What do you think?
Rate this book
Call Me Ted
"Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise!"
These words of fatherly advice helped shape Ted Turner's remarkable life, but they only begin to explain the colorful, energetic, and unique style that has made Ted into one of the most amazing personalities of our time. Along the way - among his numerous accomplishments - Ted became one of the richest men in the world, the largest land owner in the United States, revolutionized the television business with the creation of TBS and CNN, became a champion sailor and winner of the America's Cup, and took home a World Series championship trophy in 1995 as owner of the Atlanta Braves.
An innovative entrepreneur, outspoken nonconformist, and groundbreaking philanthropist, Ted Turner is truly a living legend, and now, for the first time, he reveals his personal story. From his difficult childhood to the successful launch of his media empire to the catastrophic AOL/Time Warner deal, Turner spares no details or feelings and takes the reader along on a wild and sometimes bumpy ride.
You'll also hear Ted's personal take on how we can save the world...share his experiences in the dugout on the day when he appointed himself as manager of the Atlanta Braves....learn how he almost lost his life in the 1979 Fastnet sailing race (but came out the winner)...and discover surprising details about his dealings with Fidel Castro, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Warren Buffett, and many more of the most influential people of the past half century.
Ted also doesn't shrink from the darker and more intimate details of his life. With his usual frankness, he discusses a childhood of loneliness (he was left at a boarding school by his parents at the tender age of four), and the emotional impact of devastating losses (Ted's beloved sister died at seventeen and his hard-charging father committed suicide when Ted was still in his early twenties). Turner is also forthcoming about his marriages, including the one to Oscar-winning actress, Jane Fonda.
Along the way, Ted's friends, colleagues, and family are equally revealing in their unique "Ted Stories" which are peppered throughout the book. Jane Fonda, especially, provides intriguing insights into Ted's inner drive and character.
In Call Me Ted , you'll hear Ted Turner's distinctive voice on every page. Always forthright, he tells you what makes him tick and what ticks him off, and delivers an honest account of what he's all about. Inspiring and entertaining, Call Me Ted sheds new light on one of the greatest visionaries of our time.
These words of fatherly advice helped shape Ted Turner's remarkable life, but they only begin to explain the colorful, energetic, and unique style that has made Ted into one of the most amazing personalities of our time. Along the way - among his numerous accomplishments - Ted became one of the richest men in the world, the largest land owner in the United States, revolutionized the television business with the creation of TBS and CNN, became a champion sailor and winner of the America's Cup, and took home a World Series championship trophy in 1995 as owner of the Atlanta Braves.
An innovative entrepreneur, outspoken nonconformist, and groundbreaking philanthropist, Ted Turner is truly a living legend, and now, for the first time, he reveals his personal story. From his difficult childhood to the successful launch of his media empire to the catastrophic AOL/Time Warner deal, Turner spares no details or feelings and takes the reader along on a wild and sometimes bumpy ride.
You'll also hear Ted's personal take on how we can save the world...share his experiences in the dugout on the day when he appointed himself as manager of the Atlanta Braves....learn how he almost lost his life in the 1979 Fastnet sailing race (but came out the winner)...and discover surprising details about his dealings with Fidel Castro, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Warren Buffett, and many more of the most influential people of the past half century.
Ted also doesn't shrink from the darker and more intimate details of his life. With his usual frankness, he discusses a childhood of loneliness (he was left at a boarding school by his parents at the tender age of four), and the emotional impact of devastating losses (Ted's beloved sister died at seventeen and his hard-charging father committed suicide when Ted was still in his early twenties). Turner is also forthcoming about his marriages, including the one to Oscar-winning actress, Jane Fonda.
Along the way, Ted's friends, colleagues, and family are equally revealing in their unique "Ted Stories" which are peppered throughout the book. Jane Fonda, especially, provides intriguing insights into Ted's inner drive and character.
In Call Me Ted , you'll hear Ted Turner's distinctive voice on every page. Always forthright, he tells you what makes him tick and what ticks him off, and delivers an honest account of what he's all about. Inspiring and entertaining, Call Me Ted sheds new light on one of the greatest visionaries of our time.
463 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2008
About the author
Ted Turner
62 books24 followersLittle Known Facts About Ted
Only one of a few people who have been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Time magazine for different reasons
Held 42 honorary degrees from such institutions as Brown University (Providence, R.I.), Morehouse College (Atlanta, Ga.), The Citadel (Charleston, S.C.) and Mississippi University for Women (Columbus, Miss.)
Number of sailing trophies won: 176
Favorite movie: Gone With the Wind
Favorite meal: A bison cheeseburger from Ted's Montana Grill with fries and an Arnold Palmer (half iced tea, half lemonade)
Appeared on over 115 magazine/weekly publication covers
Had a national debate named after him - The National Forensic League's Ted Turner Public Forum Debate
Largest individual landowner in the United States (owned approximately two million acres of personal and ranch land)
Purchased his first bison in 1976; current bison herd is approximately 50,000 head, which is the largest private herd in the world
Had visited all seven continents
Only one of a few people who have been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Time magazine for different reasons
Held 42 honorary degrees from such institutions as Brown University (Providence, R.I.), Morehouse College (Atlanta, Ga.), The Citadel (Charleston, S.C.) and Mississippi University for Women (Columbus, Miss.)
Number of sailing trophies won: 176
Favorite movie: Gone With the Wind
Favorite meal: A bison cheeseburger from Ted's Montana Grill with fries and an Arnold Palmer (half iced tea, half lemonade)
Appeared on over 115 magazine/weekly publication covers
Had a national debate named after him - The National Forensic League's Ted Turner Public Forum Debate
Largest individual landowner in the United States (owned approximately two million acres of personal and ranch land)
Purchased his first bison in 1976; current bison herd is approximately 50,000 head, which is the largest private herd in the world
Had visited all seven continents
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
May 24, 2026
How have I never read this before?! Fascinating, engaging and illuminating. Ted Turner had his flaws, sure, but he was truly One of One. His optimism, enthusiasm, decency and good humor - honestly, he’s hilarious - comes across on every page. My only gripe is he didn’t discuss his ownership of WCW at all, but whatever.. it’s a small gripe.
November 30, 2008
This memoir lives up to its billing. The voice is Ted's through and through. What makes it unique is his raw, unflinching honesty in conveying his "assets and liabilities" , both personal and professional. I found myself wincing at times while reading, not just because of what was done to Ted, but also because of what he did/neglected to do and/or said to others. "Captain Outrageous" and the "mouth from the South" were terms often used to describe Ted, and, indeed, were appropriate. His relentless and boundless energy and drive have become legend. How many billionaire baseball owners (Atlanta Braves) would get down on their hands and knees and roll a baseball to first base (using their face to roll the ball)as a way of promoting interest in their team? Yet there are lines in business he will not cross, and those lines, defined by him, include a code of honor and truthfulness. His word and his handshake are as good as his signature. Sadly they don't seem to apply to his personal life. He admits struggling with monogamy and appears to have spent little time with his children on a day-to-day basis. Yet he is devoted to them, in his fashion, and that devotion appears quite genuine.
It takes one confident guy to allow former wives, former employees and ex-business partners the opportunity to share their "Ted" stories in one's memoir, particularly when their parting was painful. I think the inclusion of their opinions in this work represent the man himself. He is non-conforming, creative, brilliant and just plain remarkable. As he says to everyone he meets, "Call me Ted".
His legacy to the preservation of open land in the United States will surpass that of the Rockefellers. He was the last amateur to form a team that competed in the America's Cup. He revolutionized television and brought us news, old movies and cartoons, 24 hours per day. And he is only 70. Wonder what's next?
It takes one confident guy to allow former wives, former employees and ex-business partners the opportunity to share their "Ted" stories in one's memoir, particularly when their parting was painful. I think the inclusion of their opinions in this work represent the man himself. He is non-conforming, creative, brilliant and just plain remarkable. As he says to everyone he meets, "Call me Ted".
His legacy to the preservation of open land in the United States will surpass that of the Rockefellers. He was the last amateur to form a team that competed in the America's Cup. He revolutionized television and brought us news, old movies and cartoons, 24 hours per day. And he is only 70. Wonder what's next?
March 27, 2009
He's done so much with his life so far. This is one of the best autobiographies I've ever read.
January 25, 2009
I cant help it. I'm a sucker for Ted Turner. Between an interest in the early days of cable television, a connection to Atlanta, and an obsession with the Braves, I just like the guy. Besides, I have always felt that the world could use a few more eccentric billionaires who are willing to put their money where their mouth is, especially when they are outspoken on issues like world peace, nuclear nonproliferation, and the environment.
Turner has finally written some memoirs, and I found it fun to read his stories about behind the scenes at his various businesses as well as his colorful comments about people like Jane Fonda and Rupert Murdoch. That said, I cant really recommend this book as a piece of fine writing. It is basically a collection of fairly well-written anecdotes about Turner's escapades, none of which are given much time and none of which give much insight into what makes him tick. But it still remains the best memoir of a tycoon I have read since Jimmy James: Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
Turner has finally written some memoirs, and I found it fun to read his stories about behind the scenes at his various businesses as well as his colorful comments about people like Jane Fonda and Rupert Murdoch. That said, I cant really recommend this book as a piece of fine writing. It is basically a collection of fairly well-written anecdotes about Turner's escapades, none of which are given much time and none of which give much insight into what makes him tick. But it still remains the best memoir of a tycoon I have read since Jimmy James: Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
November 25, 2008
Say what you will about The Mouth of the South, but Ted's an astute businessman. He did go on (and on) about financing schemes he used for funding, but overall, it was a good look inside his brain (be afraid, be very afraid...LOL). It was a stroke of genius giving his friends, family, and even Jane Fonda space to write (uncensored, I've heard) about him.
November 4, 2008
I've always been a fan of Ted Turner and now love him even more after reading CALL ME TED. It's a fascinating read and completely delivers.
February 21, 2015
For those who want to know...
what keeps Ted Turner going, this is the book!! Conceiving the concept of and actually creating CNN are probably Ted Turner's greatest achievements. Yes, he is a fabulous, driven sailor, but so are others. Yes, he is a dedicated environmentalist but so are others.
However, the concept of having breaking news, world-wide, around the clock, was revolutionary. I believe that in a way this move helped to usher in the era of the world-wide web. In a way, Turner's vision of CNN leveled the ground. "Call me Ted" tells how and why he came with the idea. I loved reading about it. "Call me Ted" should be a must-read for every student of mass media. It is a candid, intelligent, witty, and exciting read.
Turner is a fabulous storyteller. Even though I don't care for baseball I was surprised that I enjoyed reading his excited account of buying the Braves and taking them to winning the World Series.
Highly recommended to everybody, who thinks outside the box or wants to learn it. 5 stars all the way!
Gisela Hausmann, author and blogger
what keeps Ted Turner going, this is the book!! Conceiving the concept of and actually creating CNN are probably Ted Turner's greatest achievements. Yes, he is a fabulous, driven sailor, but so are others. Yes, he is a dedicated environmentalist but so are others.
However, the concept of having breaking news, world-wide, around the clock, was revolutionary. I believe that in a way this move helped to usher in the era of the world-wide web. In a way, Turner's vision of CNN leveled the ground. "Call me Ted" tells how and why he came with the idea. I loved reading about it. "Call me Ted" should be a must-read for every student of mass media. It is a candid, intelligent, witty, and exciting read.
Turner is a fabulous storyteller. Even though I don't care for baseball I was surprised that I enjoyed reading his excited account of buying the Braves and taking them to winning the World Series.
Highly recommended to everybody, who thinks outside the box or wants to learn it. 5 stars all the way!
Gisela Hausmann, author and blogger
December 5, 2008
I have always been a Fan of Ted Turner. Growing up in the Atlanta area, he was the subject. I admire him and so enjoyed having him to read the book, Actually, he wasn't reading, he was telling the story. Listening to him, I would often say to myself, "I remember that." If I could ever meet him and just sit and talk to him, it would be awesome.
Yes I listen to books everyday on my hour to work and the hour home.
I recommend this book to anyone that has ever wanted to meet all their goals. Much information about the broadcasting business.
If you are a fan of Ted, get the audible and download it onto your mp3 player.
If you have read/hear this book, I would love to hear from you.
Yes I listen to books everyday on my hour to work and the hour home.
I recommend this book to anyone that has ever wanted to meet all their goals. Much information about the broadcasting business.
If you are a fan of Ted, get the audible and download it onto your mp3 player.
If you have read/hear this book, I would love to hear from you.
November 17, 2008
I liked this one a lot more than I thought I was going to -- Turner's a pretty outspoken guy, so his stories about how he started turning a billboard business into a multimedia empire were awfully engaging. You've got the CNN stuff, the Atlanta Braves and WTBS stuff, the America's Cup, the Time Warner years, the Jane Fonda years... Turner also incorporates a lot of feedback from his business colleagues (including some rivals) and his family, so it's not all one-sided.
June 16, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This man had a fascinating life. We listened to the audiobook on two long car rides, down and back. It made the miles go quickly. Ted Turner narrates it himself which is great. Maybe because I lived through some of the big events it is more interesting to me, but there was a lot I did not know or did not remember. If you are looking for some inspiration to accomplish things in your life just listen to Ted!!!
January 30, 2010
Call Me Ted by Ted Turner
Basically his autobiography. Some of the financial stuff was dull and boring and I skipped over those parts, but in the process of skipping over those parts, I fear I may have missed some other stuff.
He spoke mostly about his business acquisitions and secondarily about his boat racing, which is a hobby of his. He speaks very little about his children or wives, especially Jane Fonda. I was expecting some interesting tidbits about his marriage to Fonda, but he spoke very little of that relationship. He is very upfront that he is really married to his businesses and his spouses were the “mistresses”. He does admit monogamy “has always been a struggle”.
Turner writing style was somewhat different in that he asked people who have contributed to his life to write short stories about that episode in his life. So the reader reads what Turner had to say about certain parts of his life and reads what some of his associates said as well.
Turner’s father owned an advertising company specializing in billboard advertising and this is where Ted Turner began his business life. When his father died, Ted began to go into television by buying a local station. One business adventure after another and Ted becomes one of the richest people in the world. His venture into television was to make money, but in the process, he felt a need to “clean up” television. He felt there were too much violence and too many shows that portray greed as a virtue. He wanted to change that.
Jim and Tammy Faye Baker was one of Turner’s first shows on his local station. This was even before they became famous. Their TV show brought in more money in a week than the entire station made in a month.
From regular television to cable (as it was first getting off the ground), he formed CNN as well as other networks of cartoons, finances, movies as well as other channels as well.
From television, he began to search out other lines of businesses. He decided to buy the film library at MGM. Though controversial, he began the process of colorizing old black and white films. He states more people have seen these films because of the colorization. He kept the originals in the black and white mode. Colorization was not cheap. The cost per film ran about $200,000. He also became the landowner with the most amount of land in the US.
As Turner became richer and richer, he began to reach out to his community and world. He stopped seeing people from other countries as “foreigners” and began to see them as “fellow citizens of the planet”. He felt so strongly about this that he banned (whenever possible) the word “foreign” from being used at the businesses he owned. In his office, he had busts of Horatio Nelson and Alexander the Great removed and put in their place busts of Gandhi and Martin Luther King (two of my boyhood heroes).
“It is easy to hate people you don’t know”, but it is difficult to hate folks once you have met them and got to know them. He donated over $1 billion to the United Nations. He is concerned about the image the US presents to the world. Yes, we are rich nation. Being rich is not necessarily the problem. Turner believes it is the combination of being a rich nation and our arrogance and non-cooperative attitude, which creates many of our problems with many throughout the world.
He doesn’t understand why the US would spend billions of dollars to destroy a country like Iraq, then spend billions more to restore the country in Iraq just to remove one crazy dictator from office, who was no threat to the US. He feels Hussein could have been removed from office without spending so much money and losing so many lives.
Turner goes on to say we need to realize that old models of warfare simply wont work anymore. He says it is very easy to start wars, but very difficult to stop them. He feels our military posture hurts our diplomatic efforts worldwide.
When the US was boycotting the Olympic Games, Turner had an idea to form his own group called Goodwill Games, which allowed athletes from various countries compete regardless of the politics of their countries.
Today, his major issues of concern are 1) the threat of nuclear annihilation 2) climate change and 3) the growth of the world’s population.
He admits he has done a lot in his past 70 years, but expects to do more as he gets older and plans to write another book outlining new accomplishments.
He ends the book with what he calls his 11 Voluntary Initiatives
1) Take care of the planet including all living things especially people
2) Treat all people with dignity, respect and friendliness
3) Promise to have no more than two children
4) Promise to save our natural world
5) Promise to use little of our nonrenewable resources
6) Contribute to the less fortunate
7) Reject the use of force, in particular military force
8) Minimize use of toxic chemicals
9) Support elimination of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
10) Support the UN.
11) Support renewable energy.
Basically his autobiography. Some of the financial stuff was dull and boring and I skipped over those parts, but in the process of skipping over those parts, I fear I may have missed some other stuff.
He spoke mostly about his business acquisitions and secondarily about his boat racing, which is a hobby of his. He speaks very little about his children or wives, especially Jane Fonda. I was expecting some interesting tidbits about his marriage to Fonda, but he spoke very little of that relationship. He is very upfront that he is really married to his businesses and his spouses were the “mistresses”. He does admit monogamy “has always been a struggle”.
Turner writing style was somewhat different in that he asked people who have contributed to his life to write short stories about that episode in his life. So the reader reads what Turner had to say about certain parts of his life and reads what some of his associates said as well.
Turner’s father owned an advertising company specializing in billboard advertising and this is where Ted Turner began his business life. When his father died, Ted began to go into television by buying a local station. One business adventure after another and Ted becomes one of the richest people in the world. His venture into television was to make money, but in the process, he felt a need to “clean up” television. He felt there were too much violence and too many shows that portray greed as a virtue. He wanted to change that.
Jim and Tammy Faye Baker was one of Turner’s first shows on his local station. This was even before they became famous. Their TV show brought in more money in a week than the entire station made in a month.
From regular television to cable (as it was first getting off the ground), he formed CNN as well as other networks of cartoons, finances, movies as well as other channels as well.
From television, he began to search out other lines of businesses. He decided to buy the film library at MGM. Though controversial, he began the process of colorizing old black and white films. He states more people have seen these films because of the colorization. He kept the originals in the black and white mode. Colorization was not cheap. The cost per film ran about $200,000. He also became the landowner with the most amount of land in the US.
As Turner became richer and richer, he began to reach out to his community and world. He stopped seeing people from other countries as “foreigners” and began to see them as “fellow citizens of the planet”. He felt so strongly about this that he banned (whenever possible) the word “foreign” from being used at the businesses he owned. In his office, he had busts of Horatio Nelson and Alexander the Great removed and put in their place busts of Gandhi and Martin Luther King (two of my boyhood heroes).
“It is easy to hate people you don’t know”, but it is difficult to hate folks once you have met them and got to know them. He donated over $1 billion to the United Nations. He is concerned about the image the US presents to the world. Yes, we are rich nation. Being rich is not necessarily the problem. Turner believes it is the combination of being a rich nation and our arrogance and non-cooperative attitude, which creates many of our problems with many throughout the world.
He doesn’t understand why the US would spend billions of dollars to destroy a country like Iraq, then spend billions more to restore the country in Iraq just to remove one crazy dictator from office, who was no threat to the US. He feels Hussein could have been removed from office without spending so much money and losing so many lives.
Turner goes on to say we need to realize that old models of warfare simply wont work anymore. He says it is very easy to start wars, but very difficult to stop them. He feels our military posture hurts our diplomatic efforts worldwide.
When the US was boycotting the Olympic Games, Turner had an idea to form his own group called Goodwill Games, which allowed athletes from various countries compete regardless of the politics of their countries.
Today, his major issues of concern are 1) the threat of nuclear annihilation 2) climate change and 3) the growth of the world’s population.
He admits he has done a lot in his past 70 years, but expects to do more as he gets older and plans to write another book outlining new accomplishments.
He ends the book with what he calls his 11 Voluntary Initiatives
1) Take care of the planet including all living things especially people
2) Treat all people with dignity, respect and friendliness
3) Promise to have no more than two children
4) Promise to save our natural world
5) Promise to use little of our nonrenewable resources
6) Contribute to the less fortunate
7) Reject the use of force, in particular military force
8) Minimize use of toxic chemicals
9) Support elimination of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
10) Support the UN.
11) Support renewable energy.
June 7, 2026
Ted’s blunt, no-filter talk may not be for everybody, but listening to him tell his story on this audiobook, where he’s laughing at his highs and his lows is so engaging. The guy had an incredible life, and this is a great listen.
May 22, 2026
Loved listening to the audiobook with Ted Turner himself narrating. An incredible memoir and business book!
September 28, 2015
Ted Turner was a very interesting and nice man.
It is interesting that he was a stubborn guy being contrary and trying to fail and then decided that he was sick of that and he changed his mind and decided to be the best!
His father was in the Billboard advertising business which I knew nothing about and from whom he learned much. Unfortunately Alcoholism had him destroying himself and the therapy sought ought seemed to lead to his Father's suicide.
page 56:
"He tried to get his addictions under control by checking into a Place called Silver Hills in Connecticut. They managed to curb his drinking and smoking but right around that time he'd also been prescribed a variety of medications. He said they were for "his nerves," and I am pretty sure they included Quaaludes and a variety of other uppers and downers. In effect, my dad basically swapped alcohol and tobacco for prescription drugs. Everyone around him was concerned. Jimmy Brown, the one person who probably knew him better than anyone, told me many times that he feared that the drugs were not good for him..." (early in the book... 70's?)
Looks like a drugs for drugs program worsened the situation.
Ted's dad would have fared better at a Narconon. I visited their Northern California site at Vista Bay when I ran into someone with a similar problem. Wish Ted had known when his Dad needed help.
There are many more interesting anecdotes that follow in Ted's life.
It is interesting that he was a stubborn guy being contrary and trying to fail and then decided that he was sick of that and he changed his mind and decided to be the best!
His father was in the Billboard advertising business which I knew nothing about and from whom he learned much. Unfortunately Alcoholism had him destroying himself and the therapy sought ought seemed to lead to his Father's suicide.
page 56:
"He tried to get his addictions under control by checking into a Place called Silver Hills in Connecticut. They managed to curb his drinking and smoking but right around that time he'd also been prescribed a variety of medications. He said they were for "his nerves," and I am pretty sure they included Quaaludes and a variety of other uppers and downers. In effect, my dad basically swapped alcohol and tobacco for prescription drugs. Everyone around him was concerned. Jimmy Brown, the one person who probably knew him better than anyone, told me many times that he feared that the drugs were not good for him..." (early in the book... 70's?)
Looks like a drugs for drugs program worsened the situation.
Ted's dad would have fared better at a Narconon. I visited their Northern California site at Vista Bay when I ran into someone with a similar problem. Wish Ted had known when his Dad needed help.
There are many more interesting anecdotes that follow in Ted's life.
June 29, 2015
This book describe how Ted Turner build his news media business empire from a billboard company. He had a difficult childhood and he took over his father's billboard business when his father died.
He came up with lot of revolutionary ideas in the media business such as 24/7 news channel, nation wide broadcasting of local channels. Everyone thought that these are bad ideas and he had to jump many hurdles However, he always stick to his plans and that helped him to become one of the richest man in US. Almost everything went well except the disastrous merger of his corporation Time Warner with AOL.
He also describe his family life in this book like his struggling childhood, loss of his father and teenage sister, marriage, divorce and his children. In this book he gave us an opportunity to know more about his family and personal life.
Apart from his media career he is also a champion sailor. He always found time for sailing during his busy schedules. He won the American Cup on 1977 America's Cup, he defeated the Australian challenger, Australia, skippered by Noel Robins, four races to zero. He was also the owner of Atlanta Braves when they won the World Series championship trophy in 1995.
This is a nice book and Ted also included other opinions and views about him and his ideas in this book. The inclusion of their views make this book really special.
He came up with lot of revolutionary ideas in the media business such as 24/7 news channel, nation wide broadcasting of local channels. Everyone thought that these are bad ideas and he had to jump many hurdles However, he always stick to his plans and that helped him to become one of the richest man in US. Almost everything went well except the disastrous merger of his corporation Time Warner with AOL.
He also describe his family life in this book like his struggling childhood, loss of his father and teenage sister, marriage, divorce and his children. In this book he gave us an opportunity to know more about his family and personal life.
Apart from his media career he is also a champion sailor. He always found time for sailing during his busy schedules. He won the American Cup on 1977 America's Cup, he defeated the Australian challenger, Australia, skippered by Noel Robins, four races to zero. He was also the owner of Atlanta Braves when they won the World Series championship trophy in 1995.
This is a nice book and Ted also included other opinions and views about him and his ideas in this book. The inclusion of their views make this book really special.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2016
Ted Turner is a successful businessman and philanthropist . This book is a autobiography of him .
Turner is known as a sailer in his childhood days and he also won america’s cup for first time at the age of 39 . He faced many hurdles in his childhood . His father was arrogant and his sister passed away . Ted father tired to control him with his money and violence , he also forced him to work in his company . Because of his father , Ted started to work in his father’s company and made the profit double. As days rolled on Ted Father shot himself because of his competitors growth. Ted didn’t stop himself because of this , he always sees whats next . He is a perfect vision and a hard worker .
This made him to acquire Atlanta UHF station though he know very less about the television industry . And then he build CNN and became its founder .
After merging with AOL , Time warner didn’t like the idea he shared and that made turner to fire from his position .
Later on he had multiple failed marriages, and often away from his children . But he kept moving rather than dwelling in the past.
I think he was successful because whatever hurdles he faced and whatever things he lost , he didn’t stagnated there . May be he was too busy in doing stuffs, so it didn’t allow him to think about his past .
A good book with full of simple but effective motivations.
Turner is known as a sailer in his childhood days and he also won america’s cup for first time at the age of 39 . He faced many hurdles in his childhood . His father was arrogant and his sister passed away . Ted father tired to control him with his money and violence , he also forced him to work in his company . Because of his father , Ted started to work in his father’s company and made the profit double. As days rolled on Ted Father shot himself because of his competitors growth. Ted didn’t stop himself because of this , he always sees whats next . He is a perfect vision and a hard worker .
This made him to acquire Atlanta UHF station though he know very less about the television industry . And then he build CNN and became its founder .
After merging with AOL , Time warner didn’t like the idea he shared and that made turner to fire from his position .
Later on he had multiple failed marriages, and often away from his children . But he kept moving rather than dwelling in the past.
I think he was successful because whatever hurdles he faced and whatever things he lost , he didn’t stagnated there . May be he was too busy in doing stuffs, so it didn’t allow him to think about his past .
A good book with full of simple but effective motivations.
September 20, 2011
Phenomenal book on an amazing visionary. I purchased the audiobook because it is read by Ted Turner himself - a brilliant book. If you have any interest in media, including the development of cable TV and cable programming, the big three broadcast networks (CBS, ABC, NBC), media companies, movie studios, sports leagues, tech and media moguls including Rupert Murdoch, Steve Case at AOL, the Time Warner guys, Jack Welch, Kirk Kerkorian, Bill Gates, Jerry Yang, Malone (TCI), all the other cable companies, this is just fascinating. Ted had his fingers in it all, and helped influence a lot of the media landscape.
You can also hear how Turner's visits with Castro, Gorbachev & Putin, to name a few, changed his outlook and politics. Plus, hearing firsthand how he created the first 24 hour content stations like CNN, The Cartoon Network, etc, is just fascinating. Plus a lot of the AOl-Time Warner merger.
I am not a big audio book guy, but it was great to hear the story straight from the horse's mouth.
You can also hear how Turner's visits with Castro, Gorbachev & Putin, to name a few, changed his outlook and politics. Plus, hearing firsthand how he created the first 24 hour content stations like CNN, The Cartoon Network, etc, is just fascinating. Plus a lot of the AOl-Time Warner merger.
I am not a big audio book guy, but it was great to hear the story straight from the horse's mouth.
February 11, 2013
I very much enjoyed hearing this Ted Turner's story and having him read it himself added to the overall value and enjoyment. His life's story if truly inspiring. All great achievers have adversary and find the mean neccessary to overcome them. Turner seemed to always be driven for something more. He is visionary type. IF you have any interest in the broadcasting industry or are curious as to how we ended up with cable TV today this story will fill you in and give you a sense of knowing the behind the scenes look. I felt Turner did an excellant job of starting from the beginning of his life and showing the events which would later cause or help him to make important life decisions. He is transparent and unabashed in his life and his story telling. I very much enjoyed this reading Call Me Ted.
January 18, 2015
Just an incredible life story. The guy was a type A overachiever from the start and moved people, money, and even international politics with the sheer force of his personality. An inspiring read to say the least.
Most of his stories leave you feeling thrilled, except the chapter about the AOL-Time Warner deal, which reaffirms it as possibly the worst business decision of all time.
I will likely reread this autobiography. Get the audiobook, Ted himself reads it and it adds wonderful depth to the story.
Most of his stories leave you feeling thrilled, except the chapter about the AOL-Time Warner deal, which reaffirms it as possibly the worst business decision of all time.
I will likely reread this autobiography. Get the audiobook, Ted himself reads it and it adds wonderful depth to the story.
December 20, 2010
I've been mildly curious about Ted Turner for years - first when he won the America's Cup, then when he married Jane Fonda, and finally when his name came up during the AOL-Time Warner debacle.
His memoirs are continually interesting - what a character! He is also a great philanthropist and conservationist. He also let important people from his life make comments along the way - not all positive.
This is an easy read and well worth the effort.
His memoirs are continually interesting - what a character! He is also a great philanthropist and conservationist. He also let important people from his life make comments along the way - not all positive.
This is an easy read and well worth the effort.
July 27, 2014
Ted Turner became one of the richest men in the world, the largest land owner in the United States, revolutionized the television business with the creation of TBS and CNN, became a champion sailor and winner of the America's Cup, and took home a World Series championship trophy in 1995 as owner of the Atlanta Braves. Fascinating and very frank expose.
February 4, 2025
Interesting and entertaining!
May 1, 2014
Ted Turner is one of my biggest heros for reclaiming so much land here in the West. He has re-established vanished species, specifically the buffalo to their native habitat. He is perhaps the foremost American Conservationist with 2 million acres restored and protected. Way to go Ted!
March 20, 2016
قصة لشخص عادي جدا شبهك وشبه ناس كتير لكن قدر يحقق نجاح كبير اوي. اكتر ما عجبني في الكتاب انه حكى عن فشله واخفاقاته اكتر من نجاحاته وبين لك مقدار التعب بدون دراما. اسلوب الكتاب ممتع جدا وكنت بحس اني فعلا قاعدة مع تيد في مزرعته وهو بيحكيلي.
December 10, 2022
This is a review for the audio version of the book. I am listening a second time now and going to say this is a top-five audiobook for me. Importantly it’s read by Ted himself. You can hear about his insane life from a safe distance!
February 4, 2024
Ted Turner was a fascinating figure to me, and as an Atlanta Braves fan I found myself vaguely following his dealings. As I had figured, the merger with AOL pretty much screwed him out of his company.
He was very hard charging with his ideas and did things his own way.
He was very hard charging with his ideas and did things his own way.
June 16, 2024
Fun biography
It has the right mix of business, family and personal issues.
Well written with a good flow.
Still shocked by the amount of hurdles one must overcome in achieving greatness.
It has the right mix of business, family and personal issues.
Well written with a good flow.
Still shocked by the amount of hurdles one must overcome in achieving greatness.
September 12, 2011
Eye opening book, however tough to read many sections where he paints himself as the greatest man alive, and sometimes forgets to credit those working under him.
January 10, 2016
A Great inspiriting story about business, challenges in life! It was definitely worth it! I recommend it to everybody.
August 22, 2024
Audio Version read by Ted Turner
I really enjoyed this thought-provoking dive into the life of this fascinating, funny, complicated, and brilliant man. From start to finish, I was hooked.
I really enjoyed this thought-provoking dive into the life of this fascinating, funny, complicated, and brilliant man. From start to finish, I was hooked.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews