Start reading Recollections on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

 
 
 

Try it free

Sample the beginning of this book for free

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.
Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of the Fabulous Fifties
 
 

Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of the Fabulous Fifties [Kindle Edition]

Jim Chambers
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)

Digital List Price: $2.99 What's this?
Print List Price: $14.00
Prime Members: $0.00 (read for free) Prime Eligible
Kindle Purchase Price: $2.99
When Purchased, You Save: $11.01 (79%)

  • Includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

For Kindle Device Owners

Borrow this book for free, with no due dates, if you are a Kindle owner and Prime member. If you don't own a Kindle, get yours today. If you're not a Prime member, start your one month free trial today. You can borrow this book from your Kindle device.

With Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free — including over 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers — as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates. Learn more about Kindle Owners' Lending Library.

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $2.99  
Paperback $13.30  


Editorial Reviews

Product Description

About the Author: Jim Chambers was born in 1946, nine months and five days after his father returned from serving with the U.S. 8th Air Force in England during World War II. After earning two engineering degrees at Georgia Tech, he spent the next 40 years designing highways in Georgia. Besides writing, Chambers is an avid amateur photographer and scuba diver. His land and underwater photography has been published in such prestigious publications as National Geographic, Popular Photography, and Parade Magazine.

About the Book: As one of the first post-WWII Baby Boomers, the author's childhood and early teenage years were in the 1950s, a remarkable decade for the United States that saw enormous political, technological, and cultural changes. Although many books have covered the headline-making events of the era in great detail, few of these books give the reader a real feel for what daily life was like for Americans living in that decade, especially for kids growing up then. The author remembers the little nuts and bolts things of daily life for families during the fascinating decade known as the Fabulous Fifties. "Recollections" perfectly blends paying homage to the little day-to-day rituals with a larger scale examination of social issues and mores of the times, and it’s equally entertaining on either level. "Recollections" is a warm, lovingly honest, and fascinating portrait of America in the mid-20th Century.

Praise for "Recollections":
Remembering these times fondly, Chambers gives readers a charming read and something to lift the spirits of a happier time. "Recollections" is well worth considering. - Midwest Book Review

From scene to scene, I found myself caught up in images that Norman Rockwell could have painted. - Richard Kenyada, author of "The Apology" and "Reflections in the Dark room: The Black Essays"

From the clothes drying on the line in the backyard to Leave It To Beaver playing on the black and white TV set, "Recollections" is a fantastic journey down memory lane for the baby boomers and a trivia filled, historical reference for the younger generations. - Shannon Yarbrough, The LL Book Review

The engaging, conversational style of this book made it very difficult to put down. And it was almost like a treasure hunt -- as I'd be reading an account of popular candies or toys of the day, I'd think of one myself and eagerly wait to see if it was mentioned. Unfailingly, it was. - Melanie Frazier

Reading his book reminded me of how much I miss watching Tim Russert on MEET THE PRESS every Sunday: they both share an easy-going charm and natural humor that is rarely found in any corner of the world. - Russell Atwood, author of "East Village Noir"

"Recollections" was selected by The Kindle Review as the 25th best book by an independent author in the Kindle store.

"Recollections" was given five stars by Maria Schneider at Bear Mountain Books.

"Recollections" received a 5-star review at Red Adept Reviews by guest reviewer Christopher Meeks.

Product Details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 290 KB
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B002H9XTWI
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,223 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  •  Would you like to give feedback on images?


 

Customer Reviews

52 Reviews
5 star:
 (43)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (52 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Hula Hoops!, July 14, 2009
By 
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of the Fabulous Fifties (Kindle Edition)
Author James R. Chambers chose familiar territory to trumpet his arrival to the literary scene, and a welcome arrival it is. Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of The Fabulous Fifties is a wonderfully cohesive soundtrack and love letter to a bygone era. But don't let the title mislead you. Recollections is not a memoir; nor is it a history lesson. It is, rather, a lovingly honest portrait of America in the mid-20th Century.

Mr. Chambers has opened a time capsule, of sorts, that is as fresh and innocent today as it was in 1955. He allows the rest of us to be a fly on the wall as he strolls through a simpler time, when war was a cataclysmic explosion in history rather than a generational inheritance. A world where the children all rushed to Christmas trees that hovered over Hula Hoops and Frisbees, Erector Sets, Davy Crockett slippers. We were first turned on to science by Mr. Wizard, or our first microscope. It's all here, neatly folded and pressed.

As a fellow Baby Boomer, this book visits the street where I lived. Chambers writes about kids and school, arts and entertainment, shopping, politics, culture and the foods of the 1950's. The book is sometimes very funny, like when Chambers recalls that his school didn't need the armed security guards and metal detectors of today "because our enemies were already inside the school - the principal and the teachers." From scene to scene, I found myself caught up in images that Norman Rockwell could have painted. But Chambers uses his "canvas" as a window, as well as a mirror.

He allows for the real struggle, confusion and fear of the times. What child was not made to feel tiny in the Cold War era of bomb shelters and Apocalyptic threats? He lets the world know how our generation came upon it's fascination with all things electronic and gadget-y. And just when we are about to slip into an easy chair with our fond memories of homemade ice cream and Ozzie & Harriet, Chambers shakes up the scenery by calling up images of civil rights marches and segregation. But he does it as an affirmation, rather than an indictment, of America. He helps us to understand how the progress made in race relations during that decade prepared the nation for the broad brush strokes of civil rights advancement a decade later. So the book is not just about the 1950's. It's about who we were during that era, and what went into shaping our coming of age.

Perhaps school children of today who want to better understand their grandparents should scroll through the pages of Recollections with their parents. Both generations will find much admire and respect about our generation of Baby Boomers within the context of their times. And whenever you get frustrated with modern day realites - can't program the DVR, the smartphone is too darn smart, CNN gets it wrong again. Sit a spell and relax.

Jim Chambers left these tasty little bread crumbs along the road so that we can find our way home.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Baby Boomers, July 20, 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of the Fabulous Fifties (Kindle Edition)
I, too, am a Baby Boomer; though a few years younger than the author of "Recollections." We share many of the same memories, as I was constantly nodding vigorously and crying, "Yes, yes" as I took this poignant and humorous walk down Memory Lane. Mr. Chambers artfully interweaves interesting historical tidbits with his own recollections of The Fabulous Fifties.

So many words and phrases elicited a reflexive warm-and-fuzzy nostalgic grin -- The Weekly Reader; View Master; filling up your S&H Green Stamp book; Peanut Butter Logs. Even wince-inducing memories -- Cod Liver Oil, anyone? - brought a laugh, due to Mr. Chambers' hilarious description of being subjected to that indignity. At least we could get rid of the foul taste by licking the ice cream off the dasher of the old wooden churn!

"Recollections" perfectly blends paying homage to those little day-to-day rituals with a larger-scale examination of social issues and mores of the times. And it's equally entertaining on either level.

The book is neatly divided into 12 independent chapters, noted above, so for the reader short on time, it would be easy just to pick a topic of interest and dive in. I can guarantee you, though -- that chapter is going to make you hungry for more. The engaging, conversational style of this book made it very difficult to put down. And it was almost like a treasure hunt -- as I'd be reading an account of popular candies or toys of the day, I'd think of one myself and eagerly wait to see if it was mentioned. Unfailingly, it was. I thought I had caught an omission once when I found no reference to the intoxicating smell of a fresh mimeograph in the "School" section -- but not to worry, it was there in the subsequent chapter on "Gadgets and Gizmos."

Before I read this book, I may have admitted, if pressed, that I was probably overly romanticizing and glorifying my "good old days" -- but now, I'm not so sure. The innocence and humanity and optimism of this time in history seem hard to dispute after reading this funny but loving tribute to this era.


Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A trip down memory lane., August 16, 2009
By 
This review is from: Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of the Fabulous Fifties (Kindle Edition)
This book provides a fabulous trip down memory lane. Born in 1959, this fast reading book brought back plenty of memories I had forgotten. Thank you Mr. Chambers for the time capsule.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews











Only search this product's reviews



More About the Author

Jim Chambers was born in 1946, nine months and five days after his father returned from serving with the U.S. 8th Air Force in England during World War II. After earning two engineering degrees at Georgia Tech, he spent the next 40 years designing highways in Georgia. Besides writing, Chambers is an avid amateur photographer and scuba diver. His land and underwater photography has been published in such prestigious publications as National Geographic, Popular Science, and Parade Magazine.

"Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of the Fabulous Fifties" is Jim's first book.


Popular Highlights

 (What's this?)
&quote;
Church of Scientology. Created in 1953 &quote;
Highlighted by 6 Kindle users
&quote;
In the 1950s, a typical one-hour show included eight minutes of commercials, compared to eighteen minutes today. &quote;
Highlighted by 5 Kindle users
&quote;
Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451), Robert A. Heinlein (Tunnel in the Sky), and Isaac Asimov (I, Robot). &quote;
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(244)
(218)
(195)
(179)
(169)
(148)
(109)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Recollections 2 Jul 14, 2010
Recollections 0 Oct 10, 2009
See all 2 discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
   
Related forums




Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject