From the way that Alex Trebek writes his memoir, the reader wouldn't think that he was a cultural icon. The way that he phrases it is by noting that he isn't the star of the long-running Jeopardy!, but the host. In the simple word choice, he manages to change perception, believing that he's presenting others while trying to bring out their best selves. Not a page feels judgmental, reflecting a man who looks at the world as a place to explore and enjoy the fruits of knowledge and the stories of the world around him. For those who love watching him on TV every night, this will only make you admire him more as an everyman, willing to work hard for everything and learn from his mistakes. It's a charming, brisk read, and a perfect tribute to a man who made TV, and the world, a better place.
From the first page, it feels like Trebek is coming to terms with every part of his life. He writes each chapter with a cheeky question in mind, referencing things like "Who is Ken Jennings?" As the man who has given out answers on TV for over 35 years, his insight manages to follow him from his days as a child visiting his father at work to his most recent years. Most chapters run a few pages, getting directly to the point and features him becoming candid in ways that he's rarely been publicly. In those pages, he details why How Green Was My Valley is his favorite movie, why he considers Africa like a second home and his general philosophies in life. He brings a sense of happiness to every part of his life, and by the final pages, you find a man reflecting on a life well-lived. He may be experiencing pancreatic cancer, but even that feels derailed by his own desire to live and listen.
Most of all, the reader will get a full picture of his life. Every step of his life is given great detail, showing how he moved from a Canadian music show host to Hollywood. In that time he reflects on how he's grown to become more compassionate to his contestants, realizing that egos are fragile and that there is something unappealing about watching him put people down. His compassion came with trial and error, reflecting a man who learned on the job and found himself grateful for every learning curve. Even the story of how he got Jeopardy! after subbing on Wheel of Fortune presents the spontaneity and luck that his career has had, proving that he's only gotten anywhere by being open and willing to try anything.
It's a delightful read, even as it enters the final section. Following his experience with Jeopardy!, which highlights his relationship to various contestants, he gets the most personal that he's ever been. He goes into his health in ways that tear down the vision of his endless health on TV. It's sad and shocking, but not all that unpredictable. What is powerful is how he uses this moment to reflect on his gratefulness to fans and to everyone who supports him, making life more valuable. He continues to push forward and is unashamed by his declining health. He believes that he's lived a full life and having read those pages, it feels like that much is true.
If there's anything that's a bit jarring, it's how the book ends. It doesn't talk about his cancer, but COVID-19 and the contemporary pandemic. It's works as a footnote, creating his parting thoughts into something more beautiful and ominous, reflective of a man enjoying his final days of life and realizing that all he can do is take every day as it comes. He has his family, who come across very well in his book, and they all want him to be happy. Even if it doesn't end with talk directly of death, it feels like a goodbye of sorts that is beautiful and full of this insight into how Trebek sees himself. He's at peace and whatever time he has left is a gift to himself as well as us.
"The Answer Is..." encourages the readers to live life in an unselfish manner, being willing to listen to others and better understand this world. As much as it adds layers to Trebek's personal story, it does plenty to reflect someone who should be an inspiration to everyone. Even those who have never watched Jeopardy! will likely be able to appreciate the life story of a man who never stopped learning. He continued to push himself to be more open and compassionate, willing to learn odd details that may or may not help him. What it lacks in salacious detail it more than makes up for in general warmth and humor, reflecting someone who has been the world's TV friend for several decades. There's not too many people who have had the luck that he's had. Most of all, it's even rarer that someone of his stature would have so little of an ego about his fame. That is what makes him an exceptional force. He definitely knows how to make everyone reading his book feel welcomed, and that's the ultimate achievement here.
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