Last Stand: Ted Turner’s Quest to Save a Troubled Planet

In this fascinating, subject-approved biography of entrepreneur and CNN founder Ted Turner, journalist Wilkinson (Science under Siege: the Politicians’ War on Nature and Truth)—who has covered Turner extensively since 1992—examines the billionaire’s life. While the author weaves in such topics as Turner’s rocky relationship with his suicidal father and his much-ballyhooed marriage to Jane Fonda—the focus here is on Turner’s surprising devotion to the environment. Ranging from his concern about endangered species such as prairie dogs to instilling an appreciation of philanthropy in his five children, Turner walks the walk of his beliefs. Engaging stories about Turner’s interactions with such dignitaries as former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev show him in a rarified yet relatable light. For anyone who thinks they know the man once dubbed the “Mouth of the South,” this book proves there are unplumbed depths to this septuagenarian. (Apr.)