How I Got to Be This Hip: The Collected Works of One of America's Preeminent Journalists

by Barry Farrell

Spanning some three decades of twentieth-century history, from the 1960s through the 1980s, a collection of essays by one of America's leading journalists shares his social commentary on Woodstock, Charles Manson, the Patty Hearst kidnapping, and other aspects of the changing American scene. Original.

232 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these topics might seem a little dated now, but as a child of the late seventies, I found they were right up my alley. I sought this out after reading The Executioner's Song (unaware of Dave Eggers' recommendation, I might add), where Farrell plays a small but crucial role. I think a good comparison for Farrell is Joan Didion, who conveniently enough was his counterpart in Life Magazine for a time in the late sixties. The centerpiece, IMO, is "California Inquest", a ranging article that attempts to get to the heart of the hyperviolent seventies.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to be a journalist all over again. I read it a long time ago though.
I think before I read this I didn't realize non-fiction could be totally lyrical. I haven't come across a lot of writers who can do it like this though. It still forms part of my internal compass for what constitutes a good sentence. It's funny to me that I never hear anything about him.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob came over today and gave me an old galley of this book. Over dinner, I lazily opened it up and read John Gregory Dunne's introduction. Then I started the first essay. Now it's shooting to the top of my pile.