Sunday 26 July 2020

The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek

I was lucky to get The Answer is ... Reflections on My Life, the autobiography of Alex Trebek, the moment it came out.

Longtime Jeopardy! host and television icon Alex Trebek reflects on his life and career. Since debuting as the host of Jeopardy! in 1984, 

Alex Trebek has been something like a family member to millions of television viewers, bringing entertainment and education into their homes five nights a week. Last year, he made the stunning announcement that he had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. What followed was an incredible outpouring of love and kindness. Social media was flooded with messages of support, and the Jeopardy! studio received boxes of cards and letters offering guidance, encouragement, and prayers. 

For over three decades, Trebek had resisted countless appeals to write a book about his life. Yet he was moved so much by all the goodwill, he felt compelled to finally share his story. “I want people to know a little more about the person they have been cheering on for the past year,” he writes in The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life. 

The book combines illuminating personal anecdotes with Trebek’s thoughts on a range of topics, including marriage, parenthood, education, success, spirituality, and philanthropy. Trebek also addresses the questions he gets asked most often by Jeopardy! fans, such as what prompted him to shave his signature mustache, his insights on legendary players like Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer, and his opinion of Will Ferrell’s Saturday Night Live impersonation.

The book uses a novel structure inspired by Jeopardy!, with each chapter title in the form of a question, and features dozens of never-before-seen photos that candidly capture Trebek over the years. This wise, charming, and inspiring book is further evidence why Trebek has long been considered one of the most beloved and respected figures in entertainment.

Many times, I've started an autobiography which I've lost interest in quickly. Others I have enjoyed but this is one of the very few which I found to be excellent. It's written pretty much the way Alex talks and I could hear his voice in my head while I read.

I love how the book is set up. Short, 2 to 3 page stories of moments and memories of his life, done in chronological order. Some are funny, some make you think or ponder. It's a great look behind the scenes, not only of Jeopardy but of his life. Alex Trebek is known pretty much everywhere in Canada and the US.

This is a great read for any fan of his.


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