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Call Me Ted Audiobook
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(3.04) - 522 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
"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?"
— Suzanne (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Turner’s straightforward yet surprisingly charming delivery makes this a must-hear…riveting.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred audio review) -
“It doesn’t matter that Ted Turner is not a professional reader. Yes, he drops the endings on ‘ing’ words and often collapses two-syllable words into one. But he’s a masterful storyteller, and that’s what his memoir is—a series of well-told stories that explore his life…Interspersed with his reading are anecdotes from other people who know, or knew, him. Adding depth and illumination, these are read by four other people and offer a nice change of pace. The book is informative, engaging, and easy to listen to.”
— AudioFile -
“There’s little to challenge Turner’s provocative reputation, but his reflections reveal the depth of calculation behind his career as a so-called loose cannon.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Listeners will find it difficult to turn away from this force of nature as he barks out his story with a slight southern twang…Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal -
“Turner himself infuses every page of the book…Offer[s] plenty of grist for understanding a man of many accomplishments.”
— USA Today -
Turner's straightforward yet surprisingly charming delivery makes this a must hear.
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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A USA Today bestseller
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A New York Times bestseller
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
Call Me Ted Listener Reviews
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MJ, 4/15/2024
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" It's not that the book is amazing. But Ted Turner certainly is. The great experience for me with this book is that I listened to it as an audiobook and Mr. Turner read the whole unabridged version himself. (Apparently he, who is usually in perpetual motion, was grounded for 2 weeks recovering from surgery). Ted Turner is obviously oozing with charisma to have been able to do everything that he has done and persuade so many people to back him in brazen ventures such as starting CNN. That charisma + his extraordinary energy level totally come thru in his reading of the book, which was a wonderful enhancement to what is already quite an incredible story! "
— Leigh, 2/13/2014 -
" I loved it. Great story about a great man. "
— Lisa, 2/10/2014 -
" Very interesting book about how Ted Turner came to be such a player in the television and media business. I didn't realize the kind of childhood he had, although to use that as an excuse for how he treated several of his wives is poor ownership of his stuff. Nonetheless, a very savy businessman who has been quite successful throughout his career. It was a good book. "
— Beth, 2/5/2014 -
" I didn't know much about Ted Turner, other than he was married to Jane Fonda and started CNN. But he actually has had a very interesting life and I really enjoyed reading about it. I also enjoyed the "Ted stories" from his friends and family. "
— Melissa, 1/23/2014 -
" Very authentic voice. It sounds like Ted. He is an amazing, unigue entrepreuneur in the cable network biz who was self taught. Through education, he turned away from consevative views to become a liberal who gave away a large part of his fortune to the UN - before Gates and Buffett even thought of it. He had a unique way of including other colleagues/friends perspectives on similiar events....even if they disagreed with his version. "
— Sydney, 1/21/2014 -
" I became interested in this book after I saw Ted T. on one of the morning shows when the book was getting ready to be released. I remember him being in the news alot during a certain period of my life and I was curious about the book. I also have not read any biographies and wanted to branch out. "
— Athy, 1/16/2014 -
" Good book about a real Industrialist "
— Mark, 1/4/2014 -
" Very interesting book, so much information on the behind-the-scenes in broadcasting as well as big business. "
— Nannie, 1/2/2014 -
" This is a very detailed writing about Ted's life, right from when he was very young. If you're interested in everything that has happened to him and how it has happened, you should read this book. I was really only interested in the starting of CNN so I skimmed through much of the book. "
— Tina, 12/14/2013 -
" one of the worst books i have ever read. "
— Paul, 11/19/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. Ted has to be one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our lifetime. Fascinating life. "
— Jeff, 11/10/2013 -
" I liked it! What an amazing life - and character this guy is. His writing style (or his ghost writer anyway) is blunt and too the point. Also, a great story about the rise of a media empire - and the beginnings of CNN. "
— Noah, 8/5/2013 -
" Good read. Interesting man and life. "
— Bob, 7/3/2013 -
" Ted Turner, the media giant, was a genius. But did you know just how smart the man really is? "
— Jennifer, 5/19/2013 -
" I thought it was interesting how he doesn't fully take responsiblity for a lot of what he put his kids through. Sort of minimizes it. "
— Beth, 1/14/2013 -
" This book had rave reviews, but I couldn't make it to the halfway point. "
— Linda, 8/23/2012 -
" This is one of the best biographies I've ever read. Turner is an amazing person, and these stories of his are great. "
— Chris, 5/21/2012 -
" Life is not all sweetness and light for this tv mogul. Learn about Ted Turner's histroy, passions, heartbreaks, and family. "
— Indlibrarystaff, 3/11/2012 -
" Ted Turner is one of my favorite businessmen and this books delves into how he did it. A must read for any entrepreneur. "
— Kenneth, 1/25/2012 -
" Wonderful book about the life of Ted Turner. From his childhood; to taking over and growing his Dad's local billboard business into Time Warner; the creation of CNN, Captain Planet, Cartoon Network and Lord of the Rings; to the unfortunate merger with AOL -- it's all here. "
— Miguel, 11/8/2011 -
" Quite an unusual life and character. Wish he had employed a better author. It got better towards the end. "
— Do10271, 5/19/2011 -
" Ted Turner is an interesting guy. Hard worker, never seemed to take the easy way out. This book is a great read for anyone interested in business. I really enjoyed reading about how he grew his businesses. I don't agree with all of his world views but I have to respect his experience and work ethic. "
— Andy, 3/30/2011 -
" I didn't know much about Ted Turner, other than he was married to Jane Fonda and started CNN. But he actually has had a very interesting life and I really enjoyed reading about it. I also enjoyed the "Ted stories" from his friends and family. "
— Melissa, 2/3/2011 -
" From environmentalist to network owner to Atlanta Braves owners, Ted Turner has done it all. Handed his father’s billboard company in his early twenties, he’s made quite a run. A good book that combines his business philosophies with his autobiography. "
— Dan, 1/3/2011 -
" one of the worst books i have ever read. "
— Paul, 12/7/2010 -
" Good read. Interesting man and life. "
— Bob, 12/1/2010 -
" Did someone just type this up from his dictation? It sure sounded that way. Still, I learned a lot about Ted, sailing, CNN, Ted, and Ted. "
— Lynne, 10/21/2010 -
" Pretty good autobio about Ted Turner. Learned a lot about his eccentricities and what drove him as an entrepreneur. Reading him was also informative about the early cable and telecom act eras, if you're interested in the media business at all it's a good read. "
— Keith, 5/31/2010 -
" Very interesting book, so much information on the behind-the-scenes in broadcasting as well as big business. "
— Nannie, 3/11/2010 -
" Ted Turner, the media giant, was a genius. But did you know just how smart the man really is? "
— Jennifer, 1/24/2010 -
" If you are fascinated by the lunacy that is Ted Turner, as I am, then you should read this book! "
— Regina, 1/7/2010
About the Authors
Ted Turner is one of America’s most famous and successful businessmen. A media mogul, philanthropist, and author, he is known as the founder of the cable news network CNN, as well as for his billion-dollar donation to support UN causes. He now serves as chairman of the United Nations Foundation board of directors.