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: Engineering & Management Press (May 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 (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #886,036 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Callie A. Collins (Cody, Wyoming, USA) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 9 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 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.

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Gilbreth researchers; not for entertainment, May 15, 2003

By	Diane R. Smith (Baytown, TX United States) - See all my reviews

While I agree with Ms. Collins' assessment of this book, and realize it is Mrs. Gilbreth's unedited writings, I found the book to be only a rather dry collection of memories. I guess I hoped to find another "Cheaper by the Dozen" or "Belles on Their Toes" for entertainment, which is a rather unfair expectation. Mrs. Gilbreth does not write to entertain. Her writing style is completely unadorned by either humor or color; she states facts alone (Frank and Ernestine must have inherited their father's humor).
What did irritate me is her attitude toward her daughter, Mary. Perhaps not well-known, this attitude was mentioned in "Time Out For Happiness." The Gilbreths buried their understandably overwhelming grief for Mary and never spoke of her again. This book confirms that fact. Nowhere is Mary mentioned after her death. Mrs. Gilbreth spoke of Mary as part of her husband's 'project' and not a living, breathing child, whose brief life should have been celebrated, not mourned. She says the services of a psychiatrist would have 'adjusted' the situation, 'but it was not adjusted, and it left a permanent scar.' As much money as they apparently had, why they did not seek psychiatric help in the aftermath is beyond me. I was overjoyed to see a picture of Mary; in fact, the pictures throughout the book are fascinating. Mrs. Gilbreth was a wonderful woman, who contributed greatly to humanity, and should be so honored. But she wasn't a writer.