As I Remember: An Autobiography by Lillian Gilbreth [Hardcover]

Lillian Gilbreth (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Gilbreth is perhaps best known as the mother of 12 from her affectionate, often humorous portrait of family life in Cheaper by the Dozen (1948). In addition to raising a large family, she had a long, successful professional career in pioneering motion studies and industrial psychology. She earned a doctorate and collaborated with her husband, Frank Gilbreth, until his sudden death in 1924. In this autobiography, begun in 1941 after her husband's death, she describes her childhood and her early work and family life. Regrettably, the autobiography stops in 1941, more than 30 years before she died. In those later years, she continued on her own to publish books, lecture at colleges, work on presidential commissions, and amass a collection of honorary degrees and awards. There is not yet a full-length biography of Lillian Gilbreth, but this autobiography offers insights into the personal and professional life of a remarkably successful woman. Appropriate for larger public and women's studies collections.?Patricia A. Beaber, Trenton State Coll. Lib., Lawrenceville, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 249 pages
• Publisher: Inst of Industrial Engineers (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898061865
• ISBN-13: 978-0898061864
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,397,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An insightful reminisence, January 17, 1999

By 

Callie A. Collins - See all my reviews

This review is from: As I Remember: An Autobiography by Lillian Gilbreth (Hardcover)

After reading "Cheaper by the Dozen", "Belles on their Toes", and "I'm a Lucky Guy", this book filled in the essential details for throughly understaning the Gilbreth lifestyle. The aforementioned children's books provoked my interest, leading me to seek further information on this remarkable family. This book, aimed at the adult level, depicts in acute detail Dr. Lillian Gilbreth's family history, childhood, education, and motion study work. Exciting recolletions of work and travel fill this volume, which is entrancing form cover to cover. The style in which this book was written provokes thoughts of listening to a warm elderly woman, carefully sharing how a shy child became a "pioneer" in women's work, and a marvel in her day. There are numerous typographical and grammatical errors in the text, which are pardonable if the reader considers that these are the actual written words of Dr. Lillian Gilbreth, apparently unedited. The only other disappointment is that this manuscript was unpublished for so many decades that it has not been updated. It does not elaborate on her lasting contributions to industrial engineering today, nor does it reveal which of her children are still surviving. However, there are many useful addresses and contacts mentioned that would provide some update on the issues of industrial engineering. I would recommed this book to anyone interested in the life and work of Lillian Gilbreth or her field, as she should be an inspirational role model for all young women.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining; Hurmorous way of writing, February 14, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: As I Remember: An Autobiography by Lillian Gilbreth (Hardcover)

This book is a really great read if you want to get a feel for Lillian Gilbreth's personality (which is a hurmorous, optimistic personality)or if you want to learn about her family life. But if you're writing a term paper, like I am, and trying just to get facts about her life and not cute stories about the children getting their tonsils out, then this is not the book for you. This is an interesting book, and I would recommend it, just not for the facts it gives you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inaccurate Editorial Review, June 2, 2011

By 

AnnaLee "kvelling_mom" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: As I Remember: An Autobiography by Lillian Gilbreth (Hardcover)

I have not read this book, but the editorial review on Amazon's page needs updating. First of all, it is not Lillian who wrote Cheaper by the Dozen, but two of her children: Ernestine and Frank. Secondly, there does indeed exist a full biography of Lillian Gilbreth titled "Making Time: Lillian Moller Gilbreth - A life beyond Cheaper by the Dozen" by Jane Lancaster. It is readily available on Amazon, and provides an extremely detailed account of her personal life, though perhaps not much insight into the anecdotes found in Cheaper by the Dozen.