The Rainbow Comes and Goes cover art

The Rainbow Comes and Goes

A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss

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The Rainbow Comes and Goes

Written by: Anderson Cooper
Narrated by: Anderson Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt
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About this listen

A touching and intimate correspondence between Anderson Cooper and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, offering timeless wisdom and a revealing glimpse into their lives.

Though Anderson Cooper has always considered himself close to his mother, his intensely busy career as a journalist for CNN and CBS affords him little time to spend with her. After she suffers a brief but serious illness at the age of ninety-one, they resolve to change their relationship by beginning a yearlong conversation unlike any they have ever had before. The result is a correspondence of surprising honesty and depth in which they discuss their lives, the things that matter to them, and what they still want to learn about each other.

Both a son's love letter to his mother and an unconventional mom's life lessons for her grown son, The Rainbow Comes and Goes offers a rare window into their close relationship and fascinating life stories, including their tragedies and triumphs. In these often humorous and moving exchanges, they share their most private thoughts and the hard-earned truths they've learned along the way. In their words their distinctive personalities shine through - Anderson's journalistic outlook on the world is a sharp contrast to his mother's idealism and unwavering optimism.

An appealing memoir with inspirational advice, The Rainbow Comes and Goes is a beautiful and affectionate celebration of the universal bond between a parent and a child and a thoughtful reflection on life, reminding us of the precious insight that remains to be shared, no matter our age.

©2016 Anderson Cooper (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers
Art & Literature Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Witty Heartfelt Inspiring
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What the critics say

"A CNN and CBS journalist, Cooper has a highly recognizable vocal quality, and his narrative tone is thoughtful, distinctive, and pleasant. His delivery is especially adept in the difficult passages addressing the early death of his father and, later, the suicide of his older brother, Carter. Vanderbilt's skillful, forceful, and distinct narration is remarkable for her 91 years.... This is a moving listening experience." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Rainbow Comes and Goes

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wonderful

What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing your mother Mr. Cooper. So much of it I could relate to. It helped this 67 year oldd bring painful issues up front and begin to open up to those around me.

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Endearing Piece of American History

Touching, honest, and at times somewhat unexpected.
Everyone should go through this process with their loved ones.

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Beautiful and Moving

A gorgeous series of letters between Anderson and his beloved mother, Gloria. I found their interactions and particularly, Gloria’s musings in grief and life to be profound and sad and intensely human. Loved this.

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Loved it!

So touching. Raw and real! Thank you for sharing it with me. I could listen to these two all day

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Heart touching Mother-Son bonding

Some may have missed the opportunity or have never tried to build relationships with family members.

This dialogue between Mother and Son is very touching. It shows that it’s never too late to establish and build good relationships with family members

Thank you to Anderson and his Mom for sharing this with us.

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Sweet

It’s refreshing to hear the actual letters being read aloud, unedited and raw, and a more meaningful glimps through a window of life. Very well done.

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Enjoyable

I listened to both of Anderson Cooper’s books about his mom, back to back. I read Vanderbilt first, and suggest that is the best order, as it gave context to the dialog they had in The Rainbow Comes and Goes. Loved the format… they wrote each other back and forth for a year, then narrated them personally. It really worked. It was a very open and supportive exchange, brutally honest. I felt privileged to listen in.

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Heartfelt

This book , was so Heartfelt and Heart breaking at the same time. To tell ones story so openly...and facing regrets head on and being in the spotlight. Anderson Cooper you're a blessed man to have such a daring mother whom lived her life with Love. Dawn Scoffield 🇨🇦

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Beautiful and endearing


Thank you Anderson Cooper for sharing and letting us in on you and your mothers life.I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the book. I wish you continued success. Gods speed.

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A Remarkable Story

Having these two people tell me their story, and it seemed that personal, was a revelation. I had heard the custody story as a blip in depression-era history, but to get it first hand from the child herself would have made the book on its own, but there was so much more here.
I felt like I was listening in on the reminiscences of two close friends by the time it ended. A terrific audible experience.

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