Citizen Turner: The Wild Rise of an American Tycoon

Despite some minor problems--such as too much detail about Turner's troubled youth and not enough information about how the cash-strapped entrepreneur financed his early expansion--the Goldbergs (Anchors: Brokaw, Jennings, Rather and the Evening News) have written an exciting account of the fast-lane life of the media mogul. Taking over the family outdoor advertising business after his father's suicide in 1963, Turner entered the television business in 1970 by purchasing small Southern UHF stations. He quickly turned them into important components of the fledgling cable television industry and steadily added to his media empire, as well as acquiring the Atlanta Braves and Hawks. But the Goldbergs show that Turner's most important launch was Cable News Network. After a shaky start, CNN has turned into a cash cow and arguably the most influential news service in the world, an ironic achievement for a man who never followed the news. Along with examining his often rocky business life, the Goldbergs shed plenty of light on Turner's personal affairs, including his three marriages (his present wife is Jane Fonda, with whom he shares a passion for ``saving the earth''), numerous girlfriends and stormy relationships with his five children. The authors also touch on Turner's sailing career, which culminated in winning the America's Cup in 1977. A dynamic book on all counts. (July)