Who Is Alex Trebek?: A Biography
By Lisa Rogak
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
After a contestant wrote “We love you, Alex!” as his Final Jeopardy! answer, fans around the world quickly chimed in to proclaim their own love and support for beloved Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. In the wake of his devastating cancer diagnosis, the moment provided the perfect opportunity to reflect on what the show — and the man – meant to them.
It was no surprise, since millions of devoted viewers have long considered Alex Trebek to be a part of their daily lives ever since he began hosting the show in 1984. Now, bestselling biographer Lisa Rogak gives readers a look at Trebek's early life, his career, and his personal life throughout the years, drawing on many sources to tell his full story for the first time.
There are many surprises, like the fact that Trebek was almost 50 when he discovered that he had a half brother, as well as the revelation that for a short time he actually dreamed of becoming a priest. The native Canadian also struggled with depression after the failure of his first marriage, and for years afterward he despaired of ever having a family of his own until he met the woman who would become his soulmate.
Who Is Alex Trebek? is the first biography of the much-loved game show host, and as such, celebrates the man who has created a remarkable legacy that will live on in popular culture for generations to come.
Lisa Rogak
LISA ROGAK is the author of numerous books, including And Nothing But the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert. She is the editor of the New York Times bestseller Barack Obama in His Own Words and author of the New York Times bestseller Angry Optimist: The Life and Times of Jon Stewart. Rogak lives in New Hampshire. Learn more on her website.
Read more from Lisa Rogak
Rachel Maddow: A Biography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dogs Who Serve: Incredible Stories of Our Canine Military Heroes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Boy Named Shel: The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Barack Obama: In His Own Words Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5And Nothing But the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5One Big Happy Family: Heartwarming Stories of Animals Caring for One Another Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dan Brown: The Unauthorized Biography Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBill Gates: In His Own Words Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Who Is Alex Trebek?
Related ebooks
PEOPLE The Bachelor!: Celebrating 20 Seasons of Love, Lust, Hookups, Breakups, Roses & Rings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBillions of Besties: A Celebration of Fascinating and Simply Exceptional Friendships Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdele: The Biography Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLittle Mix: 100% Unofficial – Shout Out to Britain’s Greatest Girl Group Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Awesome Girls: Why the Future is Female Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rock: Through the Lens: His Life, His Movies, His World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPEOPLE American Heroes: Inspirational Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Good Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGetting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family, and Finding the Perfect Lipstick Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Fresh Prince Project: How the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Remixed America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOut of the Box: Raw and hilarious tales of heartache, triumph and truth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Adam Sandler: America's Comedian Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Memoirs of a Broken Hearted Girl Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Most Beautiful Woman in the World: The Obsessions, Passions, and Courage of Elizabeth Taylor Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5From the Outside: My Journey Through Life and the Game I Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/52000 MemoryFountain Music: Relive Your 2000 Memories Through Music Trivia Game Book Breathe, Smooth, Say My Name, and More! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWork Horse: From an Amish Farm to the NFL Gridiron Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHaunted Bloomington, Indiana Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTrain Wreck: The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMouseschawitz: My Summer Job Of Concentrated Fun Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Glamorously Unglamorous Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5PEOPLE Yearbook: The Most Memorable Moments of 2016 & Those We Lost in 2016 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlaying for Paterno: One Coach, Two Eras . . . A Father and Son's Recollections of Playing for JoePa Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Sexy Angelina Jolie Biography and Career Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSing Sing 614 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLady Gaga: Behind the Fame Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm Hosting as Fast as I Can!: Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Entertainment Weekly The Ultimate Guide to The Big Bang Theory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Douche Journals: The Definitive Account of One Man's Genius Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Everyday Dad: A Memoir About Single Parenting Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Performing Arts For You
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Robin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Diamond Eye: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book: The Script Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Importance of Being Earnest: A Play Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5For colored girls who have considered suicide/When the rainbow is enuf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sisters Brothers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Macbeth (new classics) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coreyography: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Romeo and Juliet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wuthering Heights Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hamlet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Revised and Complete Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count Of Monte Cristo (Unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mash: A Novel About Three Army Doctors Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Strange Loop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unsheltered: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hollywood's Dark History: Silver Screen Scandals Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fifth Mountain: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Our Town: A Play in Three Acts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Sherlock Holmes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Midsummer Night's Dream, with line numbers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Best Women's Monologues from New Plays, 2020 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Dolls House Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Who Is Alex Trebek?
9 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A brief biography on the iconic game host that borders on hagiography. Alex was one of the few game host like Pat Sajak who was able to latch on to a great concept and ride it for an entire career. The sad diagnosis of his disease has impacted the show and those who view just as much for Alex being there. It will indeed be a sad loss when he passes on. The book highlights his life of which there were many, along with the trials and tribulations most of us face in a lifetime. A good way to find out more about the man and his life while gaining a historic perspective on the evolution and broad success of the game itself.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Who Is Alex Trebek? by Lisa Rogak is a biography and also a history of the enduring quiz-show Jeopardy. This is an unauthorized biography which is being published on the same day as Alex Trebek’s own autobiography. This week also marks the 80th birthday of the much-loved and admired host of the popular Jeopardy. We learn of his early days in Sudbury, Canada, his boarding school days and his time at his alma mater, The University of Ottawa. Trebek’s natural charm and genuine interest in people made him a great candidate for his radio and television career. His personal and family life is also highlighted as well as his extensive philanthropy. The reader is also informed about Jeopardy behind-the-scenes: how questions are researched and chosen, how many people work there, who dresses Alex and how it has lasted from 1984 to now. All in all, it was a quick and interesting read. Alex Trebek is battling pancreatic cancer and has found great support in his audience. Jeopardy would not be the same without this charismatic host. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Alex Trebek has A-list name recognition for sure but for the most part he flies under the radar when it comes to his private life. This biography takes a look at his childhood growing up in Canada, his family life, and his career as well as providing a decent history of Jeopardy.We all know Alex Trebek is the host of Jeopardy. (Although did you know there was a prior version of the show with a different host back in the 1960s and 70s?) It's pretty amazing a show that has been on for decades seems to be as popular today as ever before. I think a lot of that credit goes to Alex. In my opinion he had a bit of a smart aleck, gruff persona back when I was a kid growing up in the 80s and 90s, but somewhere along the way seemed to mellow out a bit. I think it is safe to say we all love him as the host and given his recent cancer battle, we realize the show wouldn't quite be the same without him steering the ship.The book is informative but I don't know if it will be the most satisfying read for the die hard fans. It is my assumption, and someone correct me if I am wrong, but most of the material in the book came from old interviews with Alex or articles. I don't think he sat down for an interview for this book specifically so while I enjoyed reading the book I didn't feel like I was getting a ton of brand new information. I had watched a tv special about Alex not so long ago and the book was very similar in content. To be fair though that is to be expected, however, I do wish this could have been a more extensive biography.Like I mentioned, I did enjoy reading the book and would recommend it for those people who are interested in learning a little more about his persona off camera. If you already know quite a bit about the history of the show and Alex, this book probably isn't a must read.I received a free advance digital copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Dunne Books in exchange for an honest review.