Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom For Modern Times

by Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Laura Morton

Life lessons from New York Times bestselling author and Today show personality Al Roker and his wife, globetrotting ABC news journalist Deborah Roberts.
 
Al Roker and Deborah Roberts have sixteen Emmy Awards between them. They have covered everything from the Olympics and the Gulf War to natural disasters and the AIDS crisis in Africa. Now these two married journalists and parents have collaborated on the most personal and important “story” of their lives.
 
Been There, Done That is a funny, heartfelt, and empowering collection of life lessons, hard-won wisdom, and instructive family anecdotes from Al and Deborah’s lives, from their parents and grandparents, and from dear friends, famous and not. Here, Al and Deborah candidly share childhood obstacles like obesity and growing up in the segregated south; the challenges and blessings that come from raising very different kids; hard-won truths about marriage and career; the illuminating “little things” that adults can learn from children; and the genuine wisdom that the elderly can share with a younger generation.
 
These are real-life stories told from every perspective—from parent, spouse, daughter, son, and friend, stories that every reader can relate to, appreciate, and share.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Audiobook, Humor

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2016

About the author

Al Roker is an American weather forecaster, journalist, television personality, actor, and author. He is the current weather anchor on NBC's Today.

Reviews

[Gideon Idowu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good practical book for those who need to know that being successful at your job and on the home front without compromising one for the other is possible. What I particularly like about it is that, it isn't instructional or advisory like most similar books tend to be, the authors simply tell their story.

[Ty Salvant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and engaging read. I listened to it and enjoyed hearing their voices. There are many takeaways from this book. Couples and co-parents should read to discuss many of the concepts presented in the book. From marital expectations, pets, and children, to careers, extended family, and driving, several decisions can be discussed, evaluated, and explored to help you create a road map for your relationship. If you'd like to discuss it, join us for a conversation next month. Sign up to www.timewithty.com for details on the discussion.

[vida bierria-alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, Relatable, Easy Read, Honest, and Heartfelt. Deborah in particular touched on women issues that too often goes ignored like juggling work, family, children with special needs, fears, conflicts, blended family challenges, friendships, support systems, and overall vulnerabilities. Al, as always was funny and authentically unapologetically honest.I read while on a 33-day cruise vacation and it was a great vacation read.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't love it. It is mostly a memoir of their life with kids with some of their upbringing mixed in. It was interesting but I found I didn't have much in common with the wealthy, two earner, have a nanny- at-home lifestyle they live. Biggest takeaway: allow our children to be who they are rather than who we want them to be. Encourage them in the things they love

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very well written. I was captivated by the wisdom of Al Roker and Deborah Roberts. I felt like we were a part of the same family as their morals and values mirrored my own. I would highly recommend that you read this book.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book starts off very poorly. The opening gives the impression that it will be about who Roker was able to rub elbows with. It does get better, but is nothing spectacular.

[Kathleen Schilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable listen, I found Al very funny. As a GMA watcher, I had no expectations, but it was good

[Geee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice couple and story, not impressed...

[Mathiasherm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great listen!!!!!

[Louise Chandler]

So many relatable parenting and life moments. Laughed a few times, shed a few tears, and felt like meeting new friends.

[Madlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the husband and wife story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked learning about these tv personalities; they seem normal just like us!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful book!

[Gloria Laster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

This book was very good and I enjoy it very much and I recommend this book for family to read

[Kathy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parenting, relationships by example. Beautiful read!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to listen to them tag-team tell their sides of their connected stories over the years.

[John (JP) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the autobiography of Al Roker, TV weatherman for NBC, and author, and Deborah Roberts television correspondent for 20/20 on ABC. They are married, come from different backgrounds, and work and sometimes compete in the same industry. This is how they make their marriage work. The autobiography is told in a series of vignettes told from each other points of view. There nothing off limits everything is touched upon from their sex life to their disagreements over car driving, and child rearing. The net effect of this is to get the reader to examine their own family life and career, a family decisions.

Yes this books seems to intended for a married audience . It does give the reader insights into the decisions and sacrifices women and men make to get the news to the public. In this way it is similar to Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV by Brian Stelter This book focused laser like of the Ann Curry affair and Robin Roberts cancer. Been There Done That argues that individuals in the television news business do not have to be as cutthroat, while still being competitive. Overall this was a fun and happy book to read.

[Risa Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally and passionately riveting

I cried and I laughed out loud...those are both profound in their own right. The connections that were created through lifelong choices were immeasurable. Thank you for writing such candid, personal memoirs. I am gifted with wonderful step-children, and related all too well. May you continue to be blessed...I would say though, fake Christmas trees are honestly quite nice

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. No startling 'ah ha' moments, but interesting nonetheless. A few good belly laughs and some insight into privileged parenting based on people who came from limited means. Generally speaking, that was 2 generations or more for most families who have had some sort of means, but for us our parents were of similar means to the Roker folks, so it struck a chord with me.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

First world problems and solutions from two TV journalists. The authors narrate the audio in alternating chapters and touch on raising children, their marriage, and their careers. They are both likable personalities, but I found myself many times doing a virtual eye roll, as both their problems and solutions are those that only the very privileged would encounter.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Yes, a lot of it is things you have heard before from your own parents, thus the title of the book. But, I liked learning more about Al and his wife Deborah Roberts. I did not know that Al had a daughter from a previous marriage and their son is a slow learner.

I loved the way they each wrote a section of a chapter and then did a section together.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chapters in the book contain various stories from the viewpoints of both Al and Deborah that illustrate a common theme. The themes include relationships, friendships and parenting. The book was a quick easy read.

[E]

I love how they tell some of the same incidents from each of their perspectives. That helps illustrate the differences in how men and women, or any two people really, see the same situation differently.Very relatable, and at times helpful to things in my own life.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for parents to read. It shows how two busy professional handle the every day challenges that come along working and raising a family. Also that going to therapy can be a good thing in staying together.

[Peggydivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book immensely. I loved the way it alternated between Al and Deborah's thoughts and how real they were. It was very relatable and very funny. Truly enjoyed.
Bravo Deborah and I. Great book!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love both Al Roker on the Today show and I think Deborah is a great journalist, this book just didn't do them justice. It has some great stories and good advice, but I found the repetition unnecessary. The include humor, interesting stories and sad ones throughout.

[lila jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

LJ in South Carolina

Enjoyed seeing into the lives of the family. I would recommend this book to my friends. It was refreshing to read about how the family handled various situations.

[Rosemary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al Roker and his wife Deborah Roberts give some advice to families especially two career families with children. Practical advice in easy readable form. They alternate sections and occasionally have a section together. Written with Laura Morton.

[Beth]

To be contionued.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that there was a lot of humor in this book. I didn't need to hear so much about their sex life. Clearly written for married people with families.