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50 reviews for:
Where Do I Begin?: Stories (I Sort of Remember) from a Life Lived Out Loud
Elvis Duran
4.07 AVERAGE
50 reviews for:
Where Do I Begin?: Stories (I Sort of Remember) from a Life Lived Out Loud
Elvis Duran
4.07 AVERAGE
This book was everything I ever expected it to be and more! I have been a loyal listener of Elvis's since he joined Z100 and this book was like getting to know a good friend even better. It was even more enjoyable because I chose to listen to it so it was more like having a one way conversation with your close friend. Loved loved loved!
If I could only choose one word to describe this book, it would be...fun! Elvis is so witty and entertaining on the radio and, as it turns out, as an author too!
I am one of the many listeners of his morning show but this book isn’t just for listeners. It’s for anyone looking to be inspired, to learn about life, to gain behind the scenes info on the entertainment industry and anyone looking for a genuinely entertaining book to read.
Awesome job Elvis, looking forward to the next one!
I am one of the many listeners of his morning show but this book isn’t just for listeners. It’s for anyone looking to be inspired, to learn about life, to gain behind the scenes info on the entertainment industry and anyone looking for a genuinely entertaining book to read.
Awesome job Elvis, looking forward to the next one!
Rating: 5 stars
I must begin by discussing my bias. I was born and raised in New York City. Elvis Duran is an icon in New York. I started listening to him when I was ten years old on Z100. Even when I moved away, I would listen to his show on IHeartRadio because other shows just could not compete. When I saw that Elvis Duran was coming out with his own book, I knew it had to be a staple for my bookshelf. I preordered a signed copy of the book and I am going to treasure it.
With that said, I loved this book. I took my time reading this book because I really was enjoying it. I started on the 15th of October and finished on the 23rd. I feel like I learned so much about Elvis because he took advantage of the opportunity to share his experiences with this memoir. I laughed, I cried, I was in disbelief, and I learned a lot about the process of making a radio show; something I never thought I would have an interest in. He made me want to learn about it because he threw in a lot of interesting facts about the process. He really has a passion for what he does and its conveyed throughout this book.
The hardest chapter to read was the one about September 11th. I was in tears as I read through this chapter. Elvis was able to recount what he saw, what he felt, and what his team did following the events. I remember them doing what he said they did because I turned on the radio the next day after the attacks and heard it as it happened. It was like taking a trip down memory lane, but one filled with heartache and hope for a better day.
Overall, this book was a joy to read and I wholeheartedly recommend this to others. And it’s not just because I love Elvis. Its because I truly did enjoy reading his stories and learning about the man behind the mic. It’s an easy read and can be read faster than what it took me. Like I said, I just took my time.
Favorite quotes: “Learn all you can learn about words, and how words can paint pictures in people’s minds. That’s what we do in radio. It’s the theatre of mind.” (13)
“You have to lose a few times before you win. The more you risk and the more you lose, the sweeter the success will taste when you claim your victories. You’ll never know how that feels if you play it safe. Put it all out there.” (269)
I must begin by discussing my bias. I was born and raised in New York City. Elvis Duran is an icon in New York. I started listening to him when I was ten years old on Z100. Even when I moved away, I would listen to his show on IHeartRadio because other shows just could not compete. When I saw that Elvis Duran was coming out with his own book, I knew it had to be a staple for my bookshelf. I preordered a signed copy of the book and I am going to treasure it.
With that said, I loved this book. I took my time reading this book because I really was enjoying it. I started on the 15th of October and finished on the 23rd. I feel like I learned so much about Elvis because he took advantage of the opportunity to share his experiences with this memoir. I laughed, I cried, I was in disbelief, and I learned a lot about the process of making a radio show; something I never thought I would have an interest in. He made me want to learn about it because he threw in a lot of interesting facts about the process. He really has a passion for what he does and its conveyed throughout this book.
The hardest chapter to read was the one about September 11th. I was in tears as I read through this chapter. Elvis was able to recount what he saw, what he felt, and what his team did following the events. I remember them doing what he said they did because I turned on the radio the next day after the attacks and heard it as it happened. It was like taking a trip down memory lane, but one filled with heartache and hope for a better day.
Overall, this book was a joy to read and I wholeheartedly recommend this to others. And it’s not just because I love Elvis. Its because I truly did enjoy reading his stories and learning about the man behind the mic. It’s an easy read and can be read faster than what it took me. Like I said, I just took my time.
Favorite quotes: “Learn all you can learn about words, and how words can paint pictures in people’s minds. That’s what we do in radio. It’s the theatre of mind.” (13)
“You have to lose a few times before you win. The more you risk and the more you lose, the sweeter the success will taste when you claim your victories. You’ll never know how that feels if you play it safe. Put it all out there.” (269)
I absolutely loved this book. I laughed, I cried, and I never wanted it to end! Reading this book knowing how Elvis tells stories was as if he was talking to me the whole time. Thank you for getting lucky in the radio industry, you make my mornings every morning because you and the rest of the morning show do feel just like friends, and you are incredibly amazing at what you do! You broke all the rules for all the right reasons.
I liked this book. I have enjoyed listening to his show in the past. The one glaring error is that he states he visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - but in Nashville. This hospital is located in my hometown of Memphis, TN and there is not one in Nashville that I am aware of. You'd think someone would catch this in editing. Otherwise, the book was a great story of his life and where he is today.
Wow! I loved this book. It was a super quick read, but it had so many good moments. I got from the library but I really need to buy and re-read with a highlighter in hand.
*Disclaimer: I’m cohosting an event with Elvis Duran on his book tour. It will be recorded for the Professional Book Nerds podcast.*
Fans of Elvis Duran will recognize a fair amount of the story but the major take away from this memoir is what, I feel, has made Elvis a go to person for celebrities in the music business. He’s wildly passionate about radio but he has that same passion for the conversations he has with artists.
It’s clear that he views these people not as something to be discussed and scandalized but as human beings. Being a celebrity comes with fame and fortune but it also comes with endless poking and prodding. Artists are treated like products to be used up and then traded in for the next. Elvis shows compassion in his interviews and this book only confirms that this is not an act.
Yes, you’ll read about wild, tequila-soaked nights but you’ll also discover how excited Elvis is to create shared moments with these people as human beings. If you love Elvis Duran you’ll love this book but even if you’ve never listened to a second of his show, you’ll get a deep appreciation for musicians, the history of radio, and the fact that you can be a compassionate person and still make it big.
Fans of Elvis Duran will recognize a fair amount of the story but the major take away from this memoir is what, I feel, has made Elvis a go to person for celebrities in the music business. He’s wildly passionate about radio but he has that same passion for the conversations he has with artists.
It’s clear that he views these people not as something to be discussed and scandalized but as human beings. Being a celebrity comes with fame and fortune but it also comes with endless poking and prodding. Artists are treated like products to be used up and then traded in for the next. Elvis shows compassion in his interviews and this book only confirms that this is not an act.
Yes, you’ll read about wild, tequila-soaked nights but you’ll also discover how excited Elvis is to create shared moments with these people as human beings. If you love Elvis Duran you’ll love this book but even if you’ve never listened to a second of his show, you’ll get a deep appreciation for musicians, the history of radio, and the fact that you can be a compassionate person and still make it big.
The magnetism Elvis brings to his morning show shone through in every chapter of this book. I couldn’t put it down. I feel honored that he allowed us this glimpse into his personal life and the moments that made him the captivating person he is today. Also, not gonna lie, his chapter about the start of his relationship with his husband, Alex, made me cry. It made my heart so happy. Thank you for letting us in, Elvis!
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.
Every morning as I get ready for work, I listen to Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. For those that don’t know, it’s a nationally syndicated radio show – number one in it’s market – based out of of New York. It’s a show with a wide variety of contributors, ideas, and gags. Sometimes they have segments that make me roll my eyes a bit, but other times I am laughing out loud or getting choked up (in a good way). Listening to the show is the best part of my morning and I have been looking forward to this book since I first heard Elvis mention it in on the air.
I really enjoyed Where Do I Begin? It read just like having a conversation with Elvis and though I am not generally an audio book reader, I definitely want to to experience this again with Elvis narrating (at least I’m assuming he’ll narrate it? If not him, my vote is definitely Greg T.). We start out hearing about how Elvis first fell in love with radio as a child. I loved learning about how this was his passion from an early age and basically the only thing he was ever interested in doing. He even built his own little radio station in his bedroom as a kid and put on a show that reached his closest neighbors – and then it blew up when he tried to give more power to the signal.
I have to admit that I was expecting a little more scandal, though. There have been multiple times listening to the show where they start talking about something and Elvis refuses to go into details, saying something like, “you’ll have to read the book.” However, there were still stories he kind of glossed over and names he wouldn’t share and while I understand that, I was kind of disappointed in it. There was also one chapter about fame that wasn’t so much about him, but of the celebrities he’s interviewed and it felt a little out of place.
I loved pretty much every other part of the book, though. Even if it didn’t go quite as in depth as I had hoped for, I feel like I learned a lot more about Elvis and about the radio industry, in general. There was also one chapter dedicated to how people basically went crazy during the 2016 election and how he wants his show to remain a positive place for all people. He reiterated what I’ve heard him say on the show, about how we can disagree with people without completely hating them. This shouldn’t be a profound idea, but it’s something people have seemed to forget lately and I really admire that he uses his platform to help build bridges between people instead of adding to the toxic political culture of blue vs red.
Overall, I really enjoyed Where Do I Begin? It’s been one of my most anticipated books of the year and it lived up to the hype for me. I’ve been a fan of Elvis for years and reading this made me just like him more. It’s definitely a must read for listeners of his show.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars
Every morning as I get ready for work, I listen to Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. For those that don’t know, it’s a nationally syndicated radio show – number one in it’s market – based out of of New York. It’s a show with a wide variety of contributors, ideas, and gags. Sometimes they have segments that make me roll my eyes a bit, but other times I am laughing out loud or getting choked up (in a good way). Listening to the show is the best part of my morning and I have been looking forward to this book since I first heard Elvis mention it in on the air.
I really enjoyed Where Do I Begin? It read just like having a conversation with Elvis and though I am not generally an audio book reader, I definitely want to to experience this again with Elvis narrating (at least I’m assuming he’ll narrate it? If not him, my vote is definitely Greg T.). We start out hearing about how Elvis first fell in love with radio as a child. I loved learning about how this was his passion from an early age and basically the only thing he was ever interested in doing. He even built his own little radio station in his bedroom as a kid and put on a show that reached his closest neighbors – and then it blew up when he tried to give more power to the signal.
I have to admit that I was expecting a little more scandal, though. There have been multiple times listening to the show where they start talking about something and Elvis refuses to go into details, saying something like, “you’ll have to read the book.” However, there were still stories he kind of glossed over and names he wouldn’t share and while I understand that, I was kind of disappointed in it. There was also one chapter about fame that wasn’t so much about him, but of the celebrities he’s interviewed and it felt a little out of place.
I loved pretty much every other part of the book, though. Even if it didn’t go quite as in depth as I had hoped for, I feel like I learned a lot more about Elvis and about the radio industry, in general. There was also one chapter dedicated to how people basically went crazy during the 2016 election and how he wants his show to remain a positive place for all people. He reiterated what I’ve heard him say on the show, about how we can disagree with people without completely hating them. This shouldn’t be a profound idea, but it’s something people have seemed to forget lately and I really admire that he uses his platform to help build bridges between people instead of adding to the toxic political culture of blue vs red.
Overall, I really enjoyed Where Do I Begin? It’s been one of my most anticipated books of the year and it lived up to the hype for me. I’ve been a fan of Elvis for years and reading this made me just like him more. It’s definitely a must read for listeners of his show.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars