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Churchill Style: The Art of Being Winston Churchill
One of the most iconic and endlessly fascinating figures of the 20th century, Winston Churchill has been the subject of any number of books, but none of them have analyzed his lifestyle as a way to really understand the man. This book features a vivid and entertaining timeline of his public history, but also focuses on the more personal, nonwork aspects of his day-to-day life, covering topics such as autos, books, cigars, dining, fashion, home, libations, and pastimes. Churchill lived an extravagant life, but in reality did not have much money. His ability to live well beyond his means is a lesson that will intrigue many.
Praise for Churchill Style :
“Despite the hundreds of books written on the wartime leader, there has been surprisingly little compiled on his lifestyle. Barry Singer—a writer, self-described Churchill fanatic and proprietor of Manhattan's Chartwell Booksellers (which touts itself as "the world's only Winston Churchill bookshop")—has corrected the deficit." — Wall Street Journal
"There’s a good deal to like about this jaunty book . . . In brief, Churchill lived beyond his means and appears to have enjoyed every minute of it. Churchill Style puts on display his resourcefulness at doing it." — Buffalo News
“Hundreds of books have been written about Winston Churchill, most of which focus on his military service and his leadership during both World Wars, but none assess his personal style like Barry Singer does in Churchill The Art of Being Winston Churchill .” —Cool Hunting.com
Praise for Churchill Style :
“Despite the hundreds of books written on the wartime leader, there has been surprisingly little compiled on his lifestyle. Barry Singer—a writer, self-described Churchill fanatic and proprietor of Manhattan's Chartwell Booksellers (which touts itself as "the world's only Winston Churchill bookshop")—has corrected the deficit." — Wall Street Journal
"There’s a good deal to like about this jaunty book . . . In brief, Churchill lived beyond his means and appears to have enjoyed every minute of it. Churchill Style puts on display his resourcefulness at doing it." — Buffalo News
“Hundreds of books have been written about Winston Churchill, most of which focus on his military service and his leadership during both World Wars, but none assess his personal style like Barry Singer does in Churchill The Art of Being Winston Churchill .” —Cool Hunting.com
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2012
44 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 17, 2012
It would be easy to dismiss Barry Singer’s Churchill Style as a fun, breezy read on Churchill, serving as mostly soft porn for voyeurs interested in the superficial aspects of the Churchill story. Such an impulse, however, would be wrong. That’s not because it’s not fun, nor easy to read. Indeed it’s both. Churchill Style, however, is a vital addition to any true Churchillian’s library because it provides a new dimension to understanding the actions of the man who did more to shape the 20th century than perhaps any other.
In fact, it serves several purposes, collecting notes about many aspects of Churchill’s lifestyle gathered from many other books and sources into one place. Epicureans will delight in the many side bars concerning Churchill’s taste in champagne (vintage Pol Roger), cigars (inexpensive American!), scotches (heavily watered to point of being characterized as “mouthwash” by his staff), homes (city and country), books (classics of history and literature), pastimes (painting) and motor cars among others. This, however, is only the icing on the cake.
For while Churchill Style masquerades as a series of anecdotes and notes about Churchill’s books, liquors, clothes, homes and hobbies, its core is to be found in its subtitle “The Art of Being Winston Churchill.” For many of these things were mere props in the pageant that was Churchill’s life. The style, i.e., how Churchill conducted himself, was intimately intertwined with the substance of his work and the book’s real value lays in Singer’s explanation of how Churchill operated to advance himself into a place where his gifts could ultimately prove useful to King and country.
For example, Churchill knew everyone worth knowing, and flogged these relationships to place himself into the right place at the right time. He had no trouble asking for favors from his mother and other relationships to use their own networks for his purposes. His lavish entertaining, which never waned even in times of great financial stress, enabled him to build even larger networks with people from all different walks of life – finance, press, entertainment – that would prove valuable in his rise. He pressed his indomitable will on everything and everyone, remaking homes and landscapes, altering ponds, physically constructing walls at his country estate, Chartwell, even as he fought to remove the Iron Curtain he saw extending across his beloved Europe. His painting was a vital counter to what he called the “Black Dog” – the depression that might otherwise have crippled him. The same ability to visualize used in his landscapes was a vital aspect of the rhetoric that rallied and uplifted a beleaguered West.
Other books about Churchill tell their readers WHAT he did. HOW he did these things is Singer’s concern. The reader will learn about Churchill’s odd working habits, his predilection for zippers on clothes and suits to reduce the amount of time and fuss getting dressed, the books that fed his rhetorical style and the movies that provided him succor from the stressful life he maintained. The result is a much more robust picture of Churchill and a deeper understanding of his deeds. It’s as if Yousuf Karsh’s famous black and white photo that frequently graces standard Churchill biographies appeared in full color.
Singer’s book itself is visibly stylish, with numerous black and white photos and even a few old colored ones making the hardcover edition far preferable to the Kindle.
In fact, it serves several purposes, collecting notes about many aspects of Churchill’s lifestyle gathered from many other books and sources into one place. Epicureans will delight in the many side bars concerning Churchill’s taste in champagne (vintage Pol Roger), cigars (inexpensive American!), scotches (heavily watered to point of being characterized as “mouthwash” by his staff), homes (city and country), books (classics of history and literature), pastimes (painting) and motor cars among others. This, however, is only the icing on the cake.
For while Churchill Style masquerades as a series of anecdotes and notes about Churchill’s books, liquors, clothes, homes and hobbies, its core is to be found in its subtitle “The Art of Being Winston Churchill.” For many of these things were mere props in the pageant that was Churchill’s life. The style, i.e., how Churchill conducted himself, was intimately intertwined with the substance of his work and the book’s real value lays in Singer’s explanation of how Churchill operated to advance himself into a place where his gifts could ultimately prove useful to King and country.
For example, Churchill knew everyone worth knowing, and flogged these relationships to place himself into the right place at the right time. He had no trouble asking for favors from his mother and other relationships to use their own networks for his purposes. His lavish entertaining, which never waned even in times of great financial stress, enabled him to build even larger networks with people from all different walks of life – finance, press, entertainment – that would prove valuable in his rise. He pressed his indomitable will on everything and everyone, remaking homes and landscapes, altering ponds, physically constructing walls at his country estate, Chartwell, even as he fought to remove the Iron Curtain he saw extending across his beloved Europe. His painting was a vital counter to what he called the “Black Dog” – the depression that might otherwise have crippled him. The same ability to visualize used in his landscapes was a vital aspect of the rhetoric that rallied and uplifted a beleaguered West.
Other books about Churchill tell their readers WHAT he did. HOW he did these things is Singer’s concern. The reader will learn about Churchill’s odd working habits, his predilection for zippers on clothes and suits to reduce the amount of time and fuss getting dressed, the books that fed his rhetorical style and the movies that provided him succor from the stressful life he maintained. The result is a much more robust picture of Churchill and a deeper understanding of his deeds. It’s as if Yousuf Karsh’s famous black and white photo that frequently graces standard Churchill biographies appeared in full color.
Singer’s book itself is visibly stylish, with numerous black and white photos and even a few old colored ones making the hardcover edition far preferable to the Kindle.
April 29, 2014
I have read every book about or by Churchill I can get my hands on. I have a ceiling to floor bookcase full of books by or about Churchill. I started this collection in my early teens. Now I am gathering a collection of e-books. Needless to say I know most of the information in this book, “Churchill Style: The Art of Being Winston Churchill” by Barry Singer. Barry Singer is the owner of Chartwell Books in New York City, a bookstore famous for its focus on the works of Winston Churchill. Singer writes about Churchill’s sense of style. For those looking for a book that provides a large amount of trivia information about WSC this is a great book for that. The book has information from, who made his hats to wear, where he bought his bowties, the brand of whiskey he prefer to the brand of pens he preferred to write with. I enjoyed the parts where the author talks about the various houses that the Churchill family lived in. He’s most famous for living in Chartwell, but he lived in many other interesting places. There are lots of pictures in the book. The author also writes about WSC passion of horses, from his childhood horse, his polo ponies to his race horses. Churchill’s favorite pastime was horseback riding. I did learn a few items from the book I was unaware of. For example, I did not know Churchill was friends with Alexander Korba (one of my favorite movie directors). Apparently during the depression when WSC was struggling financially Korba hired him to write or edit some movie scripts. One was on Lawrence of Arabia which Korba chose not to make but sold it off to Hollywood. I just love picking up these little pearls of information. If you are looking for a book that is more about Churchill’s lifestyle or want some trivia information, this is the book for you. It is well-written in an easy going style that drips of information with lots of photographs. I read this as an e-book on my Kindle app for my Ipad.
January 5, 2013
This is a difficult book for me to rate given that I am an aficionada of all things Churchillian. I loved the little snippets on Churchill's lifestyle; his throw-away opinions on art, culture, literature. I disagree entirely that this is a "first" incident of revelation on Churchill's lifestyle. There are volumes and volumes from which one could gather the most interesting minutiae. What Singer has done is turn Churchill's life into a handy little pocket book for the lazy Churchill fan, and nicely illustrated at that. It is an enjoyable little trip -- like having afternoon tea with a friend of Churchill, who remembers him fondly, and shares some memories and some photographs. We can't pretend that it's anything more than that. Enjoy it for what it is.
June 18, 2018
After visiting Chartwell Books on a recent trip to NYC, I purchased and read this incredible book about Churchill's amazing life and specifically, his unique style. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the well-organized format which is broken down into time periods of his life. It's not a typical bio. I learned all sorts of neat details that many books just don't cover. Everyone knows what a hero, orator and writer Churchill was, but did you know he absolutely adored animals and had many at Chartwell, his family estate? He took great pleasure in brick-laying and even designed his own version of the Post-It note that was red and in black letters spelled out "ACTION THIS DAY". He suffered from bouts of debilitating depression and also suffered the loss of his two and a half year old daughter Marigold. Very few Churchill books will have as many photographs and personal details as this incredible volume. I will treasure it always and keep it in a special place in my library.
November 7, 2016
I have read quite a few biographies on Sir Winston Churchill. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.
This biographical summary of Sir Winston engages the reader so that they are propelled through his life story all the while being provided with sporadic anecdotes on his various personal effects, habits and customs. It is very well done. In this way, one really gets to see Sir Winston in a different light - where he comes across as more human but no less mythic.
The photos throughout are top notch and I really enjoyed taking my time to look at them.
I would recommend this book highly to those who are curious about Sir Winston Churchill. After reading this book you will no doubt have a good grasp of the man and what he stood for.
This biographical summary of Sir Winston engages the reader so that they are propelled through his life story all the while being provided with sporadic anecdotes on his various personal effects, habits and customs. It is very well done. In this way, one really gets to see Sir Winston in a different light - where he comes across as more human but no less mythic.
The photos throughout are top notch and I really enjoyed taking my time to look at them.
I would recommend this book highly to those who are curious about Sir Winston Churchill. After reading this book you will no doubt have a good grasp of the man and what he stood for.
May 18, 2018
While considerably shorter than most of the material on WC, Singer compartmentalizes the things that made WC the man many seemed to either love or despise.
One aspect of what makes this book worth the time to read are the pictures that accompany the history. People, places, cigars, receipts, whiskey, dogs, cars and hats fill the margins and allow a modern reader unfamiliar with certain people and places to wrap their minds and imaginations around a man and the world he helped to save and shape. This is no picture book by any means but a well presented character study.
This volume deserves a place on your shelf if you are the least bit interested in WWII history or much of what took place in the early and mid 20th century.
One aspect of what makes this book worth the time to read are the pictures that accompany the history. People, places, cigars, receipts, whiskey, dogs, cars and hats fill the margins and allow a modern reader unfamiliar with certain people and places to wrap their minds and imaginations around a man and the world he helped to save and shape. This is no picture book by any means but a well presented character study.
This volume deserves a place on your shelf if you are the least bit interested in WWII history or much of what took place in the early and mid 20th century.
July 18, 2013
What a wonderful book! I must confess from the outset that I have a significant collection of Churchill books. However, this definitely fills a void that exists in understanding some of the more quirky and personal aspects of Churchill's character. Beautifully illustrated, and logically laid out, this is a great book not just to read from cover to cover, but to revisit and dip into different periods in Churchill's life.
The most enjoyable aspect of the book is the authors use of little-known, or previously unpublished, snippets of Churchill folklore. My favourite is the story of Churchill purchasing his cigars in bulk (the Churchill cigar being such a prominent aspect of his personality) during the 1930s from a tobacconist kiosk in New York City because they were very inexpensive compared to his favourite Cubans. This was a fascinating revelation considering Churchill's reputation for being a man who simply liked the best of everything. In these somewhat austere times we're now living in it's fun to see such an extravagant character was also having to economize on one of his greatest pleasures 80 years ago!
The most enjoyable aspect of the book is the authors use of little-known, or previously unpublished, snippets of Churchill folklore. My favourite is the story of Churchill purchasing his cigars in bulk (the Churchill cigar being such a prominent aspect of his personality) during the 1930s from a tobacconist kiosk in New York City because they were very inexpensive compared to his favourite Cubans. This was a fascinating revelation considering Churchill's reputation for being a man who simply liked the best of everything. In these somewhat austere times we're now living in it's fun to see such an extravagant character was also having to economize on one of his greatest pleasures 80 years ago!
August 18, 2013
Before we write a word about Barry Singers book, it is necessary to comment on the artistry of the book itself. Made from some material that feels much like leather Abrams Books and Singer have created a book that is a work of art.
The paper is beautiful-akin to the finest of photography books. The typography is lovely and appropriate to the subject matter, and is done in color as well as shades, depending on the authors needs. Layout is gorgeous. There is a beautiful metallic like set of pages with outlines of Churchill's hats that convey again the special efforts to make this a special book.
Singer writes crisply. The topic being Churchill as Sybarite. Mr. Singer writes wonderfully interesting vignettes of Mr. Churchill's wants and needs at various stages of his life, and the contortions to which he went to have them filled. The end notes and bibliography are interesting and valuable. If a reader ever wanted a suit, or a hat, or a pen from the same vendor as supplied Churchill, he will find it here.
Entertaining. Enlightening. Amusing. A beautifully done book that would make a fine gift for any Churchill fan.
The paper is beautiful-akin to the finest of photography books. The typography is lovely and appropriate to the subject matter, and is done in color as well as shades, depending on the authors needs. Layout is gorgeous. There is a beautiful metallic like set of pages with outlines of Churchill's hats that convey again the special efforts to make this a special book.
Singer writes crisply. The topic being Churchill as Sybarite. Mr. Singer writes wonderfully interesting vignettes of Mr. Churchill's wants and needs at various stages of his life, and the contortions to which he went to have them filled. The end notes and bibliography are interesting and valuable. If a reader ever wanted a suit, or a hat, or a pen from the same vendor as supplied Churchill, he will find it here.
Entertaining. Enlightening. Amusing. A beautifully done book that would make a fine gift for any Churchill fan.
March 9, 2013
There are thousands of books on Churchill and this one focuses on the 'style' aspect of his life. Churchill liked nice things and lived a life of luxury and because he's so important, this was heavily documented. Having an almost scholarly familiarity with Churchill's life, I was a little disappointed at how much background information the author chose to include. It's essentially a cliff-noted biography of Churchill's entire life. The most interesting aspect of the book are the various asides where he talks about where Churchill was living at a given time, what he was waring, etc. This is what makes the book worth reading. If you're familiar with Churchill, you'll find little new content in the biographical portion of the book and can skim over most of it and instead focus on the pictures and asides that focus solely on his style. There are a lot of pictures I haven't seen in other books so that makes it worth it alone. It's presented nicely and was made with archival quality in mind. It's a worthy addition to any churchill library.
June 9, 2013
Marvelous insight into one of the most interesting characters of the 20th century as well as a personal hero of mine.
Mr. Churchill was one of a kind and while his Second World War triumphs are relatively well known today, his failures and failings are overshadowed while his early life success seems to have been forgotten. This is unfortunate because his early life success as well as his failings are what made him into what he was and gave him the fortitude and strategies that made him the indispensable man in WW2 Britain.
It was highly entertaining to read about his daily life, personality, lifestyle and habits. I found myself laughing out loud at times at some of his antics and comments.
It would be hard to find a politician today with the talents, commitment to ideals and morality reflected in the the life of Mr. Churchill.
Mr. Churchill was one of a kind and while his Second World War triumphs are relatively well known today, his failures and failings are overshadowed while his early life success seems to have been forgotten. This is unfortunate because his early life success as well as his failings are what made him into what he was and gave him the fortitude and strategies that made him the indispensable man in WW2 Britain.
It was highly entertaining to read about his daily life, personality, lifestyle and habits. I found myself laughing out loud at times at some of his antics and comments.
It would be hard to find a politician today with the talents, commitment to ideals and morality reflected in the the life of Mr. Churchill.
Read
May 28, 2014Of all the major political figures of the 20th Century, Winston Churchill certainly lived life to the fullest. A master of the English language, prolific author and lover of cigars and fine brandy, Churchill relished the political and intellectual world as few others did. Barry Singer’s book offers an insightful and altogether charming portrait of the private man behind the public image.
Mike O. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
August 31, 2012
This is a great little book providing exactly what you might think: a comprehensive look at the way Churchill lived, dressed, ate, slept, painted, napped and...saved the world. It also includes just enough biographical data for those who might not be familiar with the details of his life. This is not the book for history buffs, others including William Manchester and Martin Gilbert have covered that vey nicely thanks.
This is a good book for men of style whether or not they are Churchill fans or not. He is, as we say on my blog RareBurghers, original without being too eccentric.
This is a good book for men of style whether or not they are Churchill fans or not. He is, as we say on my blog RareBurghers, original without being too eccentric.
August 14, 2012
Aconcise timeline of history, with all the blanks filled in on what kind of man Churchill was. He was so intelligent, marched to a different drum from his youth, and was a tender sensitive person. He loved learning to do lots of different things himself, from laying bricks to becoming an artist! He never worried about what people thought of him, but always and only spoke the truth as he saw it.
September 5, 2012
An interesting look at Churchill's consumerism in all phases of his life. A good read if you are into the finer things, especially those considered finer back in the day. Also a good read if you are a Churchill-phile.
March 30, 2013
Un muy interesante punto de vista de la vida de Churchill. No como estratega, escritor o político sino como humano. Explicando detalladamente sus gustos por la comida y bebida, sus hobbies, autos, moda y estilo, todo basado en cartas y notas escritas por el y sus allegados.
December 20, 2012
A different type of biography, focused on the man and how he lived. Well written and thoroughly enjoyable
July 18, 2013
Interesting approach to the history of a great man. Easy to read in short clips
January 12, 2016
Makes a great (coffee table) gift for the Churchillian in your life.
April 13, 2016
Loved this beautiful book. It's really a brief but wonderful biography with tons of photos and scores of entertaining asides.
January 7, 2015
A good father's day gift.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews