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20th Century Journey #1-3
Twentieth Century Journey: The Start, 1904–1930; The Nightmare Years, 1930–1940; A Native's Return, 1945–1988
Now in one the three-part autobiography from the National Book Award-winning author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.
The former CBS foreign correspondent and historian provides an invaluable look back at his life--and the events that forged the twentieth century.
The Start (1904-1930): In the first of a three-volume series, Shirer tells the story of his early life, growing up in Cedar Rapids, and later serving as a new reporter in Paris.
The Nightmare Years (1930-1940): In the second of a three-volume series, Shirer chronicles his time in Europe as Hitler dominated Germany and began one of the most dangerous conflicts in world history.
A Native's Return (1945-1988): The most personal of the three volumes, this edition offers an honest look at the many personal and professional setbacks Shirer experienced after World War II ended--and delivers a fascinating take on the aftermath of the war.
Series praise
"Mr. Shirer stirs the ashes of memory in a personal way that results in both a strong view of world events and of the need for outspoken journalism. Had Mr. Shirer been merely a bland 'objective' reporter without passion while covering Hitler's Third Reich, this book and his other histories could never have been written." --The New York Times
"Included in Shirer's well-wrought narrative are such little-known events as the trials of American broadcasters who propagandized for the Third Reich during WWII, as well as such more familiar matters as the McCarthyism of the 1950s. The author's comments are refreshingly unfettered by self-consciousness . . . A fine, fitting conclusion to an important work of autobiography." --Kirkus Reviews
The former CBS foreign correspondent and historian provides an invaluable look back at his life--and the events that forged the twentieth century.
The Start (1904-1930): In the first of a three-volume series, Shirer tells the story of his early life, growing up in Cedar Rapids, and later serving as a new reporter in Paris.
The Nightmare Years (1930-1940): In the second of a three-volume series, Shirer chronicles his time in Europe as Hitler dominated Germany and began one of the most dangerous conflicts in world history.
A Native's Return (1945-1988): The most personal of the three volumes, this edition offers an honest look at the many personal and professional setbacks Shirer experienced after World War II ended--and delivers a fascinating take on the aftermath of the war.
Series praise
"Mr. Shirer stirs the ashes of memory in a personal way that results in both a strong view of world events and of the need for outspoken journalism. Had Mr. Shirer been merely a bland 'objective' reporter without passion while covering Hitler's Third Reich, this book and his other histories could never have been written." --The New York Times
"Included in Shirer's well-wrought narrative are such little-known events as the trials of American broadcasters who propagandized for the Third Reich during WWII, as well as such more familiar matters as the McCarthyism of the 1950s. The author's comments are refreshingly unfettered by self-consciousness . . . A fine, fitting conclusion to an important work of autobiography." --Kirkus Reviews
2212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2020
About the author
William L. Shirer
95 books1,422 followersWilliam Lawrence Shirer was an American journalist and historian. He became known for his broadcasts on CBS from the German capital of Berlin through the first year of World War II.
Shirer first became famous through his account of those years in his Berlin Diary (published in 1941), but his greatest achievement was his 1960 book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, originally published by Simon & Schuster. This book of well over 1000 pages is still in print, and is a detailed examination of the Third Reich filled with historical information from German archives captured at the end of the war, along with impressions Shirer gained during his days as a correspondent in Berlin. Later, in 1969, his work The Collapse of the Third Republic drew on his experience spent living and working in France from 1925 to 1933. This work is filled with historical information about the Battle of France from the secret orders and reports of the French High Command and of the commanding generals of the field. Shirer also used the memoirs, journals, and diaries of the prominent British, Italian, Spanish, and French figures in government, Parliament, the Army, and diplomacy.
Shirer first became famous through his account of those years in his Berlin Diary (published in 1941), but his greatest achievement was his 1960 book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, originally published by Simon & Schuster. This book of well over 1000 pages is still in print, and is a detailed examination of the Third Reich filled with historical information from German archives captured at the end of the war, along with impressions Shirer gained during his days as a correspondent in Berlin. Later, in 1969, his work The Collapse of the Third Republic drew on his experience spent living and working in France from 1925 to 1933. This work is filled with historical information about the Battle of France from the secret orders and reports of the French High Command and of the commanding generals of the field. Shirer also used the memoirs, journals, and diaries of the prominent British, Italian, Spanish, and French figures in government, Parliament, the Army, and diplomacy.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 28, 2020
William Shirer was known by osmosis generally, due to his most famous work, Rise And Fall of The Third Reich, since I can remember during my adult years after a first post graduate degree; but it seemed daunting to take up reading a work so universally regarded with awe, and it wasn't until eighties that I took up Nightmare Years instead, thinking the title indicated the war and holocaust years. It was a tad baffling to find other interesting matters, instead.
Having now read five of his books, how one wishes one had read them much earlier! For sheer readability, and a truthful documentation, of the most important events of the century, there isn't a better alternative.
If there is a prejudice, it's that of a reader born post WWII, and familiar with the later events that Shirer comments only briefly on, such as republican presidents circa seventies and eighties. How right, how correct his his brief comments, which only brings home that it's worth beyond price to read his accounts of earlier decades.
............
The Start (1904-1930)
Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.
So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.
He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.
The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.
The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.
The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.
Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.
January 11, 2017.
............
The Nightmare Years (1930-1940)
The title is self explanatory, about the subject. What is less known about those years is for example discoveries, such as the archeological discovery of some evidence of a great flood, shown by excavated layers of earth, around general area of Babylon (I could be mistaken about the location, but the years since reading this were not exactly spent thinking and memorising it - this is the first time I am thinking about the book since having finished reading it), and many other such things.
Feb 05, 2016.
............
A Native's Return (1945-1988)
Shirer, writing of his settling down to life in Berkshires after his having said farewell to Europe, talks of his thoughts of hereafter. His reference to Gandhi and his views of attempts of his Christian friends to convert him are interesting, and Shirer points out that Thomas Jefferson had views very similar to those of Gandhi.
His final words on the topic about being unable to believe, as a result of having been to India, that everyone not Christian would go to hell, are reassuring about his visit to India having been not in vain, after all.
............
The extensive review is at
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
............
................................................
................................................
November 27, 2020.
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
December 28, 2020.
................................................
................................................
Having now read five of his books, how one wishes one had read them much earlier! For sheer readability, and a truthful documentation, of the most important events of the century, there isn't a better alternative.
If there is a prejudice, it's that of a reader born post WWII, and familiar with the later events that Shirer comments only briefly on, such as republican presidents circa seventies and eighties. How right, how correct his his brief comments, which only brings home that it's worth beyond price to read his accounts of earlier decades.
............
The Start (1904-1930)
Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.
So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.
He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.
The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.
The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.
The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.
Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.
January 11, 2017.
............
The Nightmare Years (1930-1940)
The title is self explanatory, about the subject. What is less known about those years is for example discoveries, such as the archeological discovery of some evidence of a great flood, shown by excavated layers of earth, around general area of Babylon (I could be mistaken about the location, but the years since reading this were not exactly spent thinking and memorising it - this is the first time I am thinking about the book since having finished reading it), and many other such things.
Feb 05, 2016.
............
A Native's Return (1945-1988)
Shirer, writing of his settling down to life in Berkshires after his having said farewell to Europe, talks of his thoughts of hereafter. His reference to Gandhi and his views of attempts of his Christian friends to convert him are interesting, and Shirer points out that Thomas Jefferson had views very similar to those of Gandhi.
His final words on the topic about being unable to believe, as a result of having been to India, that everyone not Christian would go to hell, are reassuring about his visit to India having been not in vain, after all.
............
The extensive review is at
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
............
................................................
................................................
November 27, 2020.
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
December 28, 2020.
................................................
................................................
December 1, 2018
I'd read Berlin Diary and Rise and Fall of the Third Reich but never thought to read Twentieth Century Journey. I should have. Long ago. Shirer's life reminds me a bit of C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower: Constantly fretting over where his next dollar is coming from, living through exciting adventures, hanging out with contemporary luminaries, then succeeding in the end. Shirer isn't perfect, but what a life!
We're talking 2000 pages here, so you might want to read it on your Kindle.
We're talking 2000 pages here, so you might want to read it on your Kindle.
June 16, 2020
I actually read these out of order but each and every one was a fascinating read and really helped you understand so much of what happened in the 20th Century. I bought these as separate books but I don't think you can go wrong reading them in any order. They are all worth the read.
August 28, 2023
First instalment of the author’s superb 20th Century series.
Shirer is the author of the iconic Rise and Fall of The Third Reich. He is one of the most underrated writers of the 20th C.
A journalist who was on the scene of most of the first half of the 20th C’s most pivotal historical events.
From his roving reportage throughout Europe pre- and post-WWII, Shirer observes, interviews and reports on the notable WHO’s Who of the era, whether in politics, culture or the arts: Hitler, Churchill, Mussolini, Petain, Chamberlain, Attlee, Michael Collins, Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Gertrude Stein, Grant Wood et.al.
But for me, what is most fascinating are perhaps the descriptions of all the lesser known notables and Shirer’s highly honed sense of timing and ability to distill what is important to the story and likely to be of the highest historical import.
*Note on the audiobook version:
Grover Gardener is brilliant as narrator, his style and manner suits the era and material perfectly. I can’t imagine anyone else eliciting the texture and ambiance of the times so on point.
Shirer is the author of the iconic Rise and Fall of The Third Reich. He is one of the most underrated writers of the 20th C.
A journalist who was on the scene of most of the first half of the 20th C’s most pivotal historical events.
From his roving reportage throughout Europe pre- and post-WWII, Shirer observes, interviews and reports on the notable WHO’s Who of the era, whether in politics, culture or the arts: Hitler, Churchill, Mussolini, Petain, Chamberlain, Attlee, Michael Collins, Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Gertrude Stein, Grant Wood et.al.
But for me, what is most fascinating are perhaps the descriptions of all the lesser known notables and Shirer’s highly honed sense of timing and ability to distill what is important to the story and likely to be of the highest historical import.
*Note on the audiobook version:
Grover Gardener is brilliant as narrator, his style and manner suits the era and material perfectly. I can’t imagine anyone else eliciting the texture and ambiance of the times so on point.
December 28, 2020
William Shirer was known by osmosis generally, due to his most famous work, Rise And Fall of The Third Reich, since I can remember during my adult years after a first post graduate degree; but it seemed daunting to take up reading a work so universally regarded with awe, and it wasn't until eighties that I took up Nightmare Years instead, thinking the title indicated the war and holocaust years. It was a tad baffling to find other interesting matters, instead.
Having now read five of his books, how one wishes one had read them much earlier! For sheer readability, and a truthful documentation, of the most important events of the century, there isn't a better alternative.
If there is a prejudice, it's that of a reader born post WWII, and familiar with the later events that Shirer comments only briefly on, such as republican presidents circa seventies and eighties. How right, how correct his his brief comments, which only brings home that it's worth beyond price to read his accounts of earlier decades.
............
The Start (1904-1930)
Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.
So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.
He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.
The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.
The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.
The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.
Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.
January 11, 2017.
............
The Nightmare Years (1930-1940)
The title is self explanatory, about the subject. What is less known about those years is for example discoveries, such as the archeological discovery of some evidence of a great flood, shown by excavated layers of earth, around general area of Babylon (I could be mistaken about the location, but the years since reading this were not exactly spent thinking and memorising it - this is the first time I am thinking about the book since having finished reading it), and many other such things.
Feb 05, 2016.
............
A Native's Return (1945-1988)
Shirer, writing of his settling down to life in Berkshires after his having said farewell to Europe, talks of his thoughts of hereafter. His reference to Gandhi and his views of attempts of his Christian friends to convert him are interesting, and Shirer points out that Thomas Jefferson had views very similar to those of Gandhi.
His final words on the topic about being unable to believe, as a result of having been to India, that everyone not Christian would go to hell, are reassuring about his visit to India having been not in vain, after all.
............
The extensive review is at
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
............
................................................
................................................
November 27, 2020.
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
December 28, 2020.
................................................
................................................
Merged review:
William Shirer was known by osmosis generally, due to his most famous work, Rise And Fall of The Third Reich, since I can remember during my adult years after a first post graduate degree; but it seemed daunting to take up reading a work so universally regarded with awe, and it wasn't until eighties that I took up Nightmare Years instead, thinking the title indicated the war and holocaust years. It was a tad baffling to find other interesting matters, instead.
Having now read five of his books, how one wishes one had read them much earlier! For sheer readability, and a truthful documentation, of the most important events of the century, there isn't a better alternative.
If there is a prejudice, it's that of a reader born post WWII, and familiar with the later events that Shirer comments only briefly on, such as republican presidents circa seventies and eighties. How right, how correct his his brief comments, which only brings home that it's worth beyond price to read his accounts of earlier decades.
............
The Start (1904-1930)
Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.
So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.
He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.
The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.
The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.
The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.
Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.
January 11, 2017.
............
The Nightmare Years (1930-1940)
The title is self explanatory, about the subject. What is less known about those years is for example discoveries, such as the archeological discovery of some evidence of a great flood, shown by excavated layers of earth, around general area of Babylon (I could be mistaken about the location, but the years since reading this were not exactly spent thinking and memorising it - this is the first time I am thinking about the book since having finished reading it), and many other such things.
Feb 05, 2016.
............
A Native's Return (1945-1988)
Shirer, writing of his settling down to life in Berkshires after his having said farewell to Europe, talks of his thoughts of hereafter. His reference to Gandhi and his views of attempts of his Christian friends to convert him are interesting, and Shirer points out that Thomas Jefferson had views very similar to those of Gandhi.
His final words on the topic about being unable to believe, as a result of having been to India, that everyone not Christian would go to hell, are reassuring about his visit to India having been not in vain, after all.
............
The extensive review is at
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
............
................................................
................................................
November 27, 2020.
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
December 28, 2020.
................................................
................................................
Having now read five of his books, how one wishes one had read them much earlier! For sheer readability, and a truthful documentation, of the most important events of the century, there isn't a better alternative.
If there is a prejudice, it's that of a reader born post WWII, and familiar with the later events that Shirer comments only briefly on, such as republican presidents circa seventies and eighties. How right, how correct his his brief comments, which only brings home that it's worth beyond price to read his accounts of earlier decades.
............
The Start (1904-1930)
Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.
So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.
He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.
The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.
The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.
The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.
Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.
January 11, 2017.
............
The Nightmare Years (1930-1940)
The title is self explanatory, about the subject. What is less known about those years is for example discoveries, such as the archeological discovery of some evidence of a great flood, shown by excavated layers of earth, around general area of Babylon (I could be mistaken about the location, but the years since reading this were not exactly spent thinking and memorising it - this is the first time I am thinking about the book since having finished reading it), and many other such things.
Feb 05, 2016.
............
A Native's Return (1945-1988)
Shirer, writing of his settling down to life in Berkshires after his having said farewell to Europe, talks of his thoughts of hereafter. His reference to Gandhi and his views of attempts of his Christian friends to convert him are interesting, and Shirer points out that Thomas Jefferson had views very similar to those of Gandhi.
His final words on the topic about being unable to believe, as a result of having been to India, that everyone not Christian would go to hell, are reassuring about his visit to India having been not in vain, after all.
............
The extensive review is at
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
............
................................................
................................................
November 27, 2020.
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
December 28, 2020.
................................................
................................................
Merged review:
William Shirer was known by osmosis generally, due to his most famous work, Rise And Fall of The Third Reich, since I can remember during my adult years after a first post graduate degree; but it seemed daunting to take up reading a work so universally regarded with awe, and it wasn't until eighties that I took up Nightmare Years instead, thinking the title indicated the war and holocaust years. It was a tad baffling to find other interesting matters, instead.
Having now read five of his books, how one wishes one had read them much earlier! For sheer readability, and a truthful documentation, of the most important events of the century, there isn't a better alternative.
If there is a prejudice, it's that of a reader born post WWII, and familiar with the later events that Shirer comments only briefly on, such as republican presidents circa seventies and eighties. How right, how correct his his brief comments, which only brings home that it's worth beyond price to read his accounts of earlier decades.
............
The Start (1904-1930)
Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.
So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.
He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.
The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.
The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.
The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.
Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.
January 11, 2017.
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The Nightmare Years (1930-1940)
The title is self explanatory, about the subject. What is less known about those years is for example discoveries, such as the archeological discovery of some evidence of a great flood, shown by excavated layers of earth, around general area of Babylon (I could be mistaken about the location, but the years since reading this were not exactly spent thinking and memorising it - this is the first time I am thinking about the book since having finished reading it), and many other such things.
Feb 05, 2016.
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A Native's Return (1945-1988)
Shirer, writing of his settling down to life in Berkshires after his having said farewell to Europe, talks of his thoughts of hereafter. His reference to Gandhi and his views of attempts of his Christian friends to convert him are interesting, and Shirer points out that Thomas Jefferson had views very similar to those of Gandhi.
His final words on the topic about being unable to believe, as a result of having been to India, that everyone not Christian would go to hell, are reassuring about his visit to India having been not in vain, after all.
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The extensive review is at
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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November 27, 2020.
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December 28, 2020.
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November 24, 2017
World War II Memoir
I read the first two three of this book. Even though it was fascinating and well written, I had to stop reading after the end of the war. There is so much information to take in. I loved what I read, and I all read the last section-1945 to 1984- after I have absorbed this.
I read the first two three of this book. Even though it was fascinating and well written, I had to stop reading after the end of the war. There is so much information to take in. I loved what I read, and I all read the last section-1945 to 1984- after I have absorbed this.
December 30, 2017
self centered, egotistical only concerned with William L Shirer!
recommend to no one - too boring and repetitious and that's being kind.
the world "owed him a living" and didn't deliver!
recommend to no one - too boring and repetitious and that's being kind.
the world "owed him a living" and didn't deliver!
October 29, 2026
Maybe the self biography I’ve enjoyed most, honest, detailed, full of epic moments, his love for the family, his openness and the way he saw the world.
Amazing how he foresaw that Gorbachev would not have a long stay in power in 1986, pure wisdom.
Amazing how he foresaw that Gorbachev would not have a long stay in power in 1986, pure wisdom.
April 8, 2023
This book is really amazing! I was mostly interested in "The Nightmare Years", but I'm glad I read the whole thing (but not the footnotes but I kind of which I had). It really did take a whole month to read even though I read 40-50 pages most days. All of it was interesting. I was really happy that there are pictures in several places. These don't show up that well on a kindle, but well enough.
July 2, 2023
I rate the first two books as 5 and the last a 3. This was a great set and an amazing story.
September 19, 2023
Interesting man behind the scenes
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews