One Summer: America, 1927
A Chicago Tribune Noteworthy Book
A GoodReads Reader's Choice
The summer of 1927 began with Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic. Meanwhile, Babe Ruth was closing in on the home run record. In Newark, New Jersey, Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly sat atop a flagpole for twelve days, and in Chicago, the gangster Al Capone was tightening his grip on bootlegging. The first true “talking picture,” Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer, was filmed, forever changing the motion picture industry.
All this and much, much more transpired in the year Americans attempted and accomplished outsized things—and when the twentieth century truly became the American century. One Summer transforms it all into narrative nonfiction of the highest order.
A GoodReads Reader's Choice
The summer of 1927 began with Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic. Meanwhile, Babe Ruth was closing in on the home run record. In Newark, New Jersey, Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly sat atop a flagpole for twelve days, and in Chicago, the gangster Al Capone was tightening his grip on bootlegging. The first true “talking picture,” Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer, was filmed, forever changing the motion picture industry.
All this and much, much more transpired in the year Americans attempted and accomplished outsized things—and when the twentieth century truly became the American century. One Summer transforms it all into narrative nonfiction of the highest order.
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Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
One Summer by Bill Bryson
509 pages
What’s it about?
Bill Bryson takes us back to the summer of 1927 and reminds us of all that happened that wondorous year. Babe Ruth hits 60 homeruns, Charles Lindbergh flies from New York to Paris, Al Capone is enjoying his last summer of prominence, the Federal Reserve lowers the interest rate and sets in motion what will become the great depression, the Mississippi floods and devastates much of the country, radio is coming of age, television is being developed, talking movies are the new discovery, bombs are flying, murders are happening and much more!
What did I think?
Every time I get bewildered about the state of the world it is good to go back and read a little history. I always come away amazed at mans’ accomplishments, and puzzled by our inability to learn from our mistakes.
Should you read it?
Absolutely!
Quote-
“As Lindbergh covered the last leg from Cherbourg to Paris he had no idea that he was about to experience fame on a scale and intensity unlike any experienced by any human being before.”
Question-
Which story line was the most interesting to you?
If you like this try-
No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin
One Summer by Bill Bryson
509 pages
What’s it about?
Bill Bryson takes us back to the summer of 1927 and reminds us of all that happened that wondorous year. Babe Ruth hits 60 homeruns, Charles Lindbergh flies from New York to Paris, Al Capone is enjoying his last summer of prominence, the Federal Reserve lowers the interest rate and sets in motion what will become the great depression, the Mississippi floods and devastates much of the country, radio is coming of age, television is being developed, talking movies are the new discovery, bombs are flying, murders are happening and much more!
What did I think?
Every time I get bewildered about the state of the world it is good to go back and read a little history. I always come away amazed at mans’ accomplishments, and puzzled by our inability to learn from our mistakes.
Should you read it?
Absolutely!
Quote-
“As Lindbergh covered the last leg from Cherbourg to Paris he had no idea that he was about to experience fame on a scale and intensity unlike any experienced by any human being before.”
Question-
Which story line was the most interesting to you?
If you like this try-
No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin
I always learn something when reading/listening to Bryson. No laugh out loud moments in this one, but a few chuckles.
I'll write a longer review later - I don't have time right now. Until then, here are some bullet points about my experience reading this book:
1. I listened to the audio book version of this book. On the one hand, I think this was a good way to consume this book - it was long, and factual, and I tend to prefer non-fiction as audio. On the other hand, it was extremely detailed, and I could see that having a hard copy would help with digesting some of this detail.
2. Although it has a slow start, I ended up being hooked by this book and really enjoying the stories of the summer of 1927, but also the back stories.
3. Bill Bryson had obviously done an amazing job at researching the subjects presented.
1. I listened to the audio book version of this book. On the one hand, I think this was a good way to consume this book - it was long, and factual, and I tend to prefer non-fiction as audio. On the other hand, it was extremely detailed, and I could see that having a hard copy would help with digesting some of this detail.
2. Although it has a slow start, I ended up being hooked by this book and really enjoying the stories of the summer of 1927, but also the back stories.
3. Bill Bryson had obviously done an amazing job at researching the subjects presented.
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