Twelve years ago, on a balmy isle in the South China Sea that was thick with rats, poisonous snakes, and aggressive monkeys, I waded ashore from my latest attempt at spearfishing to see a lovely blonde—with a toddler in her arms and a seven-year-old in tow—making her way through the jungle.
“I’m Dianne Burnett,” she said, flashing a bright smile. “You’re hilarious!”
I was impressed that the wife of executive producer Mark Burnett would fly to this primitive and hostile locale, Pulau Tiga, with two little kids—and without a nanny—to be on location for the shooting of a new TV series called Survivor. Unbeknownst to us, Survivor would quickly become the number 1 reality show in the U.S., and one of the most popular programs in television history. It wasn’t the last time I’d be struck by Dianne’s mettle. At that moment back in March 2000, we sixteen castaways—divided into two teams, Tagi and Pagong—were on Day Six of the real life Gilligan’s Island, where finding food and water, making fire, and constructing shelter were requisite skills. I would go on to eat gross squirming larvae in contests, frighten off four-footed invaders, and bare-handedly wrestle with sharks while partaking in the reality show that pitted human against nature, and human against human, in a bear of a contest to win $1 million. I’d planned my initial strategy before showing up—realizing that winning would require forming powerful alliances to control the game and avoid being “voted off the island” in tribal councils.
Those thirty-nine days I spent battling the elements, fellow castaways, and even, at moments, more powerful foes, underscored that self-understanding, knowing one’s goals, gutsy determination, and the ability to change gears were all necessary to survive—and to win, which I ultimately did. Those same qualities are trademarks of the whirlwind that is Dianne Burnett, and they shine through in this book.
Through vivid writing and colorful scenes—from camel races in Morocco to harrowing climbs in the Andes—readers will discover how Dianne had a hand in launching Survivor, even coining the name of the show that would take the country by storm; they will also discover how she survived being voted off the island she’d helped to establish. I expect that they will strongly connect with Dianne as they follow her rise from being the star of neighborhood talent shows in Long Island to producer in Malibu—her vulnerabilities, fears, missteps, and ferocious protectiveness of her children evident each step of the way. The good life didn’t come to Dianne on a silver platter: she worked to achieve it, and she worked to continue it even after her husband of fourteen years abruptly left.
Reading The Road to Reality was more of an emotional journey than I’d anticipated—pulling me through the ups and downs of an unusual life that’s marked by feistiness, adventure, and the ability to pursue elusive goals. Mapping out the unconventional path Dianne took to get into show biz, it also offers juicy behind-the-scenes glimpses into the world of entertainment, taking readers backstage at tapings in exotic locales and ritzy award ceremonies. Given the years she was married to Mark Burnett—now known as the King of Reality TV—Dianne devotes an entertaining chunk of the book to their marriage, both during its happiest times and when it slipped out of her hands.
As I read through these pages, I realized that Dianne’s journey paralleled another lesson that I’d learned through Survivor and its aftermath. While we often define our identities by our unions—marriages, business partnerships, strategic alliances—at the end of the day, we’re really alone, and we alone are responsible for the courses we take. As individuals, we’re the ones who control where our lives take us, how we maneuver the rocks, how we celebrate, how we work, what we learn, and what we take away. I cherish this knowledge, which helps me to prioritize and focus on maintaining meaningful connections rather than wasting time with superficialities. A riveting memoir, The Road to Reality is embedded with tips on winning, surviving, and enjoying the fruits of one’s own choices. It left me with only one question: When will we be able to read The Road to Reality, Part II?
Richard Hatch
Winner, Survivor: Borneo