Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu

by Tom Freston

A freewheeling and riveting memoir from media honcho Tom Freston that takes us behind the scenes of his global adventures—from hitchhiking around the world, to running a clothing export company out of India and Afghanistan, to cofounding MTV, to becoming CEO of MTV Networks, then CEO of Viacom, then later returning to work in Africa and Afghanistan.

Tom Freston’s path to the C-suite was decidedly non-traditional. After getting his MBA, he bartended his way through the United States and the Caribbean, sparking a lifelong passion for travel. After a brief stint on the fast track at an ad agency, he chucked it all and headed to the Sahara Desert and beyond. Entranced by India and Afghanistan, he stayed on for eight years and launched his first big success, Hindu Kush, a company that designed and manufactured contemporary clothing for export to America and other countries.

Freston’s next chapter followed his other music. He joined the small original team that launched MTV where he swiftly climbed the ladder, eventually overseeing not only MTV but also Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, VH1, CMT, and other iconic networks. He built a creative powerhouse that transformed global popular culture in cable’s all-conquering heyday.

In this unique memoir of risk-taking, rule-breaking, and warm cultural exchanges, Freston shows how to be successful at living your life on your own terms.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Music, Biography Memoir, Memoir, Travel, History

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous memoir. Incredibly entertaining and full of invaluable advice, both about business and life more generally. Highly recommend.

[Michael Tallon · Rating 2 out of 5]

After returning to Burma as a recently fired CEO, Tom writes: “Burma was a throwback to the old Asia I once knew before globalism transformed so much of the region.” Gee Tom I wonder how that might have happened. He spent the whole book recounting how he scoured the earth looking for new markets to exploit to spread the vapid monoculture gospel of MTV and then has the nerve to complain when he sees the effects he wrought.

Tom would like the reader to believe he’s a man torn between two worlds, one a thrill seeking nomad and the other an innovative and beloved CEO (on the very first page we find a story about how his subordinates gave him a standing ovation when he was so unfairly terminated). A more careful reading will reveal he was always a greedy capitalist merely cosplaying as a wanderlust hippy.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good! Inspiring, fascinating, and made me feel like the author has lived a full and fulfilling life in every way, especially in his career in advertising on Madison Ave in the 60s and 70s and then becoming one of the cofounders of MTV and in his many travels to some of the ends of the earth (Timbuktu, Burma).

I enjoyed hearing about his time in Afghanistan pre-Soviet. It’s not something widely discussed these days, so it’s rare to hear someone rave so much about a country that unfortunately seems to have changed so much, in just a few decades. The people being some of the friendliest he’s ever encountered made me so sad. I hope they can one day return to being what they were when he visited!

This was a little heavy in the second half with business speak (sorry that bores me) but I get why he added it with being the CEO of Viacom and all. 😂 it also was pretty heavy on the sex clubs and sex industry in Thailand in the chapter on his his trips there. Not really something I needed to know so much detail about but… the more you know, maybe? 👀

Gosh, this made me miss the MTV I grew up with in the 1990s and early 2000s. Now I get it: I WANT MY MTV!!

[Margaret Hren · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read this year in the memrore category! Tom's knows how to tell a interesting , funny and eye opening story on how to live life and make life long friends that made him a powerhouse in entertainment - from creating and starting MTV and all the other cable channels that many of us loved and still watched, and the rise and fall of Viacom - ever business student needs to read this book . His wanderlust travels across Europe, Asia, India, North Africa and Afghanistan are so full of details I felt like I was standing right beside him. And is philanthropy to give back to those who need help is just eye opening. He ranks up there with my favorite and the godfather of travel writing Paul Theroux - I so want to be able to travel open borders again, but it's sad that myself and others will never get to see and travel off the beaten path to discover the world like Tom Freston did. Outstanding! Thank you Tom for the great journey on a tour of your travels and your business savvy. We all want our MTV!

[J Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unplugged is an engaging, reflective memoir that captures a rare vantage point on culture, media, and global curiosity. Tom Freston’s storytelling blends personal experience with sharp observation, offering readers an insider’s look at moments that helped shape modern entertainment while also venturing far beyond it. The narrative feels grounded, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest.

What makes Unplugged especially compelling is its sense of perspective. The transitions from building MTV to traveling through places like Timbuktu are handled with humility and curiosity rather than ego. The book reads not just as a career memoir, but as a meditation on creativity, risk, and staying connected to the world beyond titles and institutions.

[William (Bill) Fluke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tom Preston is a much better interview than he is an author. I saw him on Jimmy Fallon while promoting this book and found the topics he discussed interesting enough to have me check this book out of the library. I found “Unplugged “ highly disappointing. The first 100 pages are about his nomadic times before MTV. He spoke more of the Middle Eastern politics and geography and not that interesting. He does not write enough about his time at MTV. He barely sheds any insight into LiveAid, MTV Unplugged, and other aspects I’m familiar with from growing up with MTV. He moves on from his discussion of MTV ( quickly) and spends most of the book talking about his business life and co-workers in roles that did not spark my interest. I’m not sure how the Goodreads composite rating is so high.

[Jeffrey Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightfully Entertaining & Instructive

Not all lives need perfect planning to achieve happiness and success. With little knowledge of Tom Freston and his pivotal role in creating MTV, he vividly shares guiding life and business lessons learned from early formative days traveling the developing world to operating at the pinnacle of competitive media sharing mistakes and victories. Fascinating.

[kelly duroncelet · Rating 3 out of 5]

classic hagiography as a memoir. it delves much more into his travels than his corporate life to lay out the overarching theme: he’s not like the others. it’s a shame, as the portions of the book dedicated to his time at viacom are far more interesting. noticeably absent is virtually any mention of his personal life as an adult, which is his prerogative, but an interesting omission. easy readin!

[Vicky Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating tale of one man’s rise from garment smuggler to CEO of Various media empires. Tom Freston ‘s writing style is very engaging…casual wit, intelligent insights, refreshing modesty. This is a great read for business students and adventurers alike.

[Katie Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

now THIS is a memoir

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent. strangely enjoyed and found the parts about afghanistan as interesting as the parts about U2!

[Ibby Dalrymple · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADORED. Implore everyone to read this. V sad it’s over