When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead

By: Jerry Weintraub, Rich Cohen, George Clooney (foreword)

Narrated by: Jerry Weintraub

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

Here is the story of Jerry Weintraub: the self-made, Brooklyn-born, Bronx-raised impresario, Hollywood producer, legendary dealmaker, and friend of politicians and stars. No matter where nature has placed him - the club rooms of Brooklyn, the Mafia dives of New York's Lower East Side, the wilds of Alaska, or the hills of Hollywood - he has found a way to put on a show and sell tickets at the door.

"All life was a theater and I wanted to put it up on a stage," he says. "I wanted to set the world under a marquee that read: 'Jerry Weintraub Presents.'"

In When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead, we follow Weintraub from his first great success at age 26 with Elvis Presley, whom he took on the road with the help of Colonel Tom Parker; to the immortal days with Sinatra and Rat Pack glory; to his crowning hits as a movie producer, starting with Robert Altman and Nashville, continuing with Oh, God!, the Karate Kid movies, and Diner, among others, and summiting with Steven Soderbergh and Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen.

Along the way, we'll watch as Jerry moves from the poker tables of Palm Springs (the games went on for days), to the power rooms of Hollywood, to the halls of the White House, to Red Square in Moscow, and the Great Palace in Beijing - all the while counseling potentates, poets, and kings, with clients and confidants like George Clooney, Bruce Willis, George H. W. Bush, Armand Hammer, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, John Denver, Bobby Fischer...the list goes on forever.

And of course, the story is not yet over. As the old-timers say, "The best is yet to come." And as Weintraub says, "When I stop talking, you'll know I'm dead."

With wit, wisdom, and the cool confidence that has colored his remarkable career, Jerry chronicles a quintessentially American journey, one marked by luck, love, and improvisation. The stories he tells and the lessons we learn are essential, not just for those who love movies and music, but for businessmen, entrepreneurs, artists...everyone.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2010 Jerry Weintraub (P)2010 Hachette

Great stories!

I wasn't too excited to start the book but the stories turned it around.
I don't usually like whem authors narrate their own books, but in this case, it was the audiobooks greatest attribute. You could hear the pain im his voice when he told the story of his father's passing away. It wasnt just another bullet point to get through. He was clearly choked up. That type of genuine emotion infused throughout, is what carries an already interesting autobiography into the realms of greatness.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Interesting and Well Done

Would you listen to When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead again? Why?

This book is highly interesting and relevant. I was only disappointed that the book came to an end. I wish it had been lengthier.

What did you like best about this story?

I think the stories, occasionally wrapped in life lessons, could not have been more interesting. If this book is not a bestseller, it should be.

Have you listened to any of Jerry Weintraub’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/A

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did make me laugh. And it did have touching moments.

Any additional comments?

This is a must-read. I am usually a harsh critic, but I really really liked this book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

How could you not really like Jerry Weintraub??

Would you consider the audio edition of When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead to be better than the print version?

Yes. The winning personality of Jerry Weintraub blazes through the audio like a hot knife thru butter.

What other book might you compare When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead to and why?

This one is unique. Probably more enjoyable to just read Weintraub's book again.

What does Jerry Weintraub bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The "New York" attitude really comes to the front.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How does a guy fall in love with and marry a lady that is a "ten" plus and then has the "hutzpah" to move another woman into the same house for purposes of co-habitation?? Now that's a salesman!!

Any additional comments?

Great story! Well told.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Pure Enjoyment

This is one of my favorite books. Mr. Weintraub tells outstanding stories from his life that are a pure joy to hear. He's seen it all and done it all. You feel as if he is just talking to you alone. His live is a who's who of the famous and not so famous. It was so good I listened to it twice and it is really him talking in his own voice!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Just OK

It was interesting to find out about some people of so-called notoriety that were acquaintances, and about the development of Weintraub's life, but it was also rather self-indulgent.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great story, interesting guy

Loved his voice, interesting stories. RIP Jerry, glad you took the time to do this.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Funny, Engaging and Lessons For Business

From Sinatra, Elvis, John Denver to the Karate Kid and the Ocean's 11 movies Jerry Weintraub has been around and very successful at a myriad of businesses. Great stories and great business and people lessons.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Mr. Weintraub, when can you come for dinner?

Jerry's stories span the fascinating years of the 20th century and he tells them as if we're sitting at the Friar's Club over a fine glass of wine. Jerry's well lived life shines like a fine sapphire from his father's jewelry business in the Bronx: values, quality, humility, wisdom with a sparkle of humor to keep the reader (listener) eager for the next story. I hope he writes a sequel, so I can continue feeling a part of the political, social, and entertainment history of our era. For those unfamiliar with his time and place, the beginning gets off to a slow start, but he quickly hits his stride as he builds his career and sphere of influence. His lessons learned are as relevant today as they were when he learned them...and I find myself smiling in recognition of a similar experience in my own life. Mr. Weintraub, the invitation to dinner is always open: you bring your stories, and I'll pick up a bucket of KFC and some Lafitte-Rothchild bubbly to wash it down.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Very Interesting

I liked it, alot of stories about familiar occasions, also seeing them from a different perspective is great. Well done.
If you read this Jerry, well done mate on some great life experiences.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Funny, quick, memorable

It's one of those books you find yourself telling others about; the anecdotes that are just too funny to be real must be told. I really enjoyed this one!

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

An amazing man

A Great Great Man.....A great story!!!

In his words 'I'm a story teller.....and thats what I do best'

Enjoy

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable and Insightful

Jerry has met alot of famous names from hollywood in the 60's right through to the present day. His narration is impeccable and the insights are helpful.

If you want a few handy tips on people skills and perseverance on the backdrop of several incredible life events, then Mr Weintraubs book is the one to read.

The tips are scattered along the way but helpful nonetheless.

I want to stress that this is an incredible story and is told by a man who knows how to form a narrative. The problem though is that this book kind of lacks the relisten factor.

Funny, informative and a real adventure. Definately, worth a listen but the advice is not as practical and laid out as I was first led to believe.

What a life, success, people person, family man, story teller

I loved this book, great narration by the author helps you connect with his incredible life!

Truly Brilliant

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

100%. I had never heard of this guy. I'm in my twenties but I recognise a lot of the names he was responsible for building, the films & the artists he helped produce. His astoundingly honest collection of stories throughout his life, will encourage and inspire you to pursue your own path.

What does Jerry Weintraub bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Jerry reads the book himself, which adds heaps to the tone and authenticity in the book. For example, recollecting on some fo the life lessons he learned from important people in his life, you can hear his tears rolling down his face.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It gets better as it goes on, you'll probably complete an hour at first but you'll listen to the last 3 all in one sitting as it grips you.

Great audiobook experience

This is one of the best audio books I have ever listened. Great stories and life lessons of a fascinating character .

The fact of be narratived for Jerry himself make the audiobook experience even better.

a book read by the author

Jerry Weintraub's life story is completley astonishing. You feel the spirit of Tom Hank's character Forrest Gump. Amazing tale of Jerry's life, told trough his eyes. Personally.

An amazing tale from and charming a man

Would you listen to When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead again? Why?

Yes, it is a captivating set of stories from a charming man who has lived a fascinating life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead?

The Elvis stories

What does Jerry Weintraub bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

True charisma and raw emotion.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

U-turn at the next exit

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend

The best book I ever read.

It's the best book I ever read. It's a no brainer to go ahead for

What a wonderful book!

I love to read biographies and this was an original. it's a very engaging book and takes you through The entertainment industry with an insight to Jerry's decision making skills. it's packed.

Simply brilliant...

Simply one of the best audio books I've ever heard. Jerry is a myth, a legend and from now a mentor for me. Highly recommend it.