Acknowledging that fame inevitably attracts criticism, she writes of being hurt by comments posted about her on the Internet and concludes that some people are “so full of anger, hatred and bitterness.” Perhaps she is referring to blogger Perez Hilton who has now being calling Miley a ‘slut’ and ‘slutty Cyrus’ for over a year now on his blog but it is not clear whether she is.

Referring to the media in general, she regrets that people make profits off her troubles, and wishes they instead would profit from her “achievements.” It’s always easier for people to see the flaws and blow up the negatives to make a living. For these same people it is hard for them to be happy for another’s success as they are struggling to make ends meet and they envy her fame and lifestyle. So she is understanding but is very intolerant towards their treatment of her also.

Cyrus’ records have sold millions of copies and her “I Thought I Lost You,” featured in the movie “Bolt,” was a Golden Globe nominee for best song. A film version of “Hannah Montana” comes out in April. The 266-page book, Miles To Go, was written for young people, her core audience, with photos, notes scrawled in the margins and plenty of lists. Cyrus advocates family, friendship and pursuing one’s dreams, but also mentions the price, not just the loss of privacy, but the loss of self. She’s a very strong girl.

Toward the end of the second season of “Hannah Montana,” after her break up with Nick, Miley says that she fell into despair; “self-hatred” that started with a common affliction, acne, and developed into something greater. She was shocked that she had turned Hollywood, become a “brat,” and forgotten her own identity. Although this sounds like perfect PR fodder for her upcoming film, Cyrus really means it, because she was depressed although she was pretending to be happy and successful for a while. 

The blues blew away thanks to Vanessa, a 9-year-old with cystic fibrosis whom Cyrus met at a Los Angeles hospital and instantly connected with. ”I’d been praying to God to take away my vanity and self-centeredness,” she writes, which is hard to do in Hollywood but is so needed to really feel and live in a real life as a real person who interacts with real people, who she can learn from all around her. “When I met Vanessa, all the superficial obsession over my skin, and all the darkness I’d been feeling, fell away.” It was a miracle, and Vanessa was God’s answer to her prayer and a real epiphany was revealed to Miley in Vanessa’s life and her gratitude and happiness for life. It was amazing.

Cyrus’ memoir, written with Hilary Liftin, will be published next month by Disney-Hyperion Books. The Associated Press purchased a copy put on sale early. This report was penned by Hillel Italie and Sam Cruickshank.