I requested this book from Netgalley years ago, accidentally thinking it was Alex Trebek’s memoir. And this book probably was intended to confuse people in that fashion, since it was published the same day as Alex’s memoir. When I realized, I read the memoir instead, and never got around to this one until now, when I thought I would read it and cross it off my old Netgalleys list.

And boy, this book was not good. First of all, Alex Trebek’s life was really not that exciting, even his memoir was a bit dry. But on top of that, this unauthorized biography does not appear to have been based on any original interviews or anything, just sort of quoting and synthesizing a variety of articles and interviews from the past. So it was sort of like a combo of a Wikipedia entry and a 200 page long article in US Magazine or something.

Who is Alex Trebek? is an informative biography that celebrates a man who captivated so many people for decades.

I'm a huge Jeopardy fan and every time I think about the show I automatically think of Alex. He was such a bright talent and this is perfect for his fans. I liked that this gives fans and readers an insight into his life before the fame. We get to see his life as a child and how he became the well-known host he was till the very end.

I give Who Is Alex Trebek? 3 stars. It's a good memoir that I think fans of the show and Alex will enjoy.

A person that is like part of your family but really isn't ? Is that possible? That was Alex Trebek. Everyday playing in my household as if by nature. What a great book!

Who Is Alex Trebek? was an okay biography. I think the author could have done a little more research though. Two stars.

Lisa Rogak has given us a well-written book about a beloved man who we have welcomed into our homes, while we all settle in to enjoy a half-hour of entertainment. Who doesn't want to spend time reading about Alex Trebek?? Or seeing his great work on Jeopardy? Will we be able to best the contestants ? Do we know more than we think we do? or less?! Some of my best memories of the last years of my mother's life were the way we all hit the chairs in her downstairs living area, she controlling the remote (her wand of control), usually with a shared snack of some type. She would comment on the questions, on Alex's many brilliances, or other game specific nuggets. As the years rolled forward, there were many we'd heard before, sometimes word for word. Didn't matter. We'd willingly go through it again, just to be there with her.

We feel the same about Alex Trebek. Here we have the chance to read this book, get to know the man we consider family a little better - it is a blessing to us all. He was a good example to all of us. I hope he's got the gameboard set up, is ready and holding that door open for us.

Alex Trebek left us only a week ago. He was a beloved legend who everyone was familiar with but few really knew. The remarkable thing about Trebek is that he's just as advertised. He's not a wild and crazy celebrity. There are no scandals. He's a thoughtful, private guy who loves tinkering around the house and doesn't want to get involved with the National Enquirer.

This biography offers up to readers the length and breadth of Trebek's life (except the last few days). Starting with his childhood in Canada and ending up in Hollywood, trying to get a show that lasted. Jeopardy was, of course, Merv Griffin's creation, and it never really exploded in popularity until Trebek became the host. Perhaps the most interesting parts of the book are about the show, how Alex prepares for each show, and how he goes about the filming. For whatever reason, it was a perfect pairing: this host with this show.

Loved this book! It was amazing to read about the man behind the person. It was a perfect book about the man, his life and his self.

Is there a more appropriate book for #NonFictionNovember?
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I was so sad when Alex Trebek passed. I know he felt like a member of everyone’s family. He was a mainstay in our house for literally as long as I can remember. I beyond love #jeopardy.
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If you love jeopardy this book is totally fascinating. I don’t want to give it all away but here are some super interesting tid bits. Merv Griffin and his wife came up with the idea for the game on a plane ride, he composed one of the most famous pieces of music in about a minute at the piano and Trebek was not the first host. In fact, Trebek didn’t come on as host until jeopardy was resurrected a third time! Also, it’s super interesting, what I never considered is that man and women wager differently, as men are more likely to wager larger while typically women play it safe.
When it comes to clues I never thought about how long it takes to come up with a clue. It takes about one hour to write a single clue. Each clue has seven lines, 17 letters per line and have to take in consideration that m, w and o take up more space. My nerdy self finds that information completely fascinating!
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The book also covers any piece of jeopardy knowledge you could possibly want including, ken Jennings, tournament of champions, guest stars, snl, mustaches and how hands on Trebek was with the show.
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When it comes to Trebek himself I had no clue he almost became a monk, moved here because of #AlanThicke owned a vineyard, racehorses, hosted a wrestlemania, countless of other game shows but the most important thing he did was be a dad, son, husband and brother. I loved Alex Trebek and I feel like that’s a universal statement. When a contestant wrote on his final jeopardy answer “We Love You Alex Trebek” he spoke for his entire audience, friends and family.
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What’s the perfect book to read for #NonfictionNovember about a game show host that became family?
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The answer is Who is Alex Trebek?
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Thank you to #NetGalley and #ThomasDunnebooks for an arc in exchange for an honest review
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Thank you so much to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Jeopardy! and Alex Trebek fan. When I found out that we were getting a biography on him I knew I needed to read it ASAP. I’m not usually one for non-fiction, but my preferred areas of it when I do read it are biographies and autobiographies.

Overall I did enjoy this book. I’ve seen a few documentaries about Jeopardy! and have read articles and interviews with Alex when they are available, so I knew more than I thought I would going into this. It does have a lot of interesting anecdotes and facts though, and does a great job of not getting caught up in so many details where it leaves the reader feeling bored, or that the book is dry. The writing is compelling enough where it’s an easy book to get through, and is enjoyable all the while. I loved learning more about Alex’s youth, and the pictures that were included were great!

I will definitely be taking a look through Lisa Rogak’s other works to see if she has profiled anyone else I’m interested in.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

Alex Trebek is a god, that's who he is! He also is a stylishly dressed tv icon overcoming cancer and inspiring the world with knowledge and heart.

I learned many interesting details about the life of Alex Trebek after reading the book, Who is Alex Trebek? He is an encouraging person And I felt inspired after reading his story.

I learned a lot about Trebek in this book, but i felt like it could be written in a much more compelling manner than it was. I love a good biography and this one was only okay!

I decided to read this book because I didn't know much about Alex Trebek, besides that he hosts Jeopardy. I was hoping to learn more about the man (which I did to a point) but I also wanted to know more about the game itself.

This biography came out around the same time as his actual authorized biography, which made it more obvious that no real primary sources were used. It is a compilation of quotes from previous interviews and facts, with little storytelling or new insights.

I can answer the question 'Who is Alex Trebek' after reading this book but I also could have just googled it and found much of the same information.

This book details a lot of Alex's early years and struggles as someone wanting to get into the entertainment industry. It mentions a lot of his work behind the scenes at Jeopardy and relays his thoughts and feelings about marriage, being a dad and his job. I found it interesting that he does so much charitable work and this was something that I did not know. Overall, it was a good read.

I first got an offer to preview an advance reading copy of Who Is Alex Trebek? by Lisa Rogak from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Then I saw Alex on TV plugging his own memoir called The Answer Is . . . Reflections on My Life. Being a longtime Jeopardy! fan as I mentioned in Monday’s blog, I couldn’t decide which to read so I chose both. I got the first from Net Galley and ordered the second for my Kindle. It turned out to be a good decision.

Lisa follows a traditional biographical pattern of starting with the beginning of Alex’s life and going to the present. Alex takes a pattern from Jeopardy! and does vignettes that he calls chapters that begin with “The answer is . . .” followed by his topic for that segment. Example: “What Is . . .THE WILL TO SURVIVE?” in which he deals with his own cancer but also with the philosophical idea of what makes a person want to continue to live in hard circumstances.

Even for someone who doesn’t follow Jeopardy!, and I hear there a people like that, the story of the Canadian child of a father who had grown up in the Ukraine to become a ever-present TV host on American TV is fascinating in its twists and turns. Both books acknowledge Alex’s blemishes such as his aptitude for cursing and his virtues as exemplified in his strong charitable giving and service practices.

In the end, little conflict exists between the two volumes. Reading them both, which I recommend, is like looking at his life from the outside and the inside. I also recommend my order with the biography first and the memoir second. Who Is Alex Trebek? gives the framework of his life and The Answer Is . . . Reflections on My Life gives Alex’s perspective on that life with very few places where I felt like I had read this before. Any regular Jeopardy! watcher will want to read both for sure, and I think either would be of interest to other readers as well.

Who is Alex Trebek by Lisa Rogak
This is a wonderful story that tells us about a man who has been part of so many homes each night as the host of Jeopardy. His story is interesting and it provides background to the man with all the answers (because the answers are the clues on the show). His kindness and determination to succeed provides insight to the man we see on camera. The man who seems to have enjoyed life and has made an impression on many along the way. If you are a fan of Alex Trebek then you may already know much of the information but it is worth the read. I felt as if I knew a lot about him but there was so much I did not know. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This beloved game show host and television icon has a new book out in which he looks back on a long and storied career.

Who is … Alex Trebek?

That question is also the title of a new biography of the game show host from Lisa Rogak. It’s a gentle voyage, to be sure. In a lot of ways, the book offers up its titular answer in much the spirit of the game show that came to define him – simply, concisely and accurately. The book matches the man, largely genial but with just a hint of remove.

As it should be.

Alex Trebek has been doing this job – and doing it well – for nearly four decades. The phenomenon of “Jeopardy!” as far as its unmatched ability to transcend generational divides means that there are millions of people out there who have been sharing their homes with him for their entire lives. He is a cultural touchstone the likes of which we may never see again, a subtle but constant presence.

For so many of us, that’s all the answer we need.

Pretty vanilla, wikipedia type bio of Trebek. I saw where this is unauthorized and that is fairly obvious by the content. Nothing earth shattering and just cobbled facts taken from previous interview's and articles.

Thank you to the publisher for an copy of this book via netgalley!

Trebek and Jeopardy have been apart of the lives of many individuals over many generations. It was great to read his life story and to realize his journey to hosting jeopardy wasn’t an easy one. Glad to also get a glimpse of his personal life a bit as it is something that he usually keeps private. The author did a good job of researching well Trebek’s life to make sure that it reflected how he would have wanted this life to be portrayed.

When I was half the way into this book, I was hoping it would end soon. Once I start a book, I commit to finish it.

I usually read fiction, but have watched Jeopardy for so many years and was interested in what Alex would write about his life. I was disappointed that this book is someone writing about his life, with an occasional quote from Alex. I suppose I could have looked into that fact prior to reading, but I did not.

I believe that Alex has lived an amazing life, and I certainly do not want my review to be viewed as a rating on his life at all. I just did not care for the writer’s style, or the impressions I had from reading this book. If I write about my thoughts while reading this book, it would come off very negative, so I will not go further into my opinion.

I think I would have enjoyed this book so much more if Alex himself had written it, instead of feeling as if I read a narration of his life (without much emotion but many opinions).

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read the Advanced Reader Copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.