The Good Times

The Good Times chronicles Russell Baker's journalism career from his early days as a police reporter through his rise to become a nationally syndicated columnist. This memoir serves as a sequel to his earlier work Growing Up, picking up as Baker enters the newspaper business in the 1950s. Baker recounts his experiences at the Baltimore Sun and later the New York Times, where he covered the White House and Congress during several presidential administrations. His path takes him from local news to the political power centers of Washington D.C. and New York City, capturing the inner workings of American journalism during a transformative era. The book provides insight into the practice of journalism and the evolution of American media through the latter half of the 20th century. Through Baker's personal narrative, the memoir explores themes of professional ambition, the relationship between press and power, and the role of humor in making sense of current events.

Readers find The Good Times more lighthearted than Baker's first memoir, Growing Up. Many note that Baker's humor and wit shine through his descriptions of his journalism career and life in the 1950s-60s. Liked: - Writing style blends humor with nostalgia - Inside look at newspaper journalism's golden age - Engaging portraits of colleagues and public figures - Clear, unpretentious prose Disliked: - Less emotional depth than Growing Up - Some sections on newspaper operations feel dry - Later chapters lose momentum - Focus shifts away from personal stories Review Stats: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (238 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) Sample Reader Comments: "Baker makes even mundane newsroom moments entertaining" - Goodreads reviewer "The first half captivates but it loses steam" - Amazon reviewer "His observations about journalism's evolution feel relevant today" - LibraryThing review

Growing Up by Sydney Taylor A Jewish immigrant's memoir chronicles childhood poverty in early 1900s New York City through work, family relationships, and cultural traditions.

When We Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood This memoir captures life in a 1960s mill town through the lens of family loss and economic change.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson The narrative follows a middle-class childhood in 1950s Iowa with observations about American culture, family dynamics, and social transformation.

An American Childhood by Annie Dillard The memoir presents a 1950s Pittsburgh upbringing through intellectual curiosity, family relationships, and social awakening.

This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff A coming-of-age story traces the author's nomadic youth through poverty, difficult family relationships, and search for identity in 1950s America.

🌟 Russell Baker won two Pulitzer Prizes during his career - one for his "Observer" column in 1979 and another for his memoir "Growing Up" in 1983 📝 "The Good Times" is a sequel to Baker's acclaimed memoir "Growing Up," and focuses on his journalism career from the 1950s through the 1970s 🗞️ During the period covered in the book, Baker wrote over 4,000 columns for The New York Times, with his "Observer" column running from 1962 to 1998 🎭 Baker's witty commentary style influenced a generation of journalists, and he was often compared to Mark Twain for his humorous observations of American life 📺 After his newspaper career, Baker went on to host Masterpiece Theatre on PBS from 1992 to 2004, succeeding Alistair Cooke as only the second host in the show's history