Moje pozoruhodná cesta

by Larry King, Cal Fussman, Petra Kudrnáčová (translator)

Charakteristické šle Larryho Kinga a nezaměnitelný hlas jsou známy na celém světě milionům diváků, kteří si ho každou noc pouštějí do svého obývacího pokoje. V TV Guide ho označují za "vůbec nejpozoruhodnějšího moderátora televizní talk-show" a v časopise Time za "mistra mikrofonu". Už půl století zpovídá nejvýznamnější osobnosti světa. Dnes po více než čtyřiceti tisících rozhovorech je načase, aby se s námi Larry King podělil o svůj vlastní pozoruhodný a strhující příběh od dětství ve skromných podmínkách Brooklynu v době finanční krize do hvězdných výšek moderování pořadu CNN Larry King Live, to vše prostřednictvím autobiografie Moje pozoruhodná cesta.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Audiobook, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, History

264 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2006

About the author

Larry King was an American television host, radio host, and paid spokesman, whose work was recognized with awards including two Peabodys, an Emmy award, and 10 Cable ACE Awards.

From 1985 to 2010, King hosted a nightly interview program on CNN called Larry King Live. From 2012 to 2020, he hosted Larry King Now.

Reviews

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio. A light, entertaining read. I recommend the audio over the book, simply because Larry King is reading it, and various family members and friends read as well. It makes the book come to life.

I really enjoyed learning the details of Larry's life-- his early experiences in Brooklyn, losing his father, becoming a deejay in Miami, gaining (and losing) lots of money, his multiple marriages and everything that led to where he is today. His honesty, about his failures as well as his triumphs, was refreshing and made me feel much more sympathetic toward his imperfections. There were parts that I laughed outloud-- especially in the beginning when Larry tells crazy anecdotes about misadventures with his friends as a young boy and teenager. I admit that I found first half of the book more personal and entertaining than the second half.

[RNOCEAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this humorous, anecdotal account, King at 75-plus marvels good-naturedly at his staying power for a half-century as a talk-show host for radio and TV. Born in Brooklyn in 1933 to Jewish immigrant parents, young Larry Zeiger was profoundly influenced at age nine by the untimely heart-attack death of his father and by the medium of radio. Rejected by the army for bad eyesight and uninterested in going to college, he got his break filling in for a deejay at a radio station in Miami, where he took the name King in a pinch. His early scrapes are hilarious, especially with women (he married eight times), and he had an uncanny ability to snag famous personalities like Jackie Gleason, Frank Sinatra and Richard Nixon to be interviewed on air. By simply being curious and unassuming, King could make anyone seem fascinating, from a plumber to the famously laconic Robert Mitchum. Despite being fired in 1971 for financial shenanigans, King swept back on the air in Washington, D.C., before being hired to host a show for Ted Turner's fledgling CNN in 1985, where he has been following current affairs for the past 25 years. King, writing with Fussman (After Jackie), has produced a cultural history as much as a personal testimony, touching on world-shaping events over the last 50 years and sharing, with inimitable humor and grace, some quirky POVs from King's family and friends.
****Rate this 4/5. I love Larry King, and I loved this autobiography. I don't think there is anyone better than Larry when it comes to interviewing people. This was a very enjoyable and funny book to read. I especially loved his take on all the different presidents he has known and interviewed, very interesting and informative.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much -- I'm not a big Larry King fan, and this book was a gift. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be one of the funnier autobiographies I've ever read. It's a little choppy, thanks to Larry inviting other voices to chime in at significant moments. But it's an hilarious, quick read.

Larry was a f&%k-up; there's no other word for it. He's had 8 wives. But he's always been surrounded by good friends who have got him into and out of scrapes, including his most serious one when he was arrested and his burgeoning radio career appeared to be over. Worth reading for the story about the time he and his buddy Herb started a memorial fund for a high school chum of their who wasn't actually deceased. It may be the funniest story the New York Times never ran.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good memoir.

King, family, and friends do a good job with this one.

3.5/5

Happy Reading, everybody!

[lp · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was so poorly written that there were times i worried that my own writing would get worse just being exposed to it. but then again, it's very larry king. he's not a writer, he's a talker. and you get his voice -- unedited. i knew i'd like this book because i once heard him say in interviews he never uses the word "i". that's smart and hard to do. and reading the book made me realize he's one of those people who is so dumb that he's a genius. he kind of admits it himself. he just asks lots of questions. but he has finesse and it is because of his character and down-to-earth-ness and curiosity and kindness and respect for everyone, that people relate to him, which leads to some rather powerful interviews. it's surprising to read about how he did what he did... i wouldn't call it "luck", but more what oprah calls it, "good opportunity realized." larry king, i think, sees the best in things, and runs after those things. and so amazing things happened to him. he is so old, and he will be retiring, i believe, in 2011. it will be sad not to be able to turn on the tv and see him there in his suspenders, with that classic background, hear that unforgettable voice. what will the world be like, really? we haven't seen a world without larry king for a very long time! maybe jesus will finally come down or something.

[Jay Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating - 9

Refreshing autobiography in that it feels more honest (acknowledges his flaws w fidelity, gambling, women) than braggadacio; Really appreciate the blunt insights that he brings on various societal topics

His recollection of various guests also has a sense of legitimacy & always has appropriate context; Overall rating likely benefits from many previous disappointments, but have a new respect for Mr. King

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Reading it you can’t help but hear his iconic voice tell his story. It was interesting and funny. I also found it ingenious to have his closest friends and family insert their personal commentaries on various milestones of his life. I would love to see that become an autobiography trend.

[Claudette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this in audio book--HIGHLY recommended. He is a great storyteller, and his voice is so distinctive that it carries the story. Interesting recorded comments by famiily memeber and friends interspersed. Some really interesting anecdotes about celebrities, historical events, and experiences. Loved it!

[Windsor Tevita-Tanielu]

I chose this book because my parents told to read it and I really liked it after I read it.

I liked this book because he broadcast,the other thing I liked about this book was reading it.I thought Larry King was one of the kids that are smart,he said his dad died when he was nine and he through lot of pain,his went a lot of thing to Larry safe,now that his he can return the fever.

[Sharon Nale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this one a 5 star rating because I love autobiographies in which the reader is the author, and in this case, Larry King had the significant others in his family and circle of friends also read their parts. After his death, I became interested in learning more, and mostly because Ryan Secrest was brought to tears remembering the man and what he meant to Ryan's life. So I got the audible, and I don't regret it. Larry King is a name most all of us adult readers are familiar with, but I did not know he had 8 marriages to 7 different women, and yes, he married one woman twice. His early life is interesting, and losing his Dad at age 9 had a lasting impact on his life. He had a son that he never met until that son was 33 years old! He had a daughter by the same woman, and both these children just died last year within a month of each other, one from a heart attack, and one from lung cancer. He said he didn't believe in God, but in the question and answer at the end of the book, he said he the one person he would like to interview is Jesus. It was an interesting book, and hearing Larry's voice made it more personal. I hope he is with the God he said he didn't believe in.

[Dave Calver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never really paid attention to Larry before hearing him interviewed recently by Cal Fussman. A fascinating life, rich with ups and downs, recounted with lots of humour. Well worth reading, whether or not you are into his CNN persona.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and read it quicker than any other book I have in a while. Larry king is such an inspiration to me and has been for years. Loved this, now gonna watch more of his interviews on YouTube. So many. RIP to a legend

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

很精彩的一本書, 從來沒看過賴瑞金現場的我, 不能理解怎麼這位老先生在美國怎麼好像很紅的樣子, 聲音也沒有多好聽啊!
但看了這本書, 似乎有所瞭解他的本事在哪了! 一種讓人對之放下戒心述說自己的能力. 對他來說似乎是與生俱來的... 突然有點想看看他主持的節目了! 但他好像已經不主持了, 來去youtube搜一搜吧!

[Iliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast way to open your eyes

[Debra Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boastful, but interesting. He did lead an incredible life.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and Fascinating!

[Grace Burtt-Dykstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love biographies! They are so inspirational. This one is one of the best I've ever read. Interesting, stimulating. Love his outlook on life!

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autobiography up to age 78.

[Emily Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

[Michelle Mormul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!!! You can’t help but love this guy. I try not to and he reels you in. He read the audiobook alongside others in his family and friends.

[Ruby Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good!

[avizena zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story about Larry King's early life.

[Jinjer]

Why did I bail? I read a few of his short entries, but then I lost interest.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ларрі конєшно доволі ексцентричний, але неочікувано простий та добрий чоловік, послухала ці мемуари з великою цікавістю.

[Tina Capalbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the adventurous tone, honesty, grit, scope and pace of Larry King's expansive memoir.

[Jacki (Julia Flyte) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 humour 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.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a strange feeling to be reviewing "My Remarkable Journey" by Larry King! With a rare gift of communication, he takes us on his journey through life beginning as a little Jewish kid in Brooklyn through local radio to global TV fame. From the loss of his father who died of a heart attack at work and the loss of his grandmother two weeks later, Larry King seems always to be looking and finding love only to lose it again. The book is very revealing, honest and fascinating, not because of all the famous names that populate the book, but because of how these people react and communicate with him. The respect for who he interviews, and the respect which is shown him comes through loud and clear. But so, too, comes his downfall with his arrest and in his own personal life at that particular time.

He reads people with great insight and passes it on to the reader. Sure, he sometimes comes off sounding a little self-absorbed, especially when he is not on the air, but it is his story, and in fact he may not even be aware of it. He is just as often overwhelmed by his success and often feeling undeserving. But get him on the air with any influential person, or even as he would say, the plumber, and lightning strikes. On the air or in the book he has a way of letting his guests, and his readers, feel comfortable and thus interested. While reading this book, I felt that I really got to know a lot about Larry King, but also some understanding of why he has married so often and divorced so often, and a feeling of family seems to exist around his children and himself. The shock of learning his first wife had given him a son he never knew about toward the end of the book when she was dying, soon gave him one more son to love.

I think the best parts of his book, though, are those from breakfasts at Nate 'n Al's. There he is one of the guys, with friends he grew up with, friends he has made since and maybe that is "home" after all. My personal take is, if you still have friends you knew as a kid, you have had a meaningful and successful life.

[Brad Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I have tried to read Larry King's autobiography and am glad I dedicated the time to finish it. I find at times reading the beginnings of biographies quite difficult because it is hard to relate to the person when you haven't seen them grow up. Once you have made it to the stage of their life (when in the spotlight) is easier to do so.

"My Remarkable Journey" is certainly a warts and all story of Larry King's life. He talks about money he has lost, regrets/mistakes he has made and the many marriages he has had over his 80ish lifespan. There are so many great stories packed into this book based on the people he has interviewed over the years. If you can make it part the first part you will be entertained for the rest of the book.

Three key takeaways from the book:
1. Memories are all we have. Lose them, and we have nothing. But memories touched by humor, those are the best of all.
2. Never go someplace else if it’s just for money. Because if it’s just for money, the first day you’re unhappy, you’re going to be upset with everyone who told you to go. Larry practiced what he preached for 25 years at CNN.
3. Larry King's original name was Lawrence Zeiger

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It always amazes me what sacrifices celebrities are willing to make for their fame. Larry King is no exception. He made many. Too many in my opinion. I guess I just never wanted fame more than family. I do find it very interesting that people from his generation have a sense of friendship with undeviating loyalty to friends ... a quality that the younger generations seem to have lost in their relationships. My father and his life long friends had loyalty to one another. In business it was all done with a handshake. No one sued another one. In fact, they didn't even charge each other for their professional services. This loyalty was and is part of Larry King's life. I admire that. I am glad Larry has found great happiness in his 2 young sons and resolution in his relationships with his older children ... but even that doesn't bring him the happiness that sitting behind a microphone brings. That is where his heart is and when his home is - first and foremost. I enjoy his program. I like his interview style. I guess his loss (or what I perceive as his loss) is our gain ... but what a price!

[Michele jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, light read. Just skims the surface of some events in his life. While one doesn't mind Larry opting for laugh over detail, it is rather too vague when it came to the chapter of Larry almost bribing Nixon. I'm not sure that anyone could be as naive as King paints himself in that fiasco.

The book makes an obvious effort to avoid offending by being careful not to discuss broken relationships and long lost children too closely, but when the facts are glossed over so speedily, it only raises cynical questions and reads more like fairy tale than autobiography.

King's brother, children, wife and friends add their own passages, in anecdotes no more forthcoming than his.

Humor is present throughout, but it is gentle (and a bit canned), not uproarious. If you haven't read anything else about King and want to know a bit more about the man behind the suspenders, pick this one up.