Call me Ted /

Turner's straightforward yet surprisingly charming delivery makes this a must-hear. Famous for his triumphs (defending the America's Cup; creating CNN; marrying Jane Fonda; buying the Atlanta Braves; starting the Goodwill Games; donating $1 billion to the U.N.), it's the telling in his own voice of his life's tragedies (his father's suicide; the protracted, painful death of his beloved only sibling; the failure of three marriages; his ouster from CNN) that is not only riveting, but proves that it's possible to feel sorry for the country's largest landowner. "Ted Stories"-short entries contributed by friends and foes alike and read ably by Nick Sullivan, Richmond Hoxie, Sherman Howard and Maggie-Meg Reed - vary from the comedic (an up-tempo rendition of a Brown classmate's piece, "We Didn't Know Shit") to being so beautifully written and recited as to bring tears (Fonda's two essays). There's also an audiobook bonus: a conversation between Wolf Blitzer and his former CNN boss. A Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 10). (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The much-written-about media mogul finally tells his own story, including his ability to draw strength from adversity and challenge, his risky decision-making, and his frayed personal life. Listeners will find it difficult to turn away from this force of nature as he barks out his story with a slight Southern twang (other readers include Nick Sullivan, Richmond Hoxie, Sherman Howard, and Maggie-Meg Reed). Highly recommended for public libraries. [Audio clip available through www.hachettebookgroup.com; bonus conversation between Turner and Wolf Blitzer.-Ed.]-Judith Robinson, Dept. of Lib. & Information Studies, Univ. at Buffalo (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.