Making It

Making It is Norman Podhoretz's 1967 memoir chronicling his rise from working-class Brooklyn to the upper echelons of New York intellectual society. The book traces his path through Columbia University, Cambridge, and his eventual role as editor of Commentary magazine. The narrative follows Podhoretz's navigation of social classes, ethnic identity, and the competitive world of mid-century literary criticism. His relationships with influential figures like Lionel Trilling and Norman Mailer form a central part of his account of intellectual life in post-war America. Podhoretz documents the cultural shifts of the 1950s and 1960s through his experience as both an insider and outsider in literary circles. His frank discussion of ambition, success, and the price of social mobility sparked controversy upon the book's publication. The memoir stands as a complex examination of American social mobility and the role of intellectuals in society. Through his personal story, Podhoretz explores broader questions about merit, authenticity, and the relationship between cultural and economic capital.

Readers view Making It as a brutally honest memoir about social climbing and ambition in New York's intellectual circles. The book maintains a 3.9/5 rating on Goodreads (87 ratings) and 4.2/5 on Amazon (21 ratings). Readers appreciated: - Raw accounts of class consciousness and status-seeking - Inside look at mid-century literary New York - Clear, direct writing style - Examination of Jewish immigrant experience Common criticisms: - Self-absorbed tone - Name-dropping - Excessive focus on career advancement - Unflattering portrayals of contemporaries Several reviewers noted the book's controversial reception upon release in 1967, with many of Podhoretz's friends and colleagues reacting negatively to his frank discussions of social mobility. One Goodreads reviewer called it "a refreshingly un-modest memoir," while another described it as "painfully honest about ambition and success." Multiple Amazon reviews praised the historical value of its portrait of New York intellectual life, though some found the author's personality "off-putting."

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🔖 "Making It" created a significant controversy when published in 1967, with many of Podhoretz's fellow intellectuals viewing his candid ambition and social climbing as a betrayal of their values 📚 The memoir chronicles Podhoretz's journey from a working-class Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn to his rise as editor of Commentary magazine and a leading New York intellectual 🎯 The book marked Podhoretz's public shift from liberal to conservative politics, a transformation that would later make him one of the founding fathers of neoconservatism ✍️ Despite initial harsh criticism, "Making It" has been reassessed in recent decades as a pioneering work of American memoir writing, particularly in its frank discussion of class, ambition, and social mobility 🌟 The title "Making It" was deliberately provocative, playing on both the sexual and social connotations of "making it," reflecting the author's intent to shock the literary establishment with its frankness