Sure, he's an excitable guy. Sure, he loves to complain. But Regis Philbin loves life ...

And after five decades in show business--and nearly 17,000 unforgettable hours on television--he has a lifetime's worth of stories to tell. In this entertaining memoir, the irrepressible Reege--consummate talk-show host, man-about-town, loving husband, father, and yes, obsessive sports fan--looks back at his years in show business. How I Got This Way is filled with stories of lessons learned--and elbows rubbed--with extraordinary, and often unsuspecting, teachers, including David Letterman, Donald Trump, George Clooney, Howard Stern, and, of course, longtime cohosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly "Pippa" Ripa.

Whether he's revealing what really drove him "bonkers" on the set of Seinfeld, how he survived the first known bomb scare on live TV, what Jack Nicholson said about his beautiful leading ladies during their guys' night out together, or poignant memories of his last moments with his idol and dear friend, Jack Paar, Regis packs every page with his signature heart, wit, dynamic energy, and gratitude for everything life has brought him.