This biography gives the reader background information on Alex Trebek that is surprising even for those that think they know him. I found it interesting that he found a half-brother when he was almost 50. For Jeopardy being a show that many people watch as a family, I found it interesting that Alex didn't want to start a family until meeting his current wife. These tidbits of unknown trivia make this such an enjoyable read.

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.

3.5 stars

Alex Trebek has A-list name recognition for sure but for the most part he flies under the radar when it comes to his private life. This biography takes a look at his childhood growing up in Canada, his family life, and his career as well as providing a decent history of Jeopardy.

We all know Alex Trebek is the host of Jeopardy. (Although did you know there was a prior version of the show with a different host back in the 1960s and 70s?) It's pretty amazing a show that has been on for decades seems to be as popular today as ever before. I think a lot of that credit goes to Alex. In my opinion he had a bit of a smart aleck, gruff persona back when I was a kid growing up in the 80s and 90s, but somewhere along the way seemed to mellow out a bit. I think it is safe to say we all love him as the host and given his recent cancer battle, we realize the show wouldn't quite be the same without him steering the ship.

The book is informative but I don't know if it will be the most satisfying read for the die hard fans. It is my assumption, and someone correct me if I am wrong, but most of the material in the book came from old interviews with Alex or articles. I don't think he sat down for an interview for this book specifically so while I enjoyed reading the book I didn't feel like I was getting a ton of brand new information. I had watched a tv special about Alex not so long ago and the book was very similar in content. To be fair though that is to be expected, however, I do wish this could have been a more extensive biography.

Like I mentioned, I did enjoy reading the book and would recommend it for those people who are interested in learning a little more about his persona off camera. If you already know quite a bit about the history of the show and Alex, this book probably isn't a must read.

This is an intimate glimpse into the world of a beloved icon that fans of Alex Trebek and biography readers in general will adore. As someone familiar with Trebek and his professionalism on Jeopardy, I enjoyed the glimpse into his childhood in Canada, his passion for helping others, work ethic.

If you have watched the game show "Jeopardy" in the last 4 decades you know who Alex Trebek is he is the host and very successful one at that. This book covers the life and times of Alex from growing up in a somewhat dysfunctional family and no direction on what he wanted to do in life. He eventually gets a break going to work for the CBC. His drive to succeed as well as the willingness to do anything to get better which he has carried through career and life. This book goes on to describe his rise through different game shows and other opportunities and yes it goes behind alot of the behind the scenes of Jeopardy. This is a fast one day read if you have a little extra time. If you like or love Alex and Jeopardy you will like this book.

I was so pleased to receive an ARC of this via NetGalley; unfortunately, it was pretty underwhelming. I was fortunate to appear as a contestant in 2019 and taped just a few weeks before Alex's announcement about his cancer diagnosis (which also meant I did not have to play against James). The book is more like an extended press release, and I found the writing pretty unremarkable.

In my preparation for being on the show, I did read several books about it, so there was not a lot of new information here. I also wonder why very little is said about his stepdaughter Nicky, who has been pictured in some stories the past year or so.

Jeopardy!
What is a fabulous quiz show?
Alex Trebek
Who is the host of Jeopardy?
We follow Alex Trebeck from his childhood in Canada through his education and career. This man never turns down a job, and he has had many!
Great read about his background and life.

I was going to go with 4.5 stars so I waited a day to write my review.

Now its a solid 5.

The life story of Alex Trebek is one of determination, hard work, success (with a little bit of luck), he is also Canadian and has dual citizenship . ( I too am Canadian and loved hearing about his early life in Canada)

Alex certainly did not get things handed to him , he worked for everything he has earned.

I must admit meeting his wife Jean was the luckiest day of his life.

You learn how Alex never stops giving back.

His fight with cancer is a well known one. My son has fought cancer for 12 years so I know how strong he and his family must be. To do so publicly must be twice as hard.

Alex Trebek will at some point leave behind a wonderful legacy, that most important part being his family.

I hated the book to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press , Thomas Dunne Books , for allowing me to spend a day in the world of Alex Trebek.

The category is books. Answer. This book tells the story of a beloved Canadian game show host that we all have known and loved for decades and how he got his start. Answer.....Who is Alex Trebek.

While Alex Trebek hasn't led an exciting life it certainly has been interesting. I knew from listening to Austin Rogers podcast that Alex liked to do a lot of home renovations but I had no idea he was such a philanthropist which made me respect him all the more. His family history was quite remarkable with him mom leaving the family when Alex and his sister were young and then 30 years later revealing that she had a child she put up for adoption. A missing piece to this book was how did Lucille go from being an estranged mom to very close to Alex and his family. The last part of the book was a bit of a History of Jeopardy. I found it fascinating how the shows were taped and the different changes that were made over the years. I hope Alex continues to be able to do all the things he loves.

Who Is Alex Trebek? by Lisa Rogak provides an intimate look at the iconic figure who has been a mainstay in popular culture for decades. But just how much do we really know about Alex Trebek, a face who has been a staple on our television screens five nights a week, a stalwart who has always been a presence, for many of us, through the majority of our lives?

The author provides an in depth look at Mr Trebek's humble beginnings in Sudbury, Ontario, right through the highs and lows of his career, his move south of the border, and his stratospheric rise to become a household name, and one of the most recognizable faces on television. While I learned a great deal about the career trajectory of the Jeopardy host, I felt that Ms Rogak's detailing of such was never probing or intrusive, but very respectful of a man who always strives to keep his private life out of the public eye. This is a must read for any fan of Jeopardy, and the man who has become synonymous with its phenomenal success.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Alex Trebek was born in Sudbury, ON, in 1940 to a Ukrainian father and Franco-Ontarian mother. His parents broke up when he young, with his mother leaving the home because she wouldn't have been able to support the two children if she took them with her. His father couldn't work and look after them so Alex was sent to boarding school in Ottawa, where he eventually went to university. Not knowing what he wanted to do after graduation, he applied for a job at CBC and that was the start of his career. After spending about 12 years with CBC doing various jobs, he headed to the U.S. and ended up hosting many game/quiz shows, including Jeopardy! since 1984.

Alex married his second wife, Jean, in 1990 and at the age of fifty, became a father for the first time (they now have two children). He also discovered a thirty year secret that he has a half brother. Alex and Jean have supported many causes over the years, both financially and with their time. In March 2019, he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer and started chemo treatments.

Who hasn't heard of or watched Jeopardy!? I like the show and Alex seems like a nice guy so I thought it would be interesting to learn more about him. I don't know if the author spent any time with Alex but the notes section in the back is quite detailed. I liked the writing style ... there was a lot of information provided but it wasn't too much. I feel like I got to know Alex, if what the author writes is true. It was also interesting to get some behind-the-scenes info on what happens on Jeopardy!.

I read an ARC-version and I'm assuming (hoping?) the published version will have pictures as there were none in the ARC. If there aren't any, there should be.

Good read. I enjoyed learning about Alex and the ups and downs of his life. I have to admit, when I requested this book, I did not realize that there were two books about Alex out in 2020, this and his personal memoir, I am glad I gave this one a chance though rather than skipping it. I would recommend it for anyone going in blind like myself with no real knowledge of Alex's life outside of Jeopardy.

As an avid fan of Jeopardy, when I saw this book, I knew I would love it! Lisa does a good job of showing the behind the scenes of the show and Alex's life, while still being respectful and not diving too much into personal matters.. It showed me a side of Alex I didn't know, like how much he struggled to be successful in his early career and also how much heart he has for giving back to others. It's a truly inspirational book about an exceptional man who has made such an impact in so many lives!