"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.
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"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?"
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Suzanne (4 out of 5 stars)