Mediaman's Reviews > Where Do I Begin?: Stories (I Sort of Remember) from a Life Lived Out Loud

This is a pretty bad book--a surface look at the career of a somewhat successful radio host who humble brags throughout that he's one of the greatest in history. But he's not--he admits to failing to prepare, not being interested in working, and having no real training beyond the half dozen radio jobs he was fired from. So this book is really about brand extension--he admittedly got himself a PR pro who convinced him that he needed to expand his brand and soon he was on TV, getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (which makes no sense since he's not a national star), and "writing" this book (that he admits he didn't actually write).

There's almost nothing personal in it beyond his bragging that he's a big party boy, did a lot of drugs, had a lot of sex with very young guys, and drank a lot. That explains how a guy with little talent worked his way up in the radio business--he snorted, drank, and slept with his bosses, which he admits freely here but he fails to see that it was living wildly that allowed him to get promoted.

The comments he makes about radio are often incorrect or represent a guy who doesn't understand the overall business (though he does defend the medium as not dying). I've worked at over a dozen radio stations and much of what he claims "everyone" in radio does is just false. He has very narrow experience in radio and didn't really work successfully at many stations or in multiple formats. Much of what he describes about himself in the book explains why he's not that good on the air.

Meanwhile he skips quickly over his upbringing, doesn't discuss the fact that Elvis Duran isn't his real name, barely mentions a couple of gay lovers without going into details, and shares less about his personal life on paper than he does on his morning show.

There is one very good chapter that's surprisingly about politics. He is friends with Eric Trump and Duran reveals himself to be somewhat conservative on some issues. He admits to having voted both Republican and Democrat. His perspective on how crazy divisive people are, by rejecting someone they disagree with on only one issue, is a strong message that needs to be heard.

Otherwise the book is boring and kind of a waste of time. Entire chapters are just filler. One on what's great about New York City? Really? One about the celebrities that listen to his show and praise him? Even the section on Dr. Oz "saving" his life lacks details, and it's hypocritical for Duran to spend pages discussing his weight loss surgery and plastic surgery, then claim in his conclusion that looks don't matter. Just like he claims to be not a rich celebrity, then a few pages later says he spent $30,000 a month on clothing.

The book will be praised by those who enjoy listening to a fake morning radio show host because it's just an extension of that. But those that are looking for some real insight into this man's upbringing, lifestyle, sexuality, or career will be disappointed.