New Books Review

Book Review: My Remarkable Journey: Larry King: BooksOr …Larry’s Big Adventure,

By Nathan A. Gordon (WESTPORT, CT USA) -

  

I have purchased many of Larry King’s books over the years but this is the first one that I found interesting enough to have read cover-to-cover (in two days). For the first time, Larry (he says that everyone calls him Larry) lets the reader learn about the various personal aspects of his unbelievable (and, yes, true to the title, “remarkable life”). Who else in show business went to Jackie Robinson’s first game as a Brooklyn Dodger, bumped into JFK’s car in Palm Beach, Florida (two years before JFK became president and with JFK driving), got Jackie Gleason to volunteer to get Frank Sinatra to appear on Larry’s Miami radio show when Larry was still starting out, went to high school with Sandy Koufax and starred in CNN’s first prime-time show? Larry King fans and those who are interested in media and broadcasting personalities will find much to enjoy in this new chatty and breezy autobiography.

We learn from Larry’s long journey that Larry married eight times (twice to the same woman). I have to tell you–someplace at the half-way point of this book–I lost track of how many children, adopted children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren Larry has. His life was and still is that hectic. Someplace near the end of the book, Larry talks about recently seeing an estate attorney and having a new will prepared. (Good Luck on that Larry!)

Larry lost his father at an early age and unfortunately, but understandably, he has spent most of his life dealing with that tragedy. He leveraged his unique brand of broadcasting and communication skills into a series of radio jobs that brought him to the attention of Ted Turner, then trying to jump-start CNN. Larry’s loyalties to friends and general ineptness with money resulted in years of financial losses and an arrest. He even lost $2.8 million in the Madoff Ponzi scheme that just broke five months ago. Years of smoking three-packs-a-day eventually led to severe heart trouble and eventually bypass surgery.

Larry, now 75, details how he met his present (young) wife which led to two sons, now nine and ten (let alone the child that his wife had from her prior marriage). There are some particularly emotional passages that detail Larry’s discovery of Larry King, Jr., a biological son that Larry didn’t even meet until Larry King, Jr. was 33. Larry Jr. now plays a key role in a non-profit foundation that finances one heart operation a day for people who do not have health insurance. Wow!

Interestingly, while CNN prides itself on not showcasing partisans such as those whose shows are carried on MSNBC and FOX, Larry lets his guard down in many parts of his story revealing, unmistakably, that his political views lie on the liberal side of the spectrum. He has much admiration for Bill Clinton. However, Larry does take several, no-so-veiled potshots at President George Bush, #43 (example: “The problem was that (President Bush) has no curiosity. He doesn’t wonder about things.”) Larry does not seem comfortable doing it, apparently due to his friendship with the senior President George Bush, #41).

Most of us would not have had the stamina and talent to have led Larry’s complicated life. It’s a great story that is well captured in this book. I think that it would make a terrific movie starring a well made-up Leo DiCaprio.

A remarkable journey indeed,

By Julia Flyte -
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
  

  

This is a tremendously entertaining book. Reading it felt like I was sitting down with Larry for a few hours and having a wonderful conversation, leaping from one fascinating topic to another. In the prologue Larry explains how he would have liked to be a comedian if he hadn’t gone into broadcasting and his sense of humor emerges strongly throughout the book. The man is seriously funny.

This is not a intimate, soul-searching autobiography. For example, Larry has famously been married eight times to seven women, but he barely mentions his previous marriages (although he lovingly describes his current wife Shawn in depth). While open about his faults - he has zero financial sense and suspects he suffers from ADHD - he makes no attempt to analyze or explain them. Some of the biggest insights actually come from his friends and family who also write short accounts of their take on Larry and his life (a device that I have to say is only partially successful).

Instead what you get are insights into how he does his job and many, many wonderful anecdotes and descriptions of the events that he has witnessed and the people whom he has met over his lengthy career. There’s the time that he rear-ended JFK in his car (Kennedy let him off if Larry promised to vote for him for President), Warren Beatty helping his friend to propose, Boris Yeltsin’s obsession with the OJ Simpson trial, Lenny Bruce dressing up in prison uniforms and asking policemen for directions. Larry has been friendly with every president since Nixon and there’s a very interesting chapter when he discusses his impressions of each of them (for the record, he has the greatest admiration for George Bush and Bill Clinton).

Larry also talks about his interviewing style. He likes spontaneity and never plans his questions in advance (describing himself as the opposite of Barbara Walters in his approach). He interviewed Meatloaf once and having no idea who the man was: he opened with “Do you check yourself into hotels as Mr Loaf?” He writes: “I want to be surprised every night”. His worst interview ever? A monosyllabic Robert Mitchum.

Born Larry Zieger, Larry’s early life was marked by tragedy. His older brother had died at the age of four the year before Larry was born, and his father died when he was nine. His mother raised him and his younger brother in relative poverty in Brooklyn. His friends from that time are still his friends today. He started his career working in radio in Miami (there’s a wonderful story about the time that a woman propositioned him when he was working the all-night shift). Success came quickly and he later moved to Washington DC. He didn’t move to television until he joined CNN at the age of 52. It was a gamble career move: this was the early days of cable television, when ratings were low and interns hung out at the airport looking for famous people that they could invite onto the show. Essentially it was a mark of faith in Ted Turner - and one that most definitely paid off.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put it down. Larry’s life has been extremely interesting and his writing style makes it very entertaining to read.

Larry King, storyteller,

By Julie Neal “The Complete Walt Disney World” (Sanibel Island, Fla.) -
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)
  

  

  

The secret to Larry King’s success? Simple: he’s a regular Joe. But unlike you and me, he’s got great interviewing skills, and has access to everyone you would ever want to meet. What an interesting dinner guest he would be!

This relaxed and chatty autobiography is simply one great anecdote after another. Segments recall King’s childhood, including his father’s death of a heart attack; his rise in the business, including his relationship with Ted Turner and CNN; the O.J. Simpson trial; encounters with presidents; his many marriages; children old and young; and his many health problems.

At the end of most chapters is an illuminating section called Another Point of View, with recollections from other people about the events in the chapter. King did not read these words until after the book was produced. People commenting include his children, his wife, his long-time manager and old friends.

My Remarkable Journey includes a glossy photo section with 17 personal images.

Here’s the chapter list:

Memory
1. What Am I Doing Here?
2. Nine Books
3. Momma & The Radio
4. Home Is Where the Friends Are
5. Baseball, Girls & Passion
6. Miami Hello & Jamaica Farewell
7. Jackie & Frank
8. Chasing the `60s
9. Trouble
10. Timing
11. Ted
12. Your Ferret Died
13. Framing the Debate
14. O.J.
15. Jr.
16. The Wife
17. Sex & Birth
18. The Presidents
19. Anything Goes
20. Your Questions, Please
21. Kvelling
22. Healing the Wounds
23. One a Day
24. Sleeper
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