Customer Reviews

Call Me Ted

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

I had forgotten about what an amazing life Ted Turner has had, from winning the America's Cup (as the skipper) to winning the World Series (as an owner) and building the cable industry. His is an inspiring story and the personal side is interetsing as well.

I have read many of the big business biographies, and some are more substantive and rewarding than others. This one is worth reading. If you are interested in the history of the media business from the 1960's on, particularly in the creation of cable, you will be interested. If you are interested in entrepreneurial stories in general, I think this will be rewarding. And I think along the way you will get interested in Turner as a person as well.

I zipped through it in two nights (not because it was short but because I was interested).

If I could change the book at all I might have had him pause more and explain at greater length some of his transitions from conservative to liberal and from Christian to agnostic. That would have been interesting but I think he wanted to focus on the business stuff, which I suppose is smart.

Some people get ulcers. Other people give ulcers. I suspect that Ted Turner falls into the second category. "Call Me Ted" is an engaging look at business maven turned philanthropist Ted Turner. We have here the story of his unusual childhood, the tutelage of a tyrannical father who sent Ted off to boarding school at the tender age of four. Turner's father developed a successful billboard company in the South before committing suicide by blowing his brains out.

Son Ted takes over the family business and through drive and grit catapulted into a multi-million-dollar corporation. With his passion for sailing, there was not much time for Turner to attend to his various wives ore kids and it probably was no piece of cake being married to him or being one of his children. Ted Turner appears to have a type AAA relentlessly restless personality that borders on hyper kinetic.

Personally, I was less engrossed in the details of the Time Warner corporate maneuverings and more interested in just what makes Ted Turner tick. If you could bottle his drive, there would be no energy crisis. Clearly in his twilight years, he has shifted his focus from the business world to global concerns as evidenced by his $1 billion gift to the United Nations. Those who enjoy People magazine will also get Turner's perspective with regard to his wooing of, marriage to and ultimate divorce from Jane Fonda.

"Call me Ted" is an absorbing biography of a modern-day American business icon whose antics have given him larger than life status.

Not having previously known much about Ted Turner, I didn't have any expecations of how I would receive this book. I was surprised to find myself fascinated with his life journey that he outlines so well. Turner has a unique style of narration that I found quite appealling; insightful and to the point. I appreciated how he reflects on experiences early in his life that have such a profound influence on his later actions and successes.
Thanks Ted Turner and Bill Burke for sharing such an iconic american success story.

Friends who have "read" the book think it is good, but if you "listen" to Ted read the book, you won't be able to hit stop or pause. Amazing!! Get the audio version.

An amazing, honest autobiography about Ted Turner's life including his accomplishments and failures. He turned a regional billboard company into a media giant. Along the way, he became an accomplished sailor, created CNN, the Goodwill Games and is the largest individual landowner plus numerous other achievements.

If you read this book you should also read Ken Auletta's profile on Ted Turner that was published in The New Yorker back in 2001. Its a intimate portrait of Ted Turner during the AOL-Time Warner merger and his breakup with Jane Fonda.

Fast-paced, action-packed and with nary a dull moment, the autobiography of legendary Ted Turner is as sharp as a tack and brimming with energy as the author himself. Sprinkled with short snippets of others who have known Ted, make for a well-rounded account of the candid, humble, honest, interesting, inspirational, unconventional, playful, spontaneous, multi-faceted, personable and totally transparent person he is.

As one of the quickest and most brilliant minds of our times, not finishing college did not impede Ted from becoming a billionaire or making major contributions to the world. In his life's story, the reader gets to see a portion of the different approaches he took and the creatively ingenious solutions to roadblocks or bumps encountered.

Some of the highlights covered are: In spite of nay-sayers, Ted launched CNN, the only 24/7 news network at the time after branching out from his early billboard business to his own television station which contained only positive programming. As a master sailor, Ted won the America's Cup as well as coming in 1st place in the European's Fastnet races and was named Yachtsman of the Year on four occasions before retiring from the competition of the sport. He bought NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Braves, being the first person ever to win both an American Cup and the World Series trophy. When the Soviet Union and America boycotted the Olympic Games, Ted put together the Goodwill Games, losing $100 million but considering the cost well worth the resulting movement toward peace in such a major way. Among the many important philanthropy projects were the creation of Better World Society, the United Nations Foundation with an initial contribution of $1 billion, and the inspiration of others of wealth to contribute to worthy causes. There is a list of world leaders, influential thinkers and others Ted has developed relationships with. In addition to details on how he broke into television and cable networking, the buying and merging of companies, the reader is given a behind-the-scenes look into the biggest transaction in corporate history with the Time Warner merger with AOL and the subsequent results of such a hastily made mismatch between the two.

In spite of his awesome accomplishments and continuing involvements with issues facing the fate of our world today, Ted Turner considers his five children to be his greatest accomplishments which says much about how they were raised, which is also covered in the book along with his three marriages and early childhood life.

My father gave me this book after he finished reading it and I've enjoyed reading it more than I originally thought I would. It is an amazing story of an amazing life that just may warrant a sequel after all.

I gave this book to my husband for Christmas and didn't see him again until he finished it. He gave me exerpts along the way, and it was fun to see him enjoy it so much.

Okay, I'm striking out with "Call Me Ted" fortitude in the pursuit of one day meeting this truly "mavericky" character! Ted and co-author, Bill Burke, have constructed a deliciously endearing and boisterous autobiography which is easy-to-read and even harder-to-put-down.

There aren't many, if any, *gasp* worthy revelations and his all-or-nothing thinking on matters of population control, climate control, and geo-political profundities have been well documented via print/cable/internet; however, herein lies the winsome construct of his story: it just reads so real and so very Ted.

Page after page, I found myself chuckling aloud, quoting various portions to my family, and shaking my head in sheer amazement to his conceptual genius and flat-out tenacity.

"Just Call Me Ted" more than proves you don't have to unanimously agree with a Personality, or better stated, unanimously agree with a fellow card-carrying member of the human race to appreciate their story.

Now, if I can just wrangle a face-to-face!

Very well written, and an easy (fast) read. I found myself reading late into the night. Fascinating depiction of the full character of Ted Turner - what drives him, what upsets him, what pleases him.

The "Ted Stories" (little insets) written by others are great, no holds-barred they simply tell what others (in their own words) had come across in their experience.

Ted does a great job of presenting a well rounded picture of his life, work, leisure, family, competition...all the things that have come to develop his character. I came away with a greater respect for his complexity. The fundamental integrity of a person's handshake an essential aspect of this foundation.

Definitely worth reading. A little of the business numbers stuff slowed me down, but it wasn't a lot to deal with. Well written, clear, plain language, just like the man himself.