Customer Reviews

Priceless Memories

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm an author and I must make a little confession: I frequently check my books to see if any customers have written new reviews on amazon.com. Well Bob, if you're anything like me, I hope you read this.

Bob is a class act from top to bottom. I have been a fan of television personalities (particularly game show hosts) ever since I was a small boy, but what always stood apart for me about Bob was his genuineness and authenticity. Bob was the best at what he did for so many years because he made you feel that you knew him, personally. He also had exquisite timing. He would pause at just the right moment, to put the spotlight on a funny contestant(a true skill, because most people aren't comfortable being silent on television for too long). Or he might tell a story that no one else got and say something like..."no one thought that was funny, I thought it was hilarious". Just the little things like that made Bob interesting to watch all these years.

This book is quite charming and I had the pleasure to listen to the audiobook version, read by Mr. Barker himself. He tells of his life growing up with his wonderful mother Tillie on an Indian reservation in Missouri, how he met the love of his life (Dorothy Jo), his relationships with his animals over the years, and much much more. But perhaps the part of the book that I found the most entertaining was the preface, where Bob talks about how he got his first big break hosting Truth or Consequences. Ralph Edwards heard him on the radio one day while driving with his children and decided to call Bob in for an interview. Subsequently, Bob was called back for 5 or 6 additional interviews (each one more important than the last one) and each time Ralph would say to Bob at the end of the interview, "I'll keep in touch". Of course, Bob did not know for certain he would ever hear from Ralph again. Well of course, we all know he did hear from him and got the offer.

The vulnerability Bob expresses in those moments while waiting for Ralph's "next call" and the way he describes how nervous he was for his first show was fascinating, coming from someone who we associate as being a living legend. And he discloses that out of the committee of people who were interviewing Bob for Truth or Consequences, Ralph was the only one who wanted him and so he was hired on a 4 week probationary basis. Looks like Ralph made the right decision.

I would recommend getting the audiobook as it is so much better to hear Bob's voice than to read the words on a page.

This book is to be praised. Wonderful job, Mr. Barker!!

Whether you're a game show fan or not, you likely know Bob Barker. Arguably the most famous game show host in history, Barker spent 50 years in the television industry before retiring on his own terms in 2007. That's unreal these days and almost unheard anymore, with Hollywood pushing their aging stars to the sidelines involuntarily and game shows lucky to make it past three seasons before being cancelled. However, both Barker and "The Price is Right" did that, with the popular show in its 37th year, now with comedian Drew Carey as the host.

"Priceless Memories" was a fun read for me because of my loyalty to TPIR when I was younger. I envied Barker's job and thought he had the coolest gig anywhere. To those who have been around since the early 80s or earlier, you may remember Bob for his brown hair, tanned good looks, charm, and ability to be daytime tv's "hunk" for stay-at-home moms everywhere. Those born after about 1983 know Bob for his white hair, curmudgeon sense of humor, his small role in "Happy Gilmore" and his spayed or neutered closing line. Either way, Barker has played a big part in many people's life at one time or another, and at 85 years old, has a lot to share with his many fans.

I enjoyed reading about Bob's family, his days of youth on the Indian Reservation in South Dakota, his first Hollywood job (hosting "Truth or Consequences" for 19 years), his strong marriage to Dorothy Jo, how he got into Animal Rights, why he quit his lucrative job hosting beauty pageants and more. I especially cracked up when he mentioned a contestant with a tongue ring was when he noticed his time was passing to host the show. I'll give Bob credit, he writes in a genuine tone, and lets his personality show in the words. Maybe a bit egotistical, but a game show host needs to be.

Two things that made me hold off with a perfect five star rating. One, though I enjoyed the stories of his early life, I felt some of them dragged on a bit and got almost a little too packed. I think shortening them up and spending a bit more time on stories about the shows would have been better and helped it from getting slow at times. The other part that disappointed me even more was the lack of anything about the models. I thought this book would have been the perfect tool to get Bob's side of the story about the firing of the original Barker's Beauties (Dian Parkinson, Janice Pennington, Holly Hallstrom, and Kathleen Bradley) and here straight from his mouth his reasons for doing it, but there is no mention about them at all. He only refers to them as "model" or "models" and though he gives thanks to many people on the TPIR staff, he doesn't thank the models individually by name like he does the announcers or some of the other producers. I thought it was rather disappointing and it might have been a nice way for Bob to talk about the issue and put some closure to it.

Besides these two things, it was interesting learning how Bob Barker went from a small boy on an Indian Reservation to the most famous game show host of all time. Pick up "Priceless Memories" and learn more about his story yourself.

the author of this book is the "genuine article". I first worked with him during mobilization for animals 1983 rallies. I remember him calling and chewing me out for a flyer typo- he was and is a perfectionist and i admire that greatly, but at the time was intimidated as a person can be. He has stood for what is right, true, and good for animals for many years now. Hero worship? you bet- some people ARE heros, and this man is at the top of my list. He fought furs when it wasn't the "in" thing to do, he fought for spay/neuter, and if you notice this book puts his money where his heart is- all proceeds go to fund the foundation that fixes the problem. Most animal groups pay lip service, their leaders collect fat checks and move on- Not Bob Barker! He Pays much, sacrifices much, and gives much for the cause- for the lost dog on the side of the road, waiting for a chance or a tossed scrap from a car window, this man is a hero. Buy BUY BUY this book- Pay For It- and KNOW you have made a true difference in the lives of the animals, and you will have a Wonderful read - BUY extra copies as gifts!

Bob Barker fans will not be disappointed. Others might be.

Bob Barker, the congenial TV host, demonstrates the same talent in print as he does in TV...the ability to directly engage his audience in their own homes. The easy direct narrative style we are familiar with comes across in his writing.

Barker is a talented man who has been blessed with many lucky turns...something that he constantly acknowledges. The book is almost totally void of regrets, "what might have beens" or others doing him wrong. Its refreshing yet leaves one wondering about what has been left out. Bob has had an interesting enough life that he manages to keep the story moving without any real surprises or deep revelations.

While it was interesting to learn a little bit more about Bob's past and how his career evolved, I didn't feel like I got to know Bob Barker, the person, any better.

Is this well-written PR piece or is Bob Barker the TV personality the real deal? The reader needs to decide.

My wife is a big Bob Barker fan, and she enjoyed enery page of this book.

I have been a fan of The Price is Right from day one in 1972 (day one in 1972, meaning the Bob Barker version of the show, yes I know Bill Cullen hosted it in the 1960s but the 1972-2007 version is the one I first began watching as a young teenager). I always enjoyed Bob's wit and humor, his professional demeanor and the way he moved the show along (I loved when a contestant was obviously taking way too long to give a price and Bob, having to move the show along with its time restrictions, would look slightly serious and say "Come on now, give us the price" kind of prodding the person in a gentle yet firm way. Bob was a master and a perfectionist on the show, it really became his well oiled machine and I give him tons of credit for keeping it going for 35 wonderful years. The new host, what's-his-name, I don't even watch it anymore, cannot hold a candle to Bob Barker. The show has changed. Memories of the best linger on and I am so glad to have this book to read all about Mr. Barker - a great TV host and a great human being.

This book is for die-hard Barker fans only, because Bob chooses to skip over anything negative and focus only on the positive. It matches his laid-back, nice-guy TV personna, but it makes for a mediocre autobiography.

The book is structured nicely--starting with Truth or Consequences and then getting to the Price is Right in the second chapter. He saves the personal background for the middle of the book, then finishes with his other media appearances and his animal activism. The stories are told with his typical mellow style, with a touch of humor.

Yet most of the stories are about as interesting as your grandpa telling you about the olden days. Nothing too exciting--and absolutely nothing negative. There's isn't a bad word about anyone in the book--he praises everyone he mentions, and over-praises Ralph Edwards (who gave him his big TV job), Barker's wife and Bob's mother.

There are a couple of major negative things in Barker's past that he never mentions and that makes the book a real disappointment. This is for fans only that want the whitewashed version of his life.

I grew up w/Bob Barker and TPiR, so this memoir has been long awaited by fans like me. Many interesting stories are told by Barker, including:

- His mother's struggle to raise him alone, following her husband's untimely death
- His relationship w/wife Dorothy Jo
- The beginnings of his broadcasting career, including the LA radio show that led Ralph Edwards to hire him for "Truth or Consequences"
- The success of TPiR and how he perfected its formula
- How he became involved in animal rights

Oh, and I had the privilege of meeting the author on 4/9/09, who not only signed my copy, but shook my hand...sentiment aside, it's def worth the read and truly a fascinating look @ the life and career of a TV legend!

Bob Barker is a man who was probably overpaid because he was a Television Celebrity. However, he's a compassionate, humane and charitable man whose donated millions to help people and animals. Bob's a longtime humanitarian, vegetarian and animal rights champion. He's the real deal in reference to having reverence for all life. If all celebrities had his heart of gold the world would be a much better place. He still looks great and his book is really good. He's been blessed and he's earned it via his benevolent philanthropy and myriad good deeds. Kind and generous people like Bob Barker are what this troubled world needs.

Admittedly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. However, it was so engaging that it was hard to put down. Barker and his co-author Digby Diehl cover a lot of ground here. From Barker's somewhat nomadic childhood(which was seemingly very stable), marrying his high school sweetheart and true partner Dorothy, his career in broadcasting, a fortuitous meeting with Ralph Edwards, tons of anecdotes relating to his long-term stints TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES and TPIR, the loss of his wife and his mother, his gradual and escalating interest in animal rights, and his not-exactly-retiring retirement, it is all here.
A minor detail (which in retrospect) I found I really liked was Barker's comments about the early tv giveaways. It made me think about how much things have changed and how Barker evolved over his long career. In my mind it seems as though he has been around forever since he rode the wave of early television when everything was done live and mistakes abounded. Curiously, despite his age, he is extremely involved and seems like a far younger man both physically and mentally.
This is definitely an interesting book and will appeal to tvphiles.