A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures

A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Technical
  • ID: 4440
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781501191718
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2017-11-21
  • Reviews: 3

In this engaging memoir, Ben Bradlee, one of the most iconic figures in modern journalism, shares his remarkable life story. From his early days at Harvard to his service in the Pacific during World War II, Bradlee's path is filled with adventure and determination. His career reaches its zenith as the editor of The Washington Post, where he plays a crucial role in uncovering the Watergate scandal and shaping the news landscape for decades. Bradlee's witty and candid narrative offers a behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows of a life dedicated to journalism. Filled with personal anecdotes and historical insights, this memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in the power of the press and the people who shape it.

Reviews
Marquette University e-publications · Bonnie Brennen · 1997-01-01
insightful 3.50

Brennen provides a detailed review of Bradlee's memoir, appreciating his candidness and the insights he provides into his life and career. The reviewer notes that the book is a valuable contribution to the study of journalism history.

Bonnie Brennen's review of Ben Bradlee's memoir in Marquette University e-publications is a detailed and appreciative account of the book. She notes that Bradlee's candidness and the insights he provides into his life and career make the memoir a valuable contribution to the study of journalism history. Brennen appreciates Bradlee's ability to share his experiences in a clear and engaging manner, and his role in some of the most significant events in journalism history. She highlights the book's relevance to understanding the complexities of the industry and the changes it has undergone over time. Despite this, Brennen notes that the memoir is not without its flaws, but overall, she finds it to be a compelling and insightful read. The reviewer also appreciates the book's relevance to understanding the broader social and political context of the twentieth century.


Quick quotes

    Bradlee's memoir is a valuable contribution to the study of journalism history.

    The book is a detailed and appreciative account of Bradlee's life and career.

    Brennan highlights the book's relevance to understanding the broader social and political context of the twentieth century.

The New Republic · 1995-11-19
nostalgic 3.00

The memoir is a relentlessly upbeat account of Bradlee's life, but there is an underlying sadness that is hard to ignore. It offers a glimpse into the life of a man who has seen and done it all, but still feels a sense of longing.

The New Republic's review of Ben Bradlee's memoir highlights the author's ability to share his experiences in a clear and engaging manner. The reviewer notes that the book is relentlessly upbeat, yet there is an underlying sadness that pervades the narrative. This sentiment is likely due to Bradlee's reflections on his career and the changes he has witnessed in the world of journalism. The memoir is a fascinating look at a man who has seen and done it all, but still feels a sense of longing for something more. The reviewer appreciates Bradlee's candidness and the insights he provides into his life and career, but also notes that the book is not without its flaws. Despite this, the memoir is a compelling read that offers a unique perspective on American journalism in the twentieth century.


Quick quotes

    There's something a little sad about Bradlee's book, but it is so relentlessly upbeat that it took me a while to put my finger on the source of the melancholy.

    Bradlee has a talent for a specific kind of trouble, and his memoir is a testament to that.

    The book is a fascinating look at a man who has seen and done it all, but still feels a sense of longing for something more.

The New York Times · Michiko Kakutani · 1995-09-25
positive 4.00

Kakutani praises Bradlee's engaging autobiography, noting his ability to capture the essence of American journalism in the twentieth century. The reviewer appreciates Bradlee's candidness and the insights he provides into his life and career.

Michiko Kakutani's review of Ben Bradlee's memoir in The New York Times is overwhelmingly positive. She praises Bradlee's ability to capture the essence of American journalism in the twentieth century, noting his candidness and the insights he provides into his life and career. Kakutani appreciates Bradlee's engaging writing style and his ability to share his experiences in a clear and compelling manner. She notes that the memoir is not just a personal account, but also a fascinating look at the history of journalism in America. The reviewer highlights Bradlee's role in some of the most significant events in journalism history, and his ability to navigate the complexities of the industry. Despite this, Kakutani notes that the memoir is not without its flaws, but overall, she finds it to be a compelling and engaging read.


Quick quotes

    Ben Bradlee begins his engaging autobiography by citing a profile of him that was done as part of a study of the Washington press corps.

    Bradlee's memoir is a fascinating, irreverent, earthy, and revealing look at America and American journalism in the twentieth century.

    The book is not just a personal account, but also a fascinating look at the history of journalism in America.