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As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin (1888–1989) was unable to read or write music and could only play the piano in the key of F-sharp major; yet, for the first half of the twentieth century he was America's most successful and most representative songwriter, composing such hits as "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Cheek to Cheek," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "Puttin' on the Ritz," "White Christmas," "Anything You Can Do," "There's No Business Like Show Business," and "God Bless America." As Thousands Cheer, winner of the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award, explores with precision and sensitivity Berlin's long, prolific career; his self-doubt and late-blooming misanthropy; and the tyrannical control he exerted over his legacy of song. From his immigrant beginnings through Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and Hollywood to his reclusive and bitter final years, this definitive biography reveals the man who wrote 1500 songs but could never quash the fear that, for all his success, he wasn't quite good enough.
702 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
31 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Laurence Bergreen
19 books328 followersLaurence Bergreen is an award-winning biographer, historian, and chronicler of exploration. His books have been translated into over 20 languages worldwide. In October 2007, Alfred A. Knopf published Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu, a groundbreaking biography of the iconic traveler. Warner Brothers is developing a feature film based on this book starring Matt Damon and written by William Monahan, who won an Oscar for “The Departed.”
His previous work, Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe, was published to international acclaim by William Morrow/HarperCollins in October 2003. A New York Times “Notable Book” for 2003, it is also in development as a motion picture and is now in its tenth printing.
In addition, Bergreen is the author of Voyage to Mars: NASA’s Search for Life Beyond Earth, a narrative of NASA’s exploration of Mars, published in November 2000 by Penguin Putnam. Dramatic rights were acquired by TNT.
In 1997, Bantam Doubleday Dell published Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life, a comprehensive biography drawing on unpublished manuscripts and exclusive interviews with Armstrong colleagues and friends. It appeared on many “Best Books of 1997” lists, including those of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Publishers Weekly, and has been published in Germany, Finland, and Great Britain. In 1994, Simon & Schuster published his Capone: The Man and the Era. A Book-of-the-Month Club selection, it has been published in numerous foreign languages, was optioned by Miramax, and was a New York Times “Notable Book.”
His biography, As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin, appeared in 1990. This book won the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award and the ASCAP-Deems Taylor award and received front-page reviews in major American and British newspapers and appeared on bestseller lists; it was also a New York Times “Notable Book” for 1990. His previous biography, James Agee: A Life, was also critically acclaimed and was a New York Times “Notable Book” for 1984. His first book was Look Now, Pay Later: The Rise of Network Broadcasting, published by Doubleday in 1980.
He has written for many national publications including Esquire, Newsweek, TV Guide, Details, Prologue, The Chicago Tribune, and Military History Quarterly. He has taught at the New School for Social Research and served as Assistant to the President of the Museum of Television and Radio in New York. In 1995, he served as a judge for the National Book Awards and in 1991 as a judge for the PEN/Albrand Nonfiction Award. A frequent lecturer at major universities and symposiums, he also serves as a Featured Historian for the History Channel.
Mr. Bergreen graduated from Harvard University in 1972. He is a member of PEN American Center, The Explorers Club, the Authors Guild, and the board of the New York Society Library. He lives in New York City and is represented by Suzanne Gluck of the William Morris Agency.
His previous work, Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe, was published to international acclaim by William Morrow/HarperCollins in October 2003. A New York Times “Notable Book” for 2003, it is also in development as a motion picture and is now in its tenth printing.
In addition, Bergreen is the author of Voyage to Mars: NASA’s Search for Life Beyond Earth, a narrative of NASA’s exploration of Mars, published in November 2000 by Penguin Putnam. Dramatic rights were acquired by TNT.
In 1997, Bantam Doubleday Dell published Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life, a comprehensive biography drawing on unpublished manuscripts and exclusive interviews with Armstrong colleagues and friends. It appeared on many “Best Books of 1997” lists, including those of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Publishers Weekly, and has been published in Germany, Finland, and Great Britain. In 1994, Simon & Schuster published his Capone: The Man and the Era. A Book-of-the-Month Club selection, it has been published in numerous foreign languages, was optioned by Miramax, and was a New York Times “Notable Book.”
His biography, As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin, appeared in 1990. This book won the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award and the ASCAP-Deems Taylor award and received front-page reviews in major American and British newspapers and appeared on bestseller lists; it was also a New York Times “Notable Book” for 1990. His previous biography, James Agee: A Life, was also critically acclaimed and was a New York Times “Notable Book” for 1984. His first book was Look Now, Pay Later: The Rise of Network Broadcasting, published by Doubleday in 1980.
He has written for many national publications including Esquire, Newsweek, TV Guide, Details, Prologue, The Chicago Tribune, and Military History Quarterly. He has taught at the New School for Social Research and served as Assistant to the President of the Museum of Television and Radio in New York. In 1995, he served as a judge for the National Book Awards and in 1991 as a judge for the PEN/Albrand Nonfiction Award. A frequent lecturer at major universities and symposiums, he also serves as a Featured Historian for the History Channel.
Mr. Bergreen graduated from Harvard University in 1972. He is a member of PEN American Center, The Explorers Club, the Authors Guild, and the board of the New York Society Library. He lives in New York City and is represented by Suzanne Gluck of the William Morris Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 4, 2008
Irving Berlin was really the start of what became known as the Golden Age of Songwriting that probably ended with Stephen Sondheim. The real McCoys who hated approximate or false rhyming, who really matched words perfectly to music, who had something to say, and who left us tunes that Ella and Frank delivered to make the hairs on your neck stand up. Irving Berlin kicked off the line that included the Gershwins, Kern, Rodgers, Hammerstein, Porter , Loesser, Warren, Van Heusen, Cahn, Arlen, Mercer, Carmichael and so many more. Why were the Beatles so great? Because they mixed rock and soul with these great songwriters' understanding of melody, rhythm and good words.
How Berlin, a Russian immigrant, born to hardship, acquired such phenomenal melodic and lyrical ability is one of those great artistic miracles of nature. He was just a natural. Not much of a pianist (they say he only played in F# but he must have touched the white notes such is his chromatic awareness), not much of a singer, definitely a songwriting genius.
What songs: White Christmas, Top Hat, Cheek to Cheek, Let's Face The Music and Dance, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Change Partners, Easter Parade, How Deep Is The Ocean, Blue Skies, Puttin' On The Ritz, the score of Annie Get Your Gun, the score of Call Me Madam...I could list his songs of note for ages.
I loved this brilliant biography. Laurence Bergreen is a superb writer who made me feel I really knew Berlin. He writes with real insight into Irving's early life, his two marriages, his business skill, his wartime efforts and his passing.
A great read on a great musical icon.
How Berlin, a Russian immigrant, born to hardship, acquired such phenomenal melodic and lyrical ability is one of those great artistic miracles of nature. He was just a natural. Not much of a pianist (they say he only played in F# but he must have touched the white notes such is his chromatic awareness), not much of a singer, definitely a songwriting genius.
What songs: White Christmas, Top Hat, Cheek to Cheek, Let's Face The Music and Dance, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Change Partners, Easter Parade, How Deep Is The Ocean, Blue Skies, Puttin' On The Ritz, the score of Annie Get Your Gun, the score of Call Me Madam...I could list his songs of note for ages.
I loved this brilliant biography. Laurence Bergreen is a superb writer who made me feel I really knew Berlin. He writes with real insight into Irving's early life, his two marriages, his business skill, his wartime efforts and his passing.
A great read on a great musical icon.
October 22, 2011
I was more than halfway through the biography of this American icon before I realized what was wrong with it. It wasn't the writing style, which in fact is terrific. It wasn't the depth of the research or the range of source materials, both of which are admirable. It wasn't even the hard-to-read typeface and horrible-quality photos of the Da Capo trade-paperback edition. What was wrong with As Thousands Cheer was that Laurence Bergreen had written for hundreds and hundreds of pages about Irving Berlin without once quoting his lyrics. This seems not to have been the author's choice: the book's final paragraph speaks of the "iron grip" that Berlin held on song rights both in life and in death.
If Bergreen had been able to illustrate his observations with individual song lines or--better yet--full sets of lyrics, I would have awarded his book at least four stars. In its hobbled state, three is as high as it's going to go.
If Bergreen had been able to illustrate his observations with individual song lines or--better yet--full sets of lyrics, I would have awarded his book at least four stars. In its hobbled state, three is as high as it's going to go.
April 20, 2010
Very detailed account of Irving Berlin's life. It was interesting and contained a lot of information about the theatre and the men and women who were on the stage and behind it. Very intense. There were inportant facts in each sentence. But I like the theatre and I like to read about the people who were artists and stars.
February 14, 2010
Irving Berlin is my hero. I pick up this book every once-in-a-while. It is written with love and knowledge of Berlin.
June 30, 2017
"Irving Berlin has no place in American music; he IS American music." That oft quoted statement by Jerome Kern captures how much of the world felt about this remarkable man who made such an incredible contribution to our musical landscape.
If you decide to read a Berlin biography, this one is well worth your consideration. As I read, I kept thinking that an alternate title for this book might have been "Irving Berlin and his World." The composer lived for 101 years and so there is a lot of time to cover. For most of the book, I felt like I was in a time capsule as we visited the decades in which Mr. Berlin was born, grew up and thrived. There is less attention to that sort of detail during the final few chapters, but that makes sense given that Berlin in many ways cut himself off from the world at that point in his life.
Berlin was a complex and not always very likable man. The author does a good job of helping us to understand the factors which shaped his personality. While I must admit that the last chapter or two contain too many examples of just how incredibly rude and arrogant he could be during his later years, Bergreen's words have the ring of truth about them, largely because his portrayal is not in any way simplistic.
If you love the American musical as much as I do, this book is a must. Even if you don't, you may find that this well conceived biography is well worth your consideration.
If you decide to read a Berlin biography, this one is well worth your consideration. As I read, I kept thinking that an alternate title for this book might have been "Irving Berlin and his World." The composer lived for 101 years and so there is a lot of time to cover. For most of the book, I felt like I was in a time capsule as we visited the decades in which Mr. Berlin was born, grew up and thrived. There is less attention to that sort of detail during the final few chapters, but that makes sense given that Berlin in many ways cut himself off from the world at that point in his life.
Berlin was a complex and not always very likable man. The author does a good job of helping us to understand the factors which shaped his personality. While I must admit that the last chapter or two contain too many examples of just how incredibly rude and arrogant he could be during his later years, Bergreen's words have the ring of truth about them, largely because his portrayal is not in any way simplistic.
If you love the American musical as much as I do, this book is a must. Even if you don't, you may find that this well conceived biography is well worth your consideration.
August 19, 2025
As with his marvelous biography of Louis Armstrong, Laurence Bergreen takes on the challenge of relating a life as epic and exceptional as it was unlikely, as he examines the long, extraordinary life of Irving Berlin. With exhaustive research and superb writing, this is a great book that befits the great, if troubled, musical genius whose illustrious career spanned nearly a century.
August 31, 2014
Good book, just very long. This is a very detailed account of Berlin's life and not much to question about the accuracy. The story runs along smoothly in chronological order without becoming tedious. There are a few sections that seemed to repeat, but overall a good read.
October 10, 2014
One. of a handful. of the most brilliantly written biographies I have read
September 23, 2022
Irving Berlin comes to life on the pages of this biography, a man who was quicksilver, prolific, driven, and brilliant. He is presented as a fully rounded figure here, complex and tireless, but even at the end a man so intensely and guardedly private that he remains a stranger. The author’s work is extensively researched with rigorous attention to detail. The writing style is straightforward and unadorned, academic but approachable.
The book follows the young Russian Jew named Israel Baline from Ellis Island to the mean streets of the Lower East Side to the lights of Broadway to the wealth of Manhattan to the silver screens of Hollywood. The story of Irving Berlin is a classic rags to riches immigrant story, one like so many lived out in America, but Irving’s talent, timeliness, and relentlessness catapulted him from extreme poverty to extreme wealth, from desperation to survive to the fame of being a household name.
The author details not only the life of the songwriting genius—whose own singing and musical abilities were less than stellar—but the history of entertainment over the course of the twentieth century. Shaped and reshaped by changing ideals, wars, and politics, the entertainment industry is as much a character in this biography as Berlin himself.
This is an authentic, intimate glimpse into the life of a man who had an aggressive penchant for self-criticism, a shortsightedness in business matters, and a tendency to obsessively take refuge in his music. Painfully shy, sensitive, prone to grudges, and oft times verbally abusive, Berlin was both a craftsman and a businessman. But he was also solitary to the point of reclusiveness, miserly and misanthropic in his old age, a sufferer of lifelong insomnia and later depression and dependency on sleeping pills.
Poignant and engaging, detailed and vivid, this is a masterful entry in biographical nonfiction. The weighty tome includes two insets of black and white photographs and extensive notes. It is also peppered with quotes and cameos from recognizable historical and entertainment figures. The portrait painted of Irving Berlin in this thorough biography is a nuanced, multi-dimensional one. It is both a nod to the whirlwind world of entertainment in the first half of the twentieth century and an ode to a man who diligently carved out a place for himself in that world.
The book follows the young Russian Jew named Israel Baline from Ellis Island to the mean streets of the Lower East Side to the lights of Broadway to the wealth of Manhattan to the silver screens of Hollywood. The story of Irving Berlin is a classic rags to riches immigrant story, one like so many lived out in America, but Irving’s talent, timeliness, and relentlessness catapulted him from extreme poverty to extreme wealth, from desperation to survive to the fame of being a household name.
The author details not only the life of the songwriting genius—whose own singing and musical abilities were less than stellar—but the history of entertainment over the course of the twentieth century. Shaped and reshaped by changing ideals, wars, and politics, the entertainment industry is as much a character in this biography as Berlin himself.
This is an authentic, intimate glimpse into the life of a man who had an aggressive penchant for self-criticism, a shortsightedness in business matters, and a tendency to obsessively take refuge in his music. Painfully shy, sensitive, prone to grudges, and oft times verbally abusive, Berlin was both a craftsman and a businessman. But he was also solitary to the point of reclusiveness, miserly and misanthropic in his old age, a sufferer of lifelong insomnia and later depression and dependency on sleeping pills.
Poignant and engaging, detailed and vivid, this is a masterful entry in biographical nonfiction. The weighty tome includes two insets of black and white photographs and extensive notes. It is also peppered with quotes and cameos from recognizable historical and entertainment figures. The portrait painted of Irving Berlin in this thorough biography is a nuanced, multi-dimensional one. It is both a nod to the whirlwind world of entertainment in the first half of the twentieth century and an ode to a man who diligently carved out a place for himself in that world.
December 30, 2018
He could only play the black keys on the piano and had no musical training, but he wrote America's soundtrack. Relying heavily on a loyal transcriber and his "transposing piano", Berlin was able to create "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning", and hundreds of others. Berlin was also smart enough to write both the lyrics and melody to all of his songs as well as to retain all of his copyrights. Unfortunately, Berlin began in vaudeville and could not adapt when publishing changed from sheet music to recordings and creating changed from working with actors throughout the writing process to preparing finished songs. Later in life, when his company became solely about managing royalties before their copyrights expired, Berlin became a hostile recluse obsessed about his public image. Fans even honored him at a celebration he refused to attend because he didn't want them to remember him as an old man.
I adored this book, but I must note that Bergreen uses lots of obscure, academic words. I collected at least 30 new ones while reading this book, so you might want to have your phone handy to look up definitions.
I adored this book, but I must note that Bergreen uses lots of obscure, academic words. I collected at least 30 new ones while reading this book, so you might want to have your phone handy to look up definitions.
January 4, 2020
Solid, workmanlike, somewhat plodding biography of the legendary songwriter. Bergreen covers all the bases but no one will ever mistake him for a great prose stylist and I kept thinking that a more energetic showbiz writer such as John Lahr or Gary Giddins could've done a much better job. James Kaplan released a new Berlin biography in the Fall of 2019 and although I haven't read it yet I'd be inclined to recommend that one over Bergreen's based on my reading of Kaplan's excellent two volume work on Frank Sinatra. Give this one 3.5 stars.
One other thing I would mention is that the text for the Kindle edition appears to have been scanned directly from the 1996 Da Capo reprint. If you're familiar with Da Capo you know that visual elegance is not their forte. The text is readable but unattractive. I didn't deduct any ratings points for that since it's obviously not the author's fault but consider yourself warned.
One other thing I would mention is that the text for the Kindle edition appears to have been scanned directly from the 1996 Da Capo reprint. If you're familiar with Da Capo you know that visual elegance is not their forte. The text is readable but unattractive. I didn't deduct any ratings points for that since it's obviously not the author's fault but consider yourself warned.
February 12, 2025
This is a full biography, starting with the Beilin family in Russia, going forward Izzy (born Israel) grows up and starts in the business.
Berlin was an amazing songwriter, with the aforementioned Christmas standard, along with such standards as Alexander's Ragtime Band, Cheek to Cheek, Puttin' on the Ritz, Anything You Can Do, There's No Business Like Show Business and God Bless America to his name.
Despite that, he feels less worthy than other songwriters, partly because he can’t read or write music, or play a regular piano (he used a “trick” piano that changed key with the flip of a lever). He strove for more and had hit songs, Broadway shows and Hollywood movies, but he had his flops, too.
We go through his ups and downs, including the death of his first wife within a few months of their marriage. This and other events leave Berlin a wounded, sullen, angry man. As he hits his 60s, the hits are fewer and further between, and he alienates his few friends.
It’s a sad end, but a great assembly of songs, worthy of admittance into the Great American Songbook.
Berlin was an amazing songwriter, with the aforementioned Christmas standard, along with such standards as Alexander's Ragtime Band, Cheek to Cheek, Puttin' on the Ritz, Anything You Can Do, There's No Business Like Show Business and God Bless America to his name.
Despite that, he feels less worthy than other songwriters, partly because he can’t read or write music, or play a regular piano (he used a “trick” piano that changed key with the flip of a lever). He strove for more and had hit songs, Broadway shows and Hollywood movies, but he had his flops, too.
We go through his ups and downs, including the death of his first wife within a few months of their marriage. This and other events leave Berlin a wounded, sullen, angry man. As he hits his 60s, the hits are fewer and further between, and he alienates his few friends.
It’s a sad end, but a great assembly of songs, worthy of admittance into the Great American Songbook.
June 24, 2021
Great read! Not only does it focus on Irving Berlin’s life but it delves into the ups and downs of the music industry in the early 20th century. The story of his immigration, in this book, has not only inspired me but has stayed by my side as I work my own way up in the fast-paced, intimidating music industry today. Berlin is such a fascinating character with an interesting story. He went from barely knowing how to play piano to being a vital part in the development of the industry. Love him and this book. He will always be an inspiration to me!
February 25, 2019
I just bought this on Kindle. I read a review that mentioned how irritating the type face is. I did not think this would ever bother me. IT IS TERRIBLE! Look at the preview in Goodreads. You cannot change the typeface on the Kindle.
September 4, 2019
Very interesting and prolific song writer. It is unbelievable not only how many songs he wrote during his live time, but also how many are part of everyday life.
Also, Laurence Bergreen is phenomenal.
Also, Laurence Bergreen is phenomenal.
July 21, 2017
A very well written bio.
January 20, 2019
Outstanding.
November 18, 2014
Having sung a lot of Irving Berlin's songs, I was curious about his life. This book is VERY comprehensive, more comprehensive than I needed but I still enjoyed it. It was obviously very well researched.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews