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.

A Glimpse Inside the Life of a Legend—and a truly nostalgic experience

I grew up watching Alex Trebek host Jeopardy. I watched it with my parents and brother, then just my parents, then just my mother. Now I watch it alone, but every time I turn on Jeopardy, it is a reminder of what being a child was like in my family - it is like they are still sitting right there.

I say all of this because I knew going in that I was going to love this book, no matter what. How could I not-with that sort of nostalgia? However, I did not really expect it to be SO good, so fun, so easy and relatable. I laughed, I cried, I made myself leave the book multiple times because I wanted to stretch it out a little longer. But like all good books - and all good things - eventually you have to face the ending.

And - without sharing spoilers - it was an apt ending, wrapping the book up in what I would classify as the literary equivalent to putting on a warm, slightly-too-big sweater on a brisk fall evening.

Enough of that. Go read (or better yet, listen to) the book!

It's a Jeopardy fan's must read/listen . . .

This book was most enjoyable, allowing the reader/listener to see a personal side of the author. I only wish he had narrated the entire book, not that Ken Jennings wasn't doing a good job. But I gathered from the chapters he did read, that it wasn't easy for him, detecting the raspiness in his voice. So I thank him for doing that. He has a great attitude about life and I wish him well.

Not great writing, but I listened to every word

Alex said right from the outset that he isn't writer, and he isnt wrong. But the content is good. Funny, touching, interesting, and then last few chapters had exactly the effect you'd anticipate.

Lovely

A little tough to get past hearing Ken Jennings and knowing it’s the words of Alex. Thankfully Alex narrates a few key chapters. I will gift the print book and ebook.

Goodbye Alex

I appreciated being able to say goodbye to an old friend from Jeopardy. Thanks for the memories Alex.