The Answer Is . . .

Reflections on My Life

By: Alex Trebek

Narrated by: Ken Jennings, Alex Trebek

Longtime Jeopardy! host and television icon Alex Trebek reflects on his life and career in this "moving memoir" (The New York Times) that's "everything a Jeopardy! fan could want" (The Washington Post).

When he debuted as the host of Jeopardy! in 1984, Alex Trebek became something like a family member to millions of television viewers, bringing entertainment and education into their homes five nights a week. In 2019, he made the stunning announcement that he had been diagnosed with Stage IV 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 more than 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.

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 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! and features dozens of never-before-seen photos that candidly capture Trebek over the years.

This wise, charming, and inspiring book is further evidence of why Trebek has long been considered one of the most beloved and respected figures in entertainment.

Critic reviews

"Longtime Jeopardy! game show host Alex Trebek offers an entirely episodic and anecdotal memoir in short-essay style. As is well known, the Canadian-born Trebek has been under care for pancreatic cancer, and his audiobook includes some reflection on that circumstance. He narrates his introduction and conclusion himself, as well as a handful of other sections that are the most personal to him. His performance is in high style, exuding enthusiasm, charm, and that special ability to draw in most any listener. Multiple-time Jeopardy! winner and Trebek friend Ken Jennings narrates the lion's share of the memoir. Jennings sounds workmanlike, generally direct, and clear. . . . this is a touching and entertaining audiobook.

answer is be kind and learn

love it, I don't usually read books about celebrities but this book is great. the person is humble kind hearted and genuine

Beautiful Timeline Into a History of an Amazing..

Very gravitating and a pleasure to listen to! Alex does a great job of really letting the listener see and enjoy from his perspective. Highly recommend!

Loved this book, loved Alex Trebeck

What a great book to listen to!
Between hearing Alex’s soothing voice again and then passing it back and forth to Ken Jennings to read, these concise chapters are interesting, funny and heartwarming.
This humble host appears open and honest in his life and also in the writing of his memoir. Who couldn’t love him?
I learned a bit more of “What is great about Alex Trebeck?” The answer: Everything

Thank you, Alex Trebek

May you rest in peace and may your family live in good health for the rest of their days.

An easy but uplifting book

Reading a book like this, knowing how the story, if not the book, ends, can be a little emotionally difficult. Trebek does not write a traditional memoir, but instead tells little tales throughout, easy to pick up and put down. The longest chapters are still under ten minutes. The book proceeds toughly chronologically at first, talking about growing up in Sudbury, being a little directionless after high school, and after working in Canadian Radio, moving to LA to work in TV in a variety of hosting roles, before eventually landing the gig that would define him.
Trebek does say a few times that he's been very lucky, and that's a big factor in his life. Catholic school but no creepy priests, a divorce that was as amicable as they become, never being long without a job, and again, getting a job that he only works about 45 days a year while making big sums of money.
He does say he doesn't consider himself a celebrity, never used his status to get a tavle or anything. He talks about his charitable endeavors, and some of the most memorable contestants, including Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer. He said even he felt devastated when Jennings lost, having spent more time with him than any other contestants.
On the subject of Jennings, he brought Ken in to narrate most of the memoir, likely due to fatigue and his illness. Trebek only narrates the first and last chapters, plus chapters about his wife and, well, Ken Jennings. But it's all in the first person so some may find it weird. I think you get used to it.
There are some frustrating moments, like when he talks vaguely about his political beliefs and when he says he doesn't know how to send an emoji and barely figured out how to text a photo. But it's a very sweet and sort of sad book, especially since the pandemic (which he only slightly references) is still going on almost a year after his death.