Good Times, Bad Times

by Harold Evans

This is the record of a journalist who told of Thalidomide victims,the Kim Philby story & published the Crossman diaries.He also gives insights into Rupert Murdoch & Margaret Thatcher.It is an enthralling & astonishing story.

Genres: Journalism, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Memoir

Paperback

First published October 28, 1983

About the author

Harold Evans is an English-born journalist and writer who was editor of the Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981. A graduate of Durham University, he has written a number of bestselling histories. He followed the late Alistair Cooke in commentaries on America for the BBC. An American citizen since 1993, he has held positions as editor-in-chief of the Atlantic Monthly Press, founding editor of the prize-winning Conde Nast Traveler; editorial director of the Atlantic and US News and the New York Daily News; and president and publisher of Random House. He holds the British Press Awards' Gold Award for Lifetime Achievement of Journalists. In 2001 British journalists voted him the all-time greatest British newspaper editor, and in 2004 he was knighted. Since 2011, he has been editor-at-large for Reuters.

Reviews

[FiveBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Investigative journalist Nick Davies has chosen to discuss Harold Evans's Good Times, Bad Times , on FiveBooks as one of the top five on his subject - Investigative Journalism, saying that:

“Harry Evans was a really wonderful editor – and a fantastic journalist. If you asked British journalists today who they think is the best journalist of all time I imagine a large proportion would say Harry Evans, straight off. The reason he was so good was that he understood reporting, which many editors don’t, and he really loved reporting, which many editors don’t. He would never back away from a fight.”

The full interview is available here: http://five-books.com/interviews/nick-davies

[Dio Dwianto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read where I learned a lot about the inner workings of the newspaper industry. Harold Evans, with considerable charm, wit, and sound judgement, shared his experience of good old fashioned investigative journalistic crusade during his reign as the editor of The Sunday Times, fending off external pressures from government and corporations. The second part of his story revolves around his year as the editor of The Times under the proprietorship of Rupert Murdoch immediately after his emergence as the victor of the take-over battle for the news organization. This time he struggled with various adversaries from within, while he attempted the huge undertaking of transforming the lagging daily, trying his hardest to maintain its journalistic integrity at the same time. This book bolstered my respect for journalism and opened my eyes to the challenges of running a newspaper, such as the hazards that could be posed by the power abuse of trade unions, like demarcation disputes. Also, gotta love those classic British sarcasms!

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

preferred the first half but very interesting stories about thalidomide and murdoch

[Sue Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had always loved/admired Harold Evans, admired his work with the London Sunday Times Insight team, and found this account of his years at the ST and at the Times riveting at the time. Evans was editor of the year in 1973 after the ST ran a series of articles on Thalidomide and triumphed over the suppression efforts of the House of Lords. He appealed to the European Court of Human Rights and succeeded. He edited the ST from 1967 and The Times from 1981-1982, ultimately resigning one year after Rupert Murdoch bought the paper.

This is the inside scoop by a great storyteller and covers his most celebrated investigations (Kim Philby's unveiling as a Soviet spy, etc.) and his face-off with Murdoch. Also, Margaret Thatcher's role in allowing Murdoch's entry into the hallowed halls at Gray's Inn Road.

The book smells of newsprint and Fleet Street and London and was to me irresistible. Now, in light of recent events involving Murdoch it seems prescient and time to pull it off the shelves and revisit the start of it all. Bottom line, while I honestly don't remember when I read this book I do remember that it is just an awfully good read.

[Paul Billy-Bong-Gong · Rating 5 out of 5]

can i ever let my life go and be involved with things like this guy once was; perhaps there was a time when words in newspapers meant something. much ado 'bout som'ert. whatever.

[Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

The explosive inside story of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's battle to buy the claasic London papaer The Times. Written by the amzing Harold Evans who became the Editor of the paper
Brilliant

[Matt Zeitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really just makes you want to hang out with Harry Evans

[John]

With Murdoch back in the headlines with Hacking, this book shows how Murdoch of 30 years ago was the same ruthless businessman that he is today