David halberstam, a pulitzer prizewinning journalist, has chronicled the social, political, and athletic life of america in such bestselling books as the fifties, the best and the brightest, and the amateurs. Halberstam offers no explicit themes or theses, but if there is an overarching implicit theme, it is the fifties not as a. Made aware ofthe intent, the reader wonders what exactly halberstam finds in the fifties that explains why the sixties happened. The rise and fall of the kgb in america by john earl haynes, et. David halberstam has 69 books on goodreads with 142195 ratings. I just finished reading halberstam s the fifties covertocover. He was a reporter in the south during the civil rights struggle. Eisenhower dulles, oppenheimer, macarthur, hoover, and nixon, but also of harley earl, who put fins on cars. It was fun to read david halberstams book the fifties, and it brought back a flood of. Halberstam s latest book, the fifties, is no less in scope. Recommended for anyone interested in history and especially for those capable of connecting the dots from the 50s to the 60s, to the 70s and beyond.
A major theme of the fifties is the struggle against soviet communist espionage, which historians now understand far better through books such as spies. The abridged version of this work shrinks the 800 page book to 157 pages less than 20% of the original. When i read the best and the brightest, that all changed. The fifties is a sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural history of the ten years that halberstam regards as seminal in determining what our nation is today. A meditation on the staggering influence of image and rhetoric, the fifties is vintage halberstam, who was hailed by the denver post as a lively, graceful writer who makes you. He won the pulitzer prize in journalism for his coverage of the vietnam war, and his book the best and the brightest is considered by many one of the best books on the politicians, military men, and events of the vietnam war. The fifties by david halberstam is a historical exploration of the 1950s, a decade full of change and promise while being overshadowed by the threat of the cold war. Ideologically speaking, the years that david halberstam brings to life in the. David halberstam was one of americas most distinguished journalists and historians, winning the pulitzer prize for his vietnam reporting at the age of thirty. It does not start in january 1950 and end in december 1959. David halberstam april 10, 1934 april 23, 2007 was an american journalist and historian, known for his work on the vietnam war, politics, history, the civil rights movement, business, media, american culture, and later, sports journalism. From ike to elvis, mccarthy to marlon brando, all the people and phenomena of that fabulous time are captured in halberstam style. The fifties 9780679415596 by halberstam, david and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Changing topics with each chapter makes the book less intimidating than the 800 page size implies. A student of mohandas gandhis and an admirer of martin luther kings, lawson began to organize. The book documents each pivotal step along the way to. The fifties by david halberstam by anna cummings on prezi. The story of four young men and their quest for an olympic gold medal by halberstam, david and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The title of this book is the fifties and it was written by david halberstam. The fifties quotes showing of 36 it requires a certain kind of mind to see the beauty in a hamburger bun. Sports writing from david halberstam by david halberstam and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Halberstam writes well, but the book, first published in 1993, is now badly dated. It is the decade of joe mccarthy and the young martin luther king, the korean war and levittown, jack kerouac and elvis presley.
Published 1993 condition near fine in near fine dust jacket edition second printing isbn 9780679415596. It was certainly full of interesting information about the 1950s, but i felt that mr. The book is bound within boards with black paper over one quarter black cloth. What he spends most of his time doing is presenting the 50s as a series of. David halberstam 19342007 was a pulitzer prizewinning journalist and bestselling author. David halberstam was a pulitzer prizewinning journalist and the author of numerous books, including the best and the brightest, the powers that be, the reckoning, summer of 49, playing for keeps, and war in a time of peace. Halberstam, including titles like the fundamentals of sports media and sponsorship sales. The author is a sure guide to the civil rights movement and the postworld war ii south, and his approach adds fresh detail to a wellknown story. Inscribed and dated by author on title page in blue pen, for mort with best wishes david halberstam feb 20, 2002 sixth printing 7 9 10 8 6 number line. Like they cut the menu from twentyfive items to nine, featuring hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and they made the burgers a little smallerten.
The pulitzer prizewinning author of the best and the brightest, the powers that be, and the reckoning has created his masterpiecea stunning, panoramic view of a pivotal and popular american decade. The fifties was his pop book published in 93 in between the next century and october, 1964. The book is not about the decade on a global scale, but merely the fifties in america. Pulitzer prizewinning journalist halberstam the fifties, 1993, etc. Halberstam writes of the decade in a clear, fastmoving prose, and despite the books enormous bulk, is actually a remarkably fast read. The fifties by david halberstam, read by robertson dean. In the late 1950s, an africanamerican minister and scholar named jim lawson arrived in nashville, tenn. Halberstam was killed in a car crash in 2007, while doing research for a book.
He won a pulitzer prize for international reporting in 1964. Available is a signed 1st ed2nd prtg, w complete numberline 98765432 but lacking first edition statement, of the fifties by the late david halberstam. He is best known for both his courageous coverage of the vietnam war for the new york times, as well as for his twentyone nonfiction books which cover a wide array of topics, from the plight of detroit and the auto industry to the captivating origins of baseballs fiercest rivalry. Nearly everything in this book either signals or symbolizes a future. Though nobody was killed, 22 people were injured, and it took more than 3 million gallons of water to put it out. The education of a coach by halberstam, david and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. They were almost one of the first attempts of television to go to casting in everything you shot the idea that television, everything it did, had to be cast and they were part of the great quiz show scandal. David halberstam, signed abebooks shop for books, art. Halberstam offers portraits of not only the titans of the age. Trumans stunning presidential victory in 1948 against thomas e. America and the korean war by david halberstam will stand the test to time just as all of his other works have. The fifties is a sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural history of the 10 years that halberstam regards as seminal in determining what our nation is today. No matter what your position may have been or may be, this book fully and expertly explores the american foreign policy decisions and actions that led to this war and its execution and paints a clear picture of its catalytic role in the shaping of today.
The fifties is a sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural history of the ten years that david halberstam regards as seminal in determining what our nation is today. The fifties book the fifties 1993 is a history book by david halberstam centered on the decade of the 1950s in the united states. However, it offers a fine overview of the david halberstam s book, with coverage that parallels the format and themes of the original. He has won the pulitzer prize for another of his popular books. I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, ginsberg begins, and goes off on an extended rant against the current order, and in favor of a passionate approach to life.
The fifties by halberstam, david seller books tell you why, inc. Halberstam not only gives us the titans of the age eisenhower, dulles, oppenheimer, macarthur. Garrows bearing the cross and taylor branchs recently published pillar of fire. Get personalized recommendations and earn points toward a free book. Halberstam has datedwarmly inscribedsigned on title page. A maxim that underscored journalist david halberstam s work ethic was that being a professional meant doing the work one loved on the days one didnt feel like doing it. Buy a cheap copy of the fifties book by david halberstam. The fifties by david halberstam and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Published in 1993 by villard books, book and mylar protected dust jacket are fine. Halberstam died last april in an automobile accident while working on his next book. The fifties by david halberstam major changes this book covers the decade known as the fifties and describes in. He was killed in a car accident on 23 april 2007, while on his way to an interview for what was to be his next book.
The fifties 1993 is a history book by david halberstam centered on the decade of the 1950s in the united states. One of the most popular and imitated nonfiction writers around, david halberstam wrote books that fused narrative storytelling with investigative reporting. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Another sprawling book from a master journalist and historian the fifties, 1993, etc.
The fifties is a sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural history of the ten years that. The children is utterly absorbing and contains some of the most moving passages halberstam has ever written. A massive cultural history of the decade, it seeks to trace the roots of our current national psyche and explain how we have become what. David halberstam books list of books by author david halberstam. The children is david halberstam s brilliant and moving evocation of the early days of the civil rights movement, as seen through the story of the young peoplethe childrenwho met in the 1960s and went on to lead the revolution. As a first novel which this is it shows a high level of professional achievement. It was the first book of halberstams that i tackled, and i have to admit that at first it was slow going. Halberstams premise is that vast changes had occurred in american society in the 15 years that. Eisenhower dulles, oppenheimer, macarthur, hoover, and nixon, but also of harley earl.
The fifties, given its subtext, doesnt require the fiery drive or the coruscating words of his power politics books, and instead takes us through an amble across a decade. David halberstams most popular book is the breaks of the game. The fifties is a sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural history of the ten years that david halberstam. Pulitzer prizes omitted in drama, fiction, music may 5, 1964 halberstam won the pulitzer prize for journalism for his coverage of the vietnam conflict for the new york times. Possible clean exlibrary copy, with their stickers and or stamps.
The fifties by david halberstam and a great selection of related books. David halberstam s most popular book is the breaks of the game. This fact makes reading his last book doubly important, and a. Published may 10th 1994 by ballantine books first published 1993. The riveting story of how two very different baseball teams, reflective of the times in america, got to the 1964 world series.
To be fair, when one tackles a subject as broad as an examining an entire decade, there is. The fifties by david halberstam goodreads share book. Magisterial in scope, with a strong youarethere quality, the children is a story one of americas preeminent journalists has waited years to write, a powerful. Halberstam wrote this book with a jaundiced eye towards the 1950s. Mortimer, front of photo, back of photo public domain, via wikimedia commons. Like the previous book, it is both sports and history, and it is a fascinating account of an electrifying baseball championship against the background of profound social change. Books by david halberstam author of the breaks of the game. October 1964 is halberstam s exciting new book about baseball this time about the last season of that yankee dynasty. The best and the brightest features in this list of vietnam books on the archive. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the fifties. Presley, he seems to have digested books written about the pelvis. The fire raged for more than seven hours and reached temperatures of 2000 degreesmore than one million books were burned or damaged. Eisenhower, dulles, oppenheimer, macarthur, hoover, and nixon, but also of harley earl, who put. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the fifties. Fawcett columbine hardcover, ballantine books paperback year of publication. In the best and the brightest, the powers that be, and the reckoning, halberstam proved that he can master intimidating subjects with aplomband in this massive tome on a convulsive decade in american life, he meets with equal success. Rather than using a straightforward linear narrative, halberstam separately profiles many of the notable trends and people of the postworld war ii era, starting with harry s. More than a survey of the decade, it is a masterfully woven examination of farreaching change, from the unexpected popularity of holiday inn to the marketing savvy. The fifties commences with americas anxious response to entering the atomic age. Halberstam, author of the best and the brightest, discussed the research behind his latest book, the fifties, published by fawcett books. The fifties were a defining decade for america, complete with sweeping cultural change and political upheaval. The fifties by david halberstam by david halberstam. David halberstam books list of books by author david.
David halberstam s the fifties is not a standard history. David halberstams reflective the fifties is a wonderful return to my formative years. The story is dramatic, but the book is far too long. This decade is also the focus of david halberstam s triumphant the fifties, which stands as an enduring classic and was an instant new york times bestseller upon its publication. I graduated from high school, went to college, got married, and had two children, all in the fifties. The civilrights movement already has produced superb works of history, books such as david j. News about david halberstam, including commentary and archival articles published in the new york times. The long poem howl established the beat movement as the alternative to the whitebread 50s. This ebook features an extended biography of david halberstam.