Customer Reviews

The Girl Watchers Club: Lessons from the Battlefields of Life

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I've been a Harry Stein fan for 25 years. It's (unfortunately) kind of a cult thing. I read his 'Ethics' columns in Esquire for years. 'Hoopla' is on my top ten most re-read novels. I call myself a writer but 'Hoopla' is one of those amazing books you read now and again which makes you want to take up another preoccupation like, say, finger painting. Since, I've read every novel or non-fiction book he's written and was entertained, educated and/or moved each time. This being said, when recently given 'The Girl Watchers Club' by a friend, I confess the subject matter didn't raise the customary excitement. Yeah, yeah, the Greatest Generation, saved humanity in the last crystal-clear good guys-bad guys war. I know this already, I honor them and know, deep-down, that their generation evinced a whole lot more character and courage than my 60's one ever did, or, more to the point, continues to do.

A few nights later,late but wide-awake, I picked the book up expecting to be lulled to sleep soon enough. Well I wasn't, instead I got hooked and couldn't put it down until around 4 AM. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, these WWII vets had all led amazing if mostly quiet lives. Harry Stein cost me two more relatively sleepless nights as I couldn't wait to get back to the Girl Watcher's Club each evening. It is a book which highlights Stein's strengths when he's wearing his journalist hat--a truly conversational tone. The sort of conversation you have with a good, trusted friend who happens to be incredibly smart and insightful in the bargain but possessed with the sort of genuine modesty and self-doubt you hope you too possess.

In short, these men, veterans of a horror I can only try to imagine, went on to lead full lives without anger and personify everything that is great about America and ought to be conserved and honored. We're a nation of quirky, industrious, funny, generous and basically good people. Reading this fine book reminds us of this truth. It makes you want to be as life-affirming as Moe and Boyd and Harry, to emulate their positive attitudes in the face of an increasingly baffling and dangerous world.

How to make a group of seemingly ordinary superannuated buddies utterly fascinating.

The immediate parallels might seem to be "Band of Brothers", "The Greatest Generation", "Faith of Our Fathers", or something by Mitch Albom. Furgedaboudit. This is better; much better.

You really get to know & enjoy this lively group, just simple guys at first, but ultimately, you realize, complex. And you'll understand how guys from humble beginnings who were allowed to develop to their full potential in a free society helped make America great in the Twentieth Century.

You'll also understand what distinguishes these guys from too many self indulgent ban-the-bomb, burn-the bra members of the author's own generation, to the detriment of the latter.
And, I'd gather, giving the back of his hand to such self indulgent boomers is what has kept the author off TV's list of PC author-interviewees.

But, lest I've done the author a disservice by making his book sound like an angry work or a pure message book, be assured it's not. It's subtle & nuanced, to use an au courant buzzword & all open-minded boomers will love it. As will all non boomers.

Thomas Comerford Dallas TX

THE GIRL WATCHERS CLUB could be a documentary but the skill of the writing makes it read like a novel. The men of the group care about each other; they care about their families; they care about their country; Harry Stein grows to care about them himself, regardless of how his generation felt about "people over thirty" in the 1960s. The book not only rings nostalgic bells for readers who shared those years, but it is extremely important that young people read it in order to understand what their families experienced in the years of depression and war, and to be reminded to express appreciation of their parents while there is still time to do so. There are many lessons to be learned from reading the book. It will end all too quickly because the reader has come to care for its cast of characters.

For those of us who grew up in the pre-WWII era, we can identify with the tales of pre-war, wartime, and post-war discussions which are bandied about among guys who were mostly service veterans. Harry Stein has adroitly delved into the personalities of each, and one feels that he knows each of the cast personally by the end of the reading. From the blunt but innocence of "Moe," we are privy to the earthy approach of some of the others. We get to know about the mental acumen of "Cooper" and are saddened by his physical deterioration. Kudos to Harry Stein for bringing us another version, but focused on fewer people, of "The Greatest Generation."

As I was reading this book we were talking about it around the office and it has led to some great discussions because there are 3 different generations represented in my office and 3 very different perceptions of "the greatest generation". Whether you agree with the premise or motives behind war, or believe there is a God or not, or if you just want to read what some very interesting characters have to say, Harry Stein's book is a must read.
The men themselves have great life stories to share, and I have to admit, I've developed a bit of a crush on the crusty and crazy Moe. If he were only 45 years younger and single....
Stein has done an outstanding job of tying in the ideals from his parents' generation to his experience in the 60s to the changes that are sweeping our country now. I don't think he demonstrated "liberal guilt" as much as he just blatantly reveals that maybe the social changes of the 60s, although had their history-making moments, may have gone too far in some ways and undermined what the older generations had worked for.
If nothing else, pick up a copy and read Chapter 14. Outstanding. Well-written and thought provoking. This is one to share.

Mr Stein gracefully puts his ideology aside for this book and lets Moe, Stewart, Huff and Cooper take over. And let me tell you, these guys have a lot to say - and on every subject imaginable! (You mean my generation didn't invent sex???) As they unsentimentally recount their war experiences & limn the sublime and tragic details of their lives, you come to realize not what divides the generations who succeed each other on this planet, but what binds us together: our utter human-ness and dependance on each other. It's a truly inspiring book, filled with moments large and small and has something to say to everyone, regardless of his or her generation or political persuasion

What do you get when a group of retired men in their eighties get together and discuss life? This group of men have been doing just that for years, and they have formed powerful bonds of friendship that resonate throughout the book. These men came of age during the Great Depression of the 1930's and World War II, so that they are part of what Tom Brokaw has called the "Greatest Generation," a label that none of them would willingly accept for themselves. These men share the stories of their lives and expound upon the lessons they have gleaned from their lives. They have strong opinions, many of which are out of fashion these days, which are tempered by their good humor and camaraderie. This is a terrifically candid look into the lives of a group of men who have lead full lives and are comfortable with who they are and what they've accomplished. They certainly could serve as a model for how to grow old gracefully.

Hey - I meant to give this 5 stars in my review! Must've hit 4 by mistake. I obviously liked the book a lot - I bought 8 copies! Please change my rating. Thanks.

Susan in Spencertown

Wasn't quite sure what to expect.
Read the reviews on the back cover, and the parts on the inside cover. Made it sound interesting.

And it is!

One very interesting group of characters! Moe in particular. Just a little off the wall!

The "Serenity Prayer" priceless!

The lives these guys led and their views since retirement are very good.

Full marks to the author, who is related to one of the subjects, for doing the interviews, the legwork and the writing.

GREAT READ!

I enjoyed listening to Stein's transcription of these fascinating, eccentric and brave men. They have a lot to say and Stein gives them their due..but when he starts editorializing, he can be a bit annoying. In his introduction(and at various times throughout the book) Stein gets into the "good old days" business. Those days weren't all that good.
Also, I think he asumes that all of the "greatest generation" were rather conservative. Not true. They probably were more self-reliant and a bit more brave..though some were brave communists and so on, who fought in the Spanish Civil War or in the leftist underground.
All the same, he does honor these special WW11 veterans and I am glad I read the book.