Call Me Ted [NOOK Book]

Entertaining and Enlightening

I just read this book and was very pleased. The anecdotes were touching and entertaining, and I enjoyed the personal style in which it was written. He has had an amazing life, and is actually someone who deserves to pen his own autobiography unlike some of the other self-indulgent celebrities whose books are shallow and vain. I felt like I really got to know him, and identified with his love of nature. Overall, an incredible book.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Needs a better title

Here's a self-made guy that has had a complex and most successful life which fills up the contents of this book. After seeing him interviewed on tv, had to buy it. I was intrigued with his childhood, father's expectations, demons, financial bounce backs and life with Jane. Still wondering why he doesn't like to be alone.

You won't be disappointed. Over 400 pages, but a fast fascinating read.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

You can learn some lessons

It's the kind of true story I love to read. How a person built a business or empire on their own. With metal sweat and some sleepless nights to get to the goals you set and then even bigger goals. Knowing when to get out is also a quality that few have. Ted's giving has also inspired me to look at my own business and share the success. Great book on CD and I will listen many times over the years.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Incredible Biography on an Incredible Person!

Ted Turner is an amazing man who seems to "hold no bars" when it comes to doing things. With "Ted" being all over the map in various endeavors (literally and figuratively), I was very curious to hear his story of his accomplishments and failures, and not some reporter's version. I was not disappointed to read his story. It is amazing and extremely well written. I was also intrigued by the various stories of other people close to Ted, who contributed short stories at the beginning of the chapters. All in all, this is an incredible biography, of an incredible-complex man, who is well known

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Jane needs to give Ted another chance

I recently saw Ted Turner on CNN's Lou Dobbs show, hawking his book, but more reminiscing about the old days at CNN; he then confronted Lou with some of his strident anti-illegal immigrant postures and delightfully put Lou on the defensive unlike any heavyweight that had ever appeared on the program. And he never raised his voice.

So I wanted to read his book. And it is a very good autobiography, surprisingly frank and succinct in describing his motivation, his business acumen, moreover his honesty and character as a businessman. It's well-written.

The reader gets a full-screen look at his vision, his foibles, his personal life, his triumphs and his disappointments. The comments by others that are spread throughout the book are revealing. Jeremy Levin exposes himself right in the book for what Ted Turner ultimately chided as being a less than honest "best friend" performance.

Jane says, toward the end of the book and their marriage that she was headed in another direction, having been overcome with a new sense of spirituality. At a time when taxpayers are bailing out Wall Street and corporate America, the vision, the work ethic and the straightforward integrity of Ted Turner revealed in this book is just the kind of gospel that business people should be reading. And he offers yet more vision and advice to the reader-entrepreneur regarding energy and the future of green industries in the world.

You really like Ted when you finish this book. You're left wishing Jane Fonda would give him another chance.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Call me Ted, unabridged CD

I was looking forward to reading CALL ME TED, but being busy and multitasking, I decided to by the CD version.

I listen and re-listen to Ted's story. What amazed me most about this package was that Ted recorded every page of his 500 page book while recovering in the hospital - it took him 40 to 45 hours to record.

This in itself is a world breaking record to begin with. Does he understand what being tired means? I don't think so... you can hear his voice weakening in some moments, but that was the best part of why I find it inspirational.

They keep saying that his life was difficult, or his childhood was a complex one. At that time not many kids had the brightest of childhoods, but none of them were like Ted. He was about what you want for tomorrow in your life, and how you want the day after tomorrow to unfold. That is Ted Turner to me as his reader (or in this case, listener). He is a hard working, very intelligent and creative, long vision and determined, most honest, loving, caring, and a patriot to the core. What is most important, Ted Turner, achieved all of this alone, he created ideas all alone, he managed to make it happen all alone, and he stands all alone. I read almost every biography of successful people and by far this one tops them all. I am very thankful to be able to read someone's life as great as his in a most straight to the point and yet inspiring way. Whatever happens behind closed doors in his real life, this is what we need to see and read, to feel inspired, and this book did it for me. Thank you.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Author, Light at the End of My Pen

I liked Teds interview on PBS, he often gets a bad rap. I really think he is a good guy; I'll be reading this soon!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A real look at Ted Turner (the good and the bad)

I love biographies, especially good ones that tell the truth about a person that you would never know otherwise (as opposed to their own shiny account of who they are). Call Me Ted does not disappoint.

First of all, a book about a guy who is hugely successful and admits "I don't spend a lot of time dwelling on the past or thinking about myself," is bound to be interesting so long as it is honest. And it is. You get a detailed look at Ted's life, including insight from competitors, his ex-wife Jane Fonda, etc. You get the whole story. His life wasn't easy: from the death of his sister to his father committing suicide, he had to battle for his wealth in the early days. He dropped out of college and worked at the bottom of his dad's billboard company before he committed suicide. From there he takes you through every step of making the billboard company into a media empire. Including his own challenges with winning, intimacy in relationships, and the challenges we all end up facing in life.

I did a lot of reading this week and have another book I have to recommend. It's called The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book and it's a fascinating exploration of the other kind of intelligence we all possess but few put to use.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Crap

I hate this book

Get the Scoop

One individual who has changed the way in which we view the world is Ted Turner. This man who brought us 24 hours news now shares his story in his autobiography Call Me Ted.
This book does not hold back as Turner speaks to his successes and failures.
At 24, his father shot himself, Ted was thrown into the family sign business and so began his rise in the world of business. Time and time again, he would bet everything on an opportunity to do things on a grand scale. This story covers the origins of the Turner Broadcast System, to the purchase of the Braves, and the eventual start of CNN.
Turner also shares his failed relationships, especially with Jane Fonda, to how merging with Time Warner was an absolute disaster.
As always Turner, has rebounded and has started the bison serving Ted¿s Montana Grill and his continual fight for the environment the end of nuclear threat by dismantling the weapon arsenal around the world.
A fast paced book, Call Me Ted captures the essence of this man who still is on the move.

Great Read.

This book had me reading during the night and during the day until it was completed, like a John Grisham novel. Well written, answered all the questions I had from prior newspaper reports that were incomplete in my memory, and it was good to become acquainted with Ted, whom I came to like and whose achievements I appreciate very much, especially his sailing career, his gifting of a billion dollars to the UN and his becoming the largest landowner in the US, which I had not heard about before. I gave the book to a highly respected friend to read just as soon as I finished it. Five stars in all categories. A truly great read, highly recommended.

Wonderful Book!

I have admired Ted Turner for years. So to read his book was an absolute joy. It is a great read and I recommend it to everyone.

Too much EGO-Too much TED!

The book could have been much more interesting if it was more involved in other aspects besides just Ted and his high opinion of himself. Thought it might read like "Barbarians At The Gate" but not even close. Would not recommend to others.

Very slow reading. It was borderline boring. I would not and have not recommended it to anyone.

I do not choose to review this selection.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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