A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures [Hardcover]

Ben Bradlee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995

The glamorous, celebrity-filled memoirs of newspaperman Ben Bradlee, whose role in the Watergate scandal was immortalized in "All the President's Men" by Jason Robards. This is the story of how he changed a small Southern newspaper into an internationally recognized and respected newspaper.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ben Bradlee's career as a journalist encompassed many of the most important events of the late 20th century: from World War II to Watergate, from the domestic revolutions of the '60s to the international revolutions of the '90s. While serving as the Washington Post's Executive Editor from 1968 to 1991, the newspaper became a world-renowned and respected model of fearless and innovative journalism. A witty and candid story of a good life -- and a great read.

From Publishers Weekly

Executive editor of the Washington Post from 1965 to 1991, Bradlee helped remake the newspaper into the influential voice it is today. His fluid memoir ably recounts his rich life but offers few revelations (he claims he knew nothing of his friend JFK's promiscuity) and little deep self-criticism. Shaped more by his naval service than by Harvard, in 1951 the well-born Bostonian gave up a journalism job in Washington to become a press attache in Paris, where he buddied up with Art Buchwald and moved to Newsweek. Transferred back to Washington, he was assigned to cover his neighbor JFK, who was then a senator, and rose to power at the magazine's newly purchased Post. Bradlee's tales of Watergate, the Pentagon papers and other big stories are told well enough, and he thoughtfully ventilates in-house debates on issues of privacy and national security. Candid about his marital difficulties and affairs, Bradlee found happiness in 1978 by marrying writer Sally Quinn; he's now involved in civic projects and fatherhood. First serial to Newsweek.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684808943
• ISBN-13: 978-0684808949
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing short of insightful and entertaining, June 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures (Hardcover)

I first heard the name Ben Bradlee while watching "All the President's Men" in 11th grade history class. I'm a big fan of Watergate and all its intricacies, so I bought the book. It really surprised me. Being an autobiography, I wasn't expecting much, but this is truly a good book. Bradlee shares with us his life in full...his ups and downs...loves and lost loves. He also gives a more personal account of JFK. His devotion to and love for journalism is something that should be applauded...and copied. This book shows that there are some people out there who still believe in publishing good, honest news. If you want to read a good book about a great newpaperman, this is the one to read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ben is a good editor!, December 15, 2002

By 

Toshio Fukuhara (Yokohama, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures (Hardcover)

I read this Ben Bradlee's memoir after I had read his boss Katherine Graham's 642-page grossly wordy "A Personal History." It didn't take me long to realize that "A Good Life" is a work of a good editor. His writing is concise and well focused without trying to get into excessive details, often only to bore readers, as both his boss and Maggie Thatcher successfully did with their auto-biographies. He's also so honest and candite about his personal life, including that of between the sheets.
When you are approaching 80, what's he got to lose, I guess.
For a non-native English speaking reader like me, it is also easy to read with plain and casual vocabulary and expressions. It almost reads as if the whole book was dictated. If you read All The President's Men, Final Days and A Personal History and enjoyed them, A Good Life is a must read to complete your Watergate experience.