Collection
Publication
New York : Crown Publishers, c2006.
Description
A.: This is the story of a working-class guy from Ohio with little real knowledge of Ambidextrous Presidents, Things Made from Rubber, and hundreds of other categories, but who nonetheless plunges so far into cramming for Jeopardy! that it changes his relationships, bends his worldview, and literally leads him to the ends of the earth, trying to understand it all. Q.: What is Prisoner of Trebekistan? Welcome to a world where obscure information is crucial to survival, vast sums of cash are at stake, and milliseconds can change not just a game but the course of your entire life. (Plus, you could win two Camaros and enough Bon Ami cleanser to scrub a small nation.) Prisoner of Trebekistanis Bob Harris’s hilarious, insightful account of one man’s unlikely epic journey throughJeopardy!, gleefully exploring triumph and failure, the nature of memory, and how knowledge itself can transform you in unpredictable ways—all against the backdrop of the most popular quiz show in history. InPrisoner of Trebekistan, Bob chronicles his transformation from a struggling stand-up comic who repeatedly fails theJeopardy!audition test into an elite player competing against the show’s most powerful brains. To get there, he embarks on a series of intense study sessions, using his sense of humor to transform conventional memory skills into a refreshingly playful approach to learning that’s as amusing as it is powerful. What follows is not only a captivating series of high-stakes wins and losses onJeopardy!, but also a growing appreciation of a borderless world that Bob calls Trebekistan, where a love of learning reigns and the smarter you get the more you realize how much you don’t yet know. Filled with secrets that only a veteran contestant could share—from counterintuitive game strategies to Jedi-like tactics with theJeopardy!signaling device—Prisoner of Trebekistanalso gives you the chance to play along with the actual clues that led to victory or defeat in high-level tournaments, plus candid, moving reflections on how the games affected Bob’s offstage life—and vice versa. Not only an irresistible treat forJeopardy!fans,Prisoner of Trebekistanis a delight for anyone who loves a rollicking tale that celebrates the unpredictability of life and the sneaky way it has of teaching us the things that really matter.… (more)
Language
Original language
English
Media reviews
Harris has been, among other things, a stand-up comic, and it shows in his book, in lively phrases and an ear for the incongruous.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bragan
Bob Harris was a multiple winner on Jeopardy! and participated in several of their champions' tournaments, scoring some very big wins as well as suffering some embarrassing losses. In this book, he talks about his experiences of playing the game, his experiences of obsessively cramming for the
I haven't watched Jeopardy! in ages, but through my teens and early twenties I was a dedicated viewer. To say that I'm not a fan of game shows in general would be an understatement, but Jeopardy! was the one glorious exception; there were times when it honestly seemed to be the only thing on TV that actually respected my intelligence. For a long time, I even had dreams of trying out for it myself.
So, I expected this book to give me me a vicarious sense of what it would be like to be a contestant on the show, which it did, and I expected that to be fun, which it was. And since Harris is a professional comedian, I expected it to be funny, which it very much was. What I wasn't expecting was all the things it also was: exciting, suspenseful, thoughtful, intelligent, humble, genuinely moving, and full of warmth, humanity, and even a surprising amount of insight. And did I mention funny?
It also kind of made me want to rekindle that old dream of trying out for the show. Which, I admit, I probably will not ever actually do. But if I do, well, I'll know where to turn for experienced advice, because there's some of that in here, too.
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game, how his performance on the show affected his personal life, how his personal life affected his performance on the show, and the lasting and rather wonderful effects that opening himself up to that much sheer random knowledge had on him.I haven't watched Jeopardy! in ages, but through my teens and early twenties I was a dedicated viewer. To say that I'm not a fan of game shows in general would be an understatement, but Jeopardy! was the one glorious exception; there were times when it honestly seemed to be the only thing on TV that actually respected my intelligence. For a long time, I even had dreams of trying out for it myself.
So, I expected this book to give me me a vicarious sense of what it would be like to be a contestant on the show, which it did, and I expected that to be fun, which it was. And since Harris is a professional comedian, I expected it to be funny, which it very much was. What I wasn't expecting was all the things it also was: exciting, suspenseful, thoughtful, intelligent, humble, genuinely moving, and full of warmth, humanity, and even a surprising amount of insight. And did I mention funny?
It also kind of made me want to rekindle that old dream of trying out for the show. Which, I admit, I probably will not ever actually do. But if I do, well, I'll know where to turn for experienced advice, because there's some of that in here, too.
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LibraryThing member jseger9000
Prisoner of Trebekistan: A Decade in Jeopardy! does exactly what I’d hoped when I bought the book. It shows you exactly what it’s like to be a contestant on the lauded game show Jeopardy! The book opens with Bob Harris describing in detail the anxious end of a round of Double Jeopardy. What
Bob Harris is a good narrator. He has been a Jeopardy! contestant numerous times and takes us through his experiences. Showing what it is like to try out for the show (and fail, repeatedly), what it is like to win (and lose) big. Prisoner of Trebekistan isn't solely about a man's obsessive quest to win at Jeopardy! That is what hooked me into reading it and it is there, in detail. But it is also about how the initial pursuit to cram information into his head (he repeatedly points out that he doesn't necessarily learn these facts in their proper context) opened new, unexpected vistas. Eventually facts link up with each other, creating a hunger for him to learn more and travel the world. He calls this hunger for knowledge 'Trebekistan'.
We also learn details about Bob's personal life. These details are handled with the pacing and detail of a good novel, making the book a read that will run you through the gamut of emotions. You will be cheering him on as he and those he cares about face tough times. You'll squirm as he makes dumb decisions. He worked as a comedian and it shows as the writing is often funny, though never so funny it is intrusive.
As you can see, I really grooved on the book. I'm afraid this review is too gushy. It's not just that as a nerd I am interested in Jeopardy! (though that is part of it), but Bob Harris is also a skilled narrator, throwing in enough asides and humor to keep the book personable. If you enjoy watching Jeopardy!, the book is definitely worth a read. But I also think folks that don't care a whit about the show would enjoy the book.
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it’s like to stand behind a contestant’s podium (bigger than you would think), sweating it out, knowing the response to the clue being read, knowing that the competitors also likely know the response and not being able to buzz in until Alex finishes reading the clue.Bob Harris is a good narrator. He has been a Jeopardy! contestant numerous times and takes us through his experiences. Showing what it is like to try out for the show (and fail, repeatedly), what it is like to win (and lose) big. Prisoner of Trebekistan isn't solely about a man's obsessive quest to win at Jeopardy! That is what hooked me into reading it and it is there, in detail. But it is also about how the initial pursuit to cram information into his head (he repeatedly points out that he doesn't necessarily learn these facts in their proper context) opened new, unexpected vistas. Eventually facts link up with each other, creating a hunger for him to learn more and travel the world. He calls this hunger for knowledge 'Trebekistan'.
We also learn details about Bob's personal life. These details are handled with the pacing and detail of a good novel, making the book a read that will run you through the gamut of emotions. You will be cheering him on as he and those he cares about face tough times. You'll squirm as he makes dumb decisions. He worked as a comedian and it shows as the writing is often funny, though never so funny it is intrusive.
As you can see, I really grooved on the book. I'm afraid this review is too gushy. It's not just that as a nerd I am interested in Jeopardy! (though that is part of it), but Bob Harris is also a skilled narrator, throwing in enough asides and humor to keep the book personable. If you enjoy watching Jeopardy!, the book is definitely worth a read. But I also think folks that don't care a whit about the show would enjoy the book.
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LibraryThing member edub23
Simply the most engrossing index of any book I have ever read. Kept me busy for several minutes (which is, admit it, pretty good for an index). I read this on a plane going from Hartford to the west coast and it was the perfect fit, even in turbulence.
LibraryThing member verbafacio
Bob Harris has written a funny and interesting look behind the scenes of Jeopardy. While his level of preparation seems slightly insane, his tips for getting on the show are actually useful. I'll remember several of his trivia facts for years after reading this.
LibraryThing member collsers
A great read for anyone who is a fan of the show, or a hopeful contestant. Bob captures the experiences of a Jeopardy contestant perfectly, with plenty of humor--and some tear-jerking moments--mixed in. Highly recommended!
LibraryThing member JohnMunsch
The slowest part of this book is when the author stops to try and teach some memory techniques. Fortunately that represents no more than 10% of the overall book. The rest is a memoir of what it's like to be on Jeopardy, what it's like to win, and what it's like to lose. The other 90% is very
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entertaining and frequently quite funny. Show Less
LibraryThing member Knicke
Finally finished this. I blew through 9/10ths of it and then came to a dead-bored stop when the author started talking about Jeopardy and its benefits to his real life and his relationship. Partly because, hey, that's a lot more boring than Jeopardy games, and partly because he insisted on being
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coyly funny and nonlinear about the descriptions. Also, after the first huge comeback tournament, there's not that much drama in the games anymore. Friendly competition, but much less at stake.Still, most of it was an enjoyable read. Non-fans will not be pleased that 90% of the book is a detailed run-down of Jeopardy game after game, but for a fan like me, it was a fun and often hilarious ride. Also, I've learned a bit about mnemonics. So there's that. Show Less
LibraryThing member trilliams
Much more than a book about trivia and a game show. Much more.
LibraryThing member Skybalon
Surprisingly entertaining part biography, part how to get on Jeopardy, and part life lessons book. Well worth the read.
LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
Bob Harris is an undefeated Jeopardy champion who has competed in and won several tournaments of champions. I somehow had the idea that Jeopardy champions were geniuses with total recall for all sorts of trivia. Not so. There's apparently lots of preparation and memorization involved, at least for
Thoroughly enjoyable read if you're a Jeopardy fan.
3 stars
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Harris and several of the other Jeopardy champions whom he comes to know and befriend. I really enjoyed learning about his methods of preparation, his memorization techniques, and all the tricks he had that allowed him to pull esoteric answers seemingly out of the air. He also explains some of his techniques for winning. For example, even if you don't know the answer, the Jeopardy clue frequently contain a hint that will lead to the correct answer. And then there's the whole issue of buzzing in. I had heard this is an important factor for Jeopardy success, and apparently many contestants, Harris included, feel that the most important factor in being a winner is to have the ability and some sort of internal rhythm to be the first to buzz in.Thoroughly enjoyable read if you're a Jeopardy fan.
3 stars
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LibraryThing member LynnB
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a major Jeopardy! fan, so I loved the behind-the-scenes descriptions, and the blow-by-blow descriptions of trying to recall obscure facts while mastering the buzzing-in timing, which is key. Bob Harris excels at describing his thought process and inner dialogue.
The book also looks at the memory techniques he used, and at his personal life. It is often laugh-out-loud funny and often very touching and profound.
After finishing this book, I watched Jeopardy! last night with new eyes. If you like the show, you must read this!
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The book also looks at the memory techniques he used, and at his personal life. It is often laugh-out-loud funny and often very touching and profound.
After finishing this book, I watched Jeopardy! last night with new eyes. If you like the show, you must read this!
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LibraryThing member kwskultety
I"m not sure if I should even give this one star, just for discussing how things work backstage at Jeopardy. On further thought---
I won't--because there are other books that do it also, and this book doesn't deserve any stars. I'm not sure what I disliked more; his awful attempt at humor every few
One chapter where the author describes his childhood is constantly interrupted with the story of a receipt from a rubber manufacturer, and his musings about what was purchased there years ago (since he forgot). Annoying!!!! Later on, the receipt is brought up AGAIN with the final answer. Just in case you have a masochistic streak, and want to read this book---I won't be telling you the item, to avoid spoiling the little surprise for you.
I can't even feel sympathy for his ill sister, because the way he describes her chronic pain and sickness is....well; too glib. Harris calls himself a comedian, but I say he is someone who needs to stop the schtick and act like a normal person. A writer he is not. He would've been better off getting a ghost writer, someone to cut through all the crap and create an enthralling tale of what it actually is like to be a contestant on Jeopardy.
Enough of this. I need a shower to wash the dreck off me.
I won't--because there are other books that do it also, and this book doesn't deserve any stars. I'm not sure what I disliked more; his awful attempt at humor every few
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sentences (for example, Harris is giving a hint on what type of categories to expect on the 4th of July--he mentions "Betsy Ross", "Fort McHenry" and "Things That Look Cool Blowing Up". Ugh), the fact that it took too long to get thru the book due to the endless recounting of almost EVERY question on EVERY game he played, complete with clue and answer in the form of a question, or the fact that some of his humor actually WAS phrased in the form of a question. One chapter where the author describes his childhood is constantly interrupted with the story of a receipt from a rubber manufacturer, and his musings about what was purchased there years ago (since he forgot). Annoying!!!! Later on, the receipt is brought up AGAIN with the final answer. Just in case you have a masochistic streak, and want to read this book---I won't be telling you the item, to avoid spoiling the little surprise for you.
I can't even feel sympathy for his ill sister, because the way he describes her chronic pain and sickness is....well; too glib. Harris calls himself a comedian, but I say he is someone who needs to stop the schtick and act like a normal person. A writer he is not. He would've been better off getting a ghost writer, someone to cut through all the crap and create an enthralling tale of what it actually is like to be a contestant on Jeopardy.
Enough of this. I need a shower to wash the dreck off me.
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