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Secrets of the Jeopardy Champions
Tells how contestants are selected for the popular game show, recommends a winning strategy, and gathers categories of information that frequently appear on the show
335 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
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70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 17, 2024
This review applies only to the Kindle version!!
There is a lot of very interesting and useful information in this book; however the Kindle version is very poorly formatted making it difficult, if not impossible, to read at times. I have no intention of ever trying out for Jeopardy, so I didn't really care. Plus, I'd read reviews of the Kindle version so knew what to expect.
I was hoping for more information on the authors' time on Jeopardy, but instead got lots of useful information. I'd recommend this book - just don't get the Kindle version!
There is a lot of very interesting and useful information in this book; however the Kindle version is very poorly formatted making it difficult, if not impossible, to read at times. I have no intention of ever trying out for Jeopardy, so I didn't really care. Plus, I'd read reviews of the Kindle version so knew what to expect.
I was hoping for more information on the authors' time on Jeopardy, but instead got lots of useful information. I'd recommend this book - just don't get the Kindle version!
July 8, 2017
Despite being somewhat dated, and in need of updated 2nd edition, this 1992 book is still a great resource, chock-full of information, quizzes, and tips for anyone hoping to successfully navigate the Jeopardy! audition process and appear on the show.
What is Secrets of the Jeopardy! Champions?
What is Secrets of the Jeopardy! Champions?
December 19, 2022
Calling this done. I'll need to go back and refer to this constantly as I build out my RemNote stuff, but I figured I'd at least just get through the final chapters quickly so I can get this off my dashboard on here.
March 28, 2013
Chuck Forrest, Brad Rutter, and Frank Spangenberg were, until the day Ken Jennings stepped on the stage, the three best Jeopardy players ever. For a decade and a half, Forrest was the one guy all the fans remembered as being the young, bright face of Jeopardy.
That's why, in 1991, when he published a list of his flash cards and lists that he made and studied to get on the show, in a format to help potential players, it was a huge deal. All of the daily watchers clamored to get a copy.
Now, 12 years later, in yet another attempt to get on Jeopardy, I bought a copy of the book, read through it, made flashcards out of everything I thought might be useful, and tried again. My book is only hold together with duct-tape, sheer force of will, and the grace of God. I went from consistently failing the test by one or two, to consistently not getting a call-back.
For the merits of the book itself, it's a great book of trivia for trivia fans and casual Jeopardy watchers. It has a short little section on daily doubles and wagering strategy for someone about to get on the show.
Here's the big problem, and why half of the raters gave it 4 stars. It came out before I was born, and I'm old enough to buy alcohol.
Lake Baikal is in something called an USSR apparently. George Bush, the incumbent president, only has one child worth noting. That's Neil Bush. Quezon is the capital of the Philippines. Only two movies hit the "grand slam" at the Oscars.
But those are pretty innocent changes. But how many of you would have batted an eyelash if I said that there have only been 3 ties at the Oscars? Or that Switzerland is no longer famously holding out from the U.N.? There's a ton of good information, but all it takes is one bad fact and a poorly timed daily double, and maybe the book didn't pay off too big for you.
Some of the book is great. The science section still has most everything you need to know for Jeopardy, and Norse mythology hasn't changed dramatically since 1991. The classical music and opera has helped me tremendously with Jeopardy and quiz bowl. But the problem is that large sections are out of date. You should skip most of the Oscar superlatives, the landmark sports records, and any geography around the former U.S.S.R.
This book, in 1991, would have been the textbook to get on Jeopardy. Now, it's a little more than checkered. It's a good read, but you shouldn't ever swear by this book.
That's why, in 1991, when he published a list of his flash cards and lists that he made and studied to get on the show, in a format to help potential players, it was a huge deal. All of the daily watchers clamored to get a copy.
Now, 12 years later, in yet another attempt to get on Jeopardy, I bought a copy of the book, read through it, made flashcards out of everything I thought might be useful, and tried again. My book is only hold together with duct-tape, sheer force of will, and the grace of God. I went from consistently failing the test by one or two, to consistently not getting a call-back.
For the merits of the book itself, it's a great book of trivia for trivia fans and casual Jeopardy watchers. It has a short little section on daily doubles and wagering strategy for someone about to get on the show.
Here's the big problem, and why half of the raters gave it 4 stars. It came out before I was born, and I'm old enough to buy alcohol.
Lake Baikal is in something called an USSR apparently. George Bush, the incumbent president, only has one child worth noting. That's Neil Bush. Quezon is the capital of the Philippines. Only two movies hit the "grand slam" at the Oscars.
But those are pretty innocent changes. But how many of you would have batted an eyelash if I said that there have only been 3 ties at the Oscars? Or that Switzerland is no longer famously holding out from the U.N.? There's a ton of good information, but all it takes is one bad fact and a poorly timed daily double, and maybe the book didn't pay off too big for you.
Some of the book is great. The science section still has most everything you need to know for Jeopardy, and Norse mythology hasn't changed dramatically since 1991. The classical music and opera has helped me tremendously with Jeopardy and quiz bowl. But the problem is that large sections are out of date. You should skip most of the Oscar superlatives, the landmark sports records, and any geography around the former U.S.S.R.
This book, in 1991, would have been the textbook to get on Jeopardy. Now, it's a little more than checkered. It's a good read, but you shouldn't ever swear by this book.
February 11, 2010
Although it's a little old and some things are out of date (the whole section on sports records, for example), it gives you a lot of insight into how to study for Jeopardy! and the areas you should be strongest in. I crammed it the weekend before my in-person tryout and it helped to refresh some of the top facts that I was asked about in the in-person test and the mock game.
June 28, 2014
Worth updating the Oscar winners with an extra piece of paper, etc.
March 17, 2015
Lists and lists and lists of things any hopeful contestant, or even just curious person, should know. Something tells me I'll be coming back to this one for awhile.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews