PHiL DONAfIUE, the number one

syndicated television talk-show

host in America, tells his own re-

markable life story in this candid, enter-

taining, fast-paced autobiography, from

his childhood in Cleveland during the

1940s to his present success with Donahue,

the show watched daily by millions of

loyal viewers in over 200 cities nationwide.

Donahuc begins by describing his

mixed feelings about being a celebrity,

examining "the special neuroses of fa-

mous people." Hc recalls what it was like

to grow up as all Irish Catholic in the

atmosphere of pride and prejudice follow-

ing World War II, writing humorously

about his first fistfight, his first kiss ("the

briefest and driest moment in all erotica")

and his years at Notre Dame ("l,iving all

week with George O Donnell and being

constantly surrounded by guys, at the

car, in Cost Accounting class.., every-

where.., did more for weekend lust than

a low-budget porno film").

He recalls how for months after gradu-

ating from college he couldn t get a job in

his field at all, and describes his early years

as an announcer and radio and TV journal-

ist in Adrian, Michigan, and Dayton, Ohio

(" ... Mrs. Nixon, you ve had a number

of proud moments in your life... and

when I said proud I spat right in her

eye").

Taking the reader onto the set of Dona-

hue, he explains why audience participa-

tion is the most important part of his show,