Alex Trebek

The Answer Is…

Celeste Richardson

Jeopardy was a huge part of my childhood. It seemed like every time I visited my grandparents, which was everyday, Jeopardy was on. It’s how I learned to embrace my huge thirst for and retention of useless trivia. Because it’s not totally useless if it could potentially help you win on Jeopardy one day, right? It’s why the only team I joined in school was Quiz Bowl, and why Quiz Bowl captain was one of my favorite things to list on college applications. It’s part of the bond I share with the aforementioned grandparents, who are two of my favorite people on the planet. And Alex Trebek has been the face of it all for my entire life. News of his passing hit my family hard, as he felt more like a friend than a celebrity. He is mourned and will be deeply missed by legions, myself and those I love most among them.

Celebrity memoirs aren’t something I generally gravitate toward, but I’m so glad to have read this one. Trebek wrote it in response to the outpouring of love and support he received after revealing his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. It’s his goodbye letter to the world, and it was incredibly poignant. For an additional gut punch, listen to the audiobook co-narrated by himself and Ken Jennings, Jeopardy’s longest reigning champion. Rarely do I consume a book in one sitting, but that’s what I did here. And I spend the majority of that time smiling, with tears threatening to fall at any moment.

The first few chapters are standard memoir fare. We learn about Trebek’s childhood and school days, his family and his early career. We learn about his move to America and how that eventually led to his 36 years as the host of Jeopardy. We learn about the wife who he describes as the other half of his soul, and about the life they made together. He was a man with very little angst in his life, and you could feel his acknowledgement and appreciation of this fact through his writing.

In the back half of the book, we are given anecdotes from Trebek’s time with Jeopardy. He tells us about some of the more memorable champions, about the mustache controversy, and about his thoughts on Will Ferrell’s impression of him on SNL. I loved getting these tidbits. I especially loved his chapter on Ken Jennings, and how he was unable to help developing a friendship with the man during Ken’s 74 episode winning streak. The mustache chapter made me legitimately laugh out loud.

Mixed into both portions of the book were Trebek’s philosophical thoughts on life and the things he hoped we as a nation and as a world would improve upon. These were always kindly conveyed, and gave a sense of just how nice a man Trebek truly was. But the last few chapters, those detailing life with cancer and his last days, were what shattered my heart. 

Was this a literary work of genius? No. The writing was serviceable, but nothing special. What was special was the author, and his decision to share his story with the world before he was taken from us. I’m thankful to have been given a peek into the life he lived, the life that touched millions in ways he never understood. While I hope Jeopardy continues to educate and inspire for generations to come, it’ll never quite be the same.

You can find  this review and more at Novel Notions.

Teaghan Grayson

3.5 stars - Very fun if you're a fan of the show

Caroline Lewicki

If this book doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you're a monster.

But in all seriousness, this was a wonderful summation of Alex Trebek's life and many of the things he did. He tells great stories about some of his favorite Jeopardy moments and moments with his wife that I thought were really touching. He's keenly aware throughout the book that he's dying and those moments absolutely break your heart, but he embraces his life and his nearing death in such a graceful way. He was truly a class act.

I listened to the audiobook and thought Ken Jennings did a great job. The moments when Alex takes over to read are especially wonderful.

Bryan Maniotakis

It feels kind of dirty rating this a 2 considering it's a memoir, but oh well. It's pretty elementary in it's writing, and some of the chapters are seemingly random and disconnected from the overall narrative.

The worst part is definitely the beginning, but it does start to pick up a bit near the end.

Fun fact: The guy that composed the Jeopardy theme song earned 80 million in royalties.

A RECOMMENDED SUMMER READ BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, TIME, AND NEWSWEEK 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.