I have always loved the quiz show, Jeopardy!, as much to feel good about knowing useless trivia as anything else. Because of that affinity, I have grown to really like Alex Trebek. When he passed recently. I reflected on social media that I have always thought of him as a “class act.” He just carried himself in a manner that let you know either a) he was an excellent actor or b) he was the real thing. I chose to believe he was real.

When I found the book. The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek, I felt compelled to read it. I got the audiobook from the library and was pleasantly surprised when it was Alex Trebek himself doing the speaking. It turned out he only did the intro, outtro and another section or two but it was good to hear his voice just the same. As mentioned in the book, a lot of America either grew up with him or at least had him in their house around dinner time for over 30 years – that is plenty of time to build some affinity to such a truly decent person.

The bulk of the book was fittingly narrated by Ken Jennings (who I hear is the heir apparent to the Trebek’s job as host of Jeopardy!” Good for him!

I really liked the way the book isn’t told in a narrative style. Instead, it is a collection of snippets – subject matter that tells the story through his recollection. This book is perfect for someone who liked Alex Trebek, Jeopardy! or simply has a short attention span. I won’t spoil any of the cool parts but will say that there were several that made it well worth the time.

by Chris Doelle