Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series?"

"There are nine books in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series, published between 1981 and 2023."

Q: "What is the first book in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series?"

"The first book in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series is Up the Tube: Prime-Time TV in the Silverman Years, Like It or Not, published in 1981."

Q: "What is the best Sally Bedell Smith book to read first?"

"Elizabeth the Queen (2012) is a good starting point, as it covers the full arc of Queen Elizabeth II's life and reign and gives context for Smith's other royal biographies. Readers more interested in American history might start with Grace and Power (2006), her account of the Kennedy White House, which is similarly detailed and very readable. Smith's books stand entirely independently, so there is no required reading order."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Up the Tube: Prime-Time TV in the Silverman Years, Like It or Not	1981	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
2	In All His Glory: The Life and Times of William S. Paley and the Birth of Modern Broadcasting	1990	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
3	Reflected Glory: The Life of Pamela Churchill Harriman	1996	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
4	Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess	1999	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
5	Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House	2006	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
6	For Love of Politics: Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years	2007	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
7	Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch	2012	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
8	Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life	2017	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy
9	George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy	2023	Sally Bedell Smith	Buy

Sally Bedell Smith’s non-fiction output spans more than four decades and two continents of subject matter. Her early books examined American media and politics, starting with a biography of television executive Fred Silverman and culminating in a detailed account of William S. Paley’s role in building CBS into a broadcasting empire. These books established her as a reporter who could gain access to powerful institutions and write about them without either hostility or reverence.

Her royal biographies brought her wider recognition. Diana in Search of Herself (1999) approached Princess Diana as a psychologically complex subject rather than a cultural icon, drawing criticism from some quarters but praise for its even-handedness. Elizabeth the Queen (2012) was more warmly received and became a reference point for anyone seeking a serious account of the Queen’s reign. Later books on Prince Charles and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth extended her coverage of the Windsor family across three generations, creating a substantial body of royal biography unmatched in scope by most American writers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series?

There are nine books in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series, published between 1981 and 2023.

What is the first book in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series?

The first book in the Sally Bedell Smith Non-Fiction series is Up the Tube: Prime-Time TV in the Silverman Years, Like It or Not, published in 1981.

What is the best Sally Bedell Smith book to read first?

Elizabeth the Queen (2012) is a good starting point, as it covers the full arc of Queen Elizabeth II’s life and reign and gives context for Smith’s other royal biographies. Readers more interested in American history might start with Grace and Power (2006), her account of the Kennedy White House, which is similarly detailed and very readable. Smith’s books stand entirely independently, so there is no required reading order.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order