Customer Reviews

Donahue: My Own Story

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Phil Donahue, the number one syndicated television talk-show host in America, tells his own remarkable life story in this candid, entertaining, fast-paced autobiography, from his childhood in Cleveland during the 1940s to his present success with Donahue, the show watched daily by millions of loyal viewers in over 200 cities nationwide.
Donahue begins by describing his mixed feelings about being a celebrity, examining "the special neuroses of famous people." He recalls what it was like to grow up as an Irish Catholic in the atmosphere of pride and prejudice following World War II, writing humorously about his first fistfight, his first kiss ("the briefest and driest moment in all erotica") and his years at Notre Dame ("Living all week with George O'Donnell and being constantly surrounded by guys, at the 'caf,' in Cost Accounting class . . . everywhere . . . did more for weekend lust than a low-budget porno film").
He recalls how for months after graduating from college he couldn't get a job in his field at all, and describes his early years as an announcer and radio and TV journalist in Adrian, Michigan, and Dayton, Ohio ("'. . . . Mrs. Nixon, you've had a number of proud moments in your life . . . ' and when I said 'proud' I spat right in her eye").
Taking the reader onto the set of Donahue, he explains why audience participation is the most important part of his show, and talks about the moral contradictions of journalism and the realities of competition and success in the media ("In order to achieve in the marketplace you have to have a sizable ego -- I don't care if you are working for ITT, IBM, or GE. But it's especially true to that bunch of letters, CBS, NBC, and ABC"). He points out that the hardest lesson he had to learn in journalism was "the meaning of power on the job," and is outspoken about the "TV Gatekeepers," the men who run the over 700 stations in the United States and control what viewers see.

Donahue is as candid about his personal life as he is about his career. He shares the pain of his separation and divorce, and his experiences as a single parent of four sons. He writes, too, about his disillusionment during the 1960s with the Catholic Church, and his discovery of his own inner faith and beliefs.
Filled with colorful anecdotes about his show, Donahue is an intimate, moving and thought-provoking insight into the heart and soul of an immensely popular television personality who has a deep sense f compassion; a rare ability to grow, change, learn and admit to his own mistakes; great curiosity about people and ideas; and a burning passion for truth, human values and life.

The Donahue book is a must read for everyone. The book is very insightfull and interesting. Phil Donahue is a very open-minded person, for that, I aploud him.

I was searching for Dr. Phil products and found that almost everything I saw I had already either bought, borrowed, seen, heard of, or sat on the floor and read in a bookstore, even though there are no potato chips in bookstores. Then I decided to search for "Phil" in the hopes of unearthing something more, or maybe something from before he went to Medical school and wasn't a Dr. ("Doctor") yet, when I unearthed this fascinating book about a person from television from before the current Phil. It is an enraging read and details his life from his early childhood and pets, through his rise through the ranks of local television up until his triumph and marriage to Rhoda from TV. Even though I was enthralled I was distracted by wondering what the real Dr. Phil was doing before he was a Dr. (detailed information is sketchy) so I was prevented from giving this the full 6 star rating. Even more interesting is that Oprah, Dr. Phil's best friend and confidante, apparantly ruined the television career of the earlier Phil, who originated her show. In a way, the triumph of another Phil must make Dr. Donahue proud. Buy this book. I got it for a penny, which is a decent deal to boot!