story of a brilliant opportunist with powerful survival instincts and a gift for quickly analyzing and sizing up any situation.

You’ve no doubt heard the legend about the man who was blessed by Oprah’s golden touch. But the real story of the making of Dr. Phil encompasses both embarrassing failures and promising opportunities that have been brilliantly capitalized on by someone with the brains–and nerves–to do what it takes to succeed.
–From the Preface

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 047146726X
• ISBN 13: 9780471467267
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288