We welcome Alex into our house every night at 7pm, but I must admit I didn’t know much about him. This book does a great job of going back to the beginning – how his parents divorce affected him and how he at one point considered becoming a priest. I had no idea that his career in the US is thanks in part to Alan Thicke or that he had a brother he didn’t meet or knew existed until he was 50 years old. (Cute story after they met and they realized they were “related to Alex Trebek!”) A quick read but a lot of great background and detail on his life.
I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.
About the Book
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 devoted viewers have long considered Alex Trebek to be a part of their daily lives ever since he began hosting the show in 1984. Now, bestselling biographer Lisa Rogak gives readers a look at Trebek’s early life, his career, and his 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 50 when he discovered that 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 he 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.