Priceless Memories

Description

From Publishers Weekly After 50 years in television, recently retired game show host Barker (*The Price Is Right*) recalls peak moments of his long career in this engaging memoir. Born in 1923 of Native American heritage (he is one-eighth Sioux), Barker grew up in South Dakota. When WWII interrupted his college education, he became a naval fighter pilot, but the war ended before he got a seagoing squadron assignment: When the enemy heard that I was headed for the Pacific, they surrendered. In the postwar years, as he made a smooth transition from radio to television, audience participation shows became his specialty, and fame followed after an invitation from Ralph Edwards to host *Truth or Consequences*. Giving away millions, Barker stayed with *The Price Is Right* for 6,500 shows: The first time I interviewed an attractive young lady and I realized that her tongue was pierced, I knew that time had passed me by. He also writes at length about how his concern for animal rights created professional career problems, notably in hosting beauty pageants where furs were worn. The team of Barker and Diehl doesn't measure up to Diehl's memorable high-dive collaboration with Esther Williams (*The Million Dollar Mermaid*). However, there are plenty of backstage anecdotes, so Barker's fans are certain to grab this from bookstore shelves. Two 16-page color photo inserts. *(Apr. 6)* Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review "Bob's writing is just like his hosting--smooth and professional. I'm sure his many fans will be thoroughly entertained and delighted by these recollections of his life and his long and very successful career. I can only imagine what more he might have accomplished if only he could sing." (**Alex Trebek, host, 'Jeopardy!'** ) "The readers of this book will be happy to find, as I was, that Bob Barker did more than host *The Price Is Right *for thirty-five years. A lot more, as it turns out. What a career! God bless you, Bob Barker. And I'll try not to wreck the car." (***Drew Carey, host of 'The Price Is Right'*** ) "From hanging pianos to flying elephants, Bob Barker's love of people and animals and his remarkable ability to play the game furnishes a book full of prizes for the reader. *Priceless Memories* provides a fascinating insight into his career during the heydey of television and his tenacious determination to alleviate the suffering of animals. The book is a conversation with Bob Barker, full of humorous anecdotes about himself and the millions of contestants, friends, fans, family, celebrities and animals who have made his life a compelling story." (***Pat Derby, founder of the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)*** )