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Lisa Rogak
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Who Is Alex Trebek?: A Biography Kindle Edition

by Lisa Rogak (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 out of 5 stars 649 ratings
New York Times–Bestselling Author: This biography of the Jeopardy! host “masterfully illustrates how and why he remains a treasured entertainment icon” (Booklist).

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 viewers considered Alex Trebek a part of their daily lives ever since he began hosting the show in 1984. Now biographer Lisa Rogak gives readers a look at Trebek’s early life, career, and 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 fifty when he discovered 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 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.

“Entertaining . . . Rogak depicts Trebek as exactly the man most viewers imagine, or hope, he would be—generous, curious about the world, genuinely enjoying the work he does and taking it seriously.” —BookReporter
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  1. Print length
    243 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thomas Dunne Books
  4. Publication date
    July 21, 2020
  5. File size
    13.0 MB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Entertaining...a genial look at a beloved figure." ―Kirkus Reviews

"Sprightly...Rogak’s heartfelt portrait acknowledges Trebek’s numerous contributions to the game show genre and masterfully illustrates how and why he remains a treasured entertainment icon." ―Booklist

About the Author

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.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B084M1SM4C
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Dunne Books (July 21, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 21, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 13.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 243 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 649 ratings

About the author

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Lisa Rogak

Lisa Rogak

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Lisa Rogak is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 40 books, which have been published in more than two dozen languages. Her books Barack Obama: In His Own Words, and Angry Optimist: The Life & Times of Jon Stewart, hit the New York Times bestseller lists. Haunted Heart: The Life & Times of Stephen King was nominated for both the Edgar and Anthony Awards.

Her books have been reviewed and otherwise mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and hundreds of other publications. She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show as the featured guest in a show about small towns to promote her book, Moving to the Country Once and For All.

She served as co-author with famed YouTube star Rich Benoit on his memoir Going Fast and Fixing Things: True Stories from the World’s Most Popular DIY Repair Expert and Car Aficionado, and helped the late librarian Jan Louch tell the story of the world’s most famous library cats in The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town . . . and the World

The Man Behind the DaVinci Code, her biography of famed author Dan Brown, was published in two dozen languages. In 2020, she published Rachel Maddow, the first biography of the acclaimed MSNBC anchor followed by Alex Trebek: A Biography.

Her biography of famed cartoonist, A Boy Named Shel: The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein, is currently in development for release as a major motion picture.

She lives in New Hampshire and is currently at work on a memoir.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
649 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the biography well-written and enjoyable to read. They appreciate the insights provided about Alex Trebek's life.

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16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-written, with one customer particularly appreciating its coverage of Alex Trebek's strengths.

"It was a great book" Read more

"...And it was worth it! Unlike many autobiographies, his is like a series of short stories that can be enjoyed together or separately...." Read more

"...The book was wonderfully written and pleasure to read." Read more

"...I never imagined so much work was required. I really enjoyed the book. I will miss you Alex." Read more

6 customers mention "Insight"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights, with one customer noting it provides more information about Alex Trebek's life, and another highlighting it as a great biography of the late Jeopardy host.

"...He was always very curious and hungry for learning. it surprised me to learn that he was a jack of all trades and enjoyed fixing and building things...." Read more

"...book read late January 2021 and it was interesting and gave me more information on the life of Alex Trebek since our family enjoys watching Jeopardy" Read more

"So far enjoying the insights of this book. Learning a lot." Read more

"Interesting insight into who exactly Alex Trebek is." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the biography, with one mentioning they read it in bits and pieces.

"...it was complete, but I could see taking your time and reading it in bits and pieces. It would all work!..." Read more

"Lisa Rogak did a great job writing about the life and career of late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek...." Read more

"...The book was wonderfully written and pleasure to read." Read more

"Wonderful book. It’s very well written. I just couldn’t put it down." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
    Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It was a great book
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  • K. Becker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Alex Trebeck
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have watched Jeopardy off and on for most of my life - and Alex Trebek is my favorite host! So, while I generally do not like autobiographies, I bought his. And it was worth it! Unlike many autobiographies, his is like a series of short stories that can be enjoyed together or separately. I picked it up and read it straight through until it was complete, but I could see taking your time and reading it in bits and pieces. It would all work! If you love Jeopardy, I recommend this book. And if you are not exactly at the level of the players on Jeopardy, you can still love this book!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • JayWilliams
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great bio on the late Jeopardy! host.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Lisa Rogak did a great job writing about the life and career of late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. Mr. Trebek had a long successful career once he landing the hosting spot on Jeopardy! back in 1984 after a shaky first decade on american television.
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  • Emm Eff
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful look at a great guy.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this for my wife even though we are both fans of the show.
    We came away from this knowing more about him and having answers to some questions we wondered about. We would love to meet him and his family some day. We are praying for his recovery from that terrible disease. The book was wonderfully written and pleasure to read.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Lacy Mead
    5.0 out of 5 stars My uncle read this book and loved it
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I got this as a present for my uncle and he actually never reads books but he read this one. he said he loved it he loves watching Jeopardy all the time every day. He makes me think of “the rain man” whenever he tells me not to bother him at 7pm because Jeopardy is on. Lol
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Patricia Ibarra
    4.0 out of 5 stars What is a great person
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Alex Trebek accompanied me every day for many years with Jeopardy! I always thought he was a very educated and likable host, loved by the majority. However, I knew nothing of who he really was. In this book, we discover Alex behind the scenes. He was always very curious and hungry for learning. it surprised me to learn that he was a jack of all trades and enjoyed fixing and building things. He was always very generous with people in need. He married late and built a family that made him very happy. One of the most interesting chapters in the book is the way the show is made. I never imagined so much work was required. I really enjoyed the book. I will miss you Alex.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a MUST for Jeopardy fans!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have watched Jeopardy for years and always admired Alex Trebek. This book was absolutely wonderful...read it in one sitting!!! Could NOT put it down.
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  • bw
    5.0 out of 5 stars He is truly a very fine caring man
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoy reading it interesting concerning strengths he dealt with f o r show and in his everyday life
    Like the pictures at the end
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Susan Shepherd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Such a fine man
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    i have always loved Alex Trebek since his early beginnings in Canada in my youth. it turns out he was just as lovely a man in real” life as we perceived him to be on tv. we got the news of his passing about two weeks ago and I burst into tears, feeling real grief and sorrow for a tv personality whom I felt I knew . Excellent read.
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  • Arthur Armstrong
    5.0 out of 5 stars Speedy and awesome service
    Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    After hunting unsuccessfully regionwide for the mentioned book I was happy to purchase the book for amazon and receiving it in record breaking time. Thank you very much for the speedy and faithful service.
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  • Joan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alex Trebek
    Reviewed in Canada on January 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great book! I would highly recommend it.
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  • Sharon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read!
    Reviewed in Canada on April 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic read. Such an interesting book from start to finish. Alex Trebek certainly had an interesting life.
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  • J Phil Robinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great biography.. highly recommend
    Reviewed in Canada on January 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent read .. thought I knew all about Alex ..but has proved me wrong
    Report

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