Dive into an era that's often painted as squeaky clean and innocent, only to find layers upon layers of cultural, political, and technological upheaval! With his engaging, journalistic storytelling, David Halberstam brings the 1950s to life through a colorful cast of characters - think politicians, rebels, innovators, and icons from Elvis to Eisenhower. This book is a treat for anyone curious about how the so-called 'quiet' decade set the stage for the social revolutions that followed. Fans of narrative nonfiction, pop culture history, or just great storytelling will find plenty to love here, especially if you enjoy learning about the roots of today’s America.

Who May Not Like This Book:

If you’re after a deeply academic or comprehensive global history, you might be disappointed. The focus here is very much on the US, and some subjects like feminist or LGBTQ histories, environmental issues, and financial matters get little airtime. Halberstam’s personal opinions pop up, which can feel unbalanced, and the non-chronological, vignette-filled structure might leave you wishing for a more analytical or tightly organized approach. Some found the coverage of certain topics (like pop culture) too detailed while other critical areas were glossed over. The book’s sheer size and occasional dry patches don’t help, either!

A big, entertaining, and sometimes opinionated rollercoaster through 1950s America - rich in stories and personalities, but not your heavyweight academic history. Great for a lively, eye-opening crash course into a misunderstood decade.

About:

'The Fifties' by David Halberstam is a detailed account of American history during the 1950s, covering topics such as housing, civil rights, foreign policy, pop culture, and more. The author presents the decade as a period of significant social, cultural, and political turmoil that laid the groundwork for the counter-cultural revolution of the 1960s. Through a series of historical short stories, Halberstam vividly depicts how events from the 1950s have deep and profound roots influencing the world we live in today.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is accessible and engaging, employing a narrative journalistic approach that appeals to a general audience.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on the United States in the 1950s, detailing important events and cultural shifts through biographical accounts.

Setting:

The setting is predominantly the United States in the 1950s, incorporating relevant events from the late 1940s.

Pacing:

Pacing is generally fast and engaging, though some parts can delve into less exciting detail.

IN THE BEGINNING, THAT era was dominated by the shadow of a man no longer there—Franklin D. Roosevelt. He had died in 1945, but his impact on American politics was so profound that even the most power...

Genres:

Topics:

civil rights movement

mccarthyism

popular culture

feminism and gender roles

foreign policy

technological advancements

politics and administration

media influence

Notes:

The Fifties focuses mainly on American history and culture, making it seem insular compared to global historical perspectives.

The book offers a popular rather than academic approach to history, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Halberstam's coverage of the decade includes cultural phenomena like rock and roll, basketball, and quiz shows, but critiques suggest it sometimes overshadows more significant events.

The narrative style blends character sketches with historical events, resembling a series of interesting biographies.

The author was personally involved in the decade as a young adult, which influenced his perspective and writing style.

Noteworthy topics include the significance of the Midwest in American culture, exemplified by family dynamics and car culture on television.

The book presents the ironic nature of U.S. foreign policy during Eisenhower's presidency, including skepticism about the military-industrial complex.

Halberstam provides details about the development of the birth control pill and the racial injustices faced by African Americans, particularly in the Jim Crow South.

The portrayal of iconic figures like Betty Friedan and Charles Van Doren reveals varied depths of character, with critiques often targeting the 'saintly' portrayals of civil rights leaders.

There are gaps in the historical narrative, including feminist history and environmental concerns, which were less emphasized during the time of writing.

Halberstam's narrative is driven by interviews and interpretations of significant figures, which can lead to biases in how subjects are portrayed.

The book’s conversational tone makes it a 'page-turner,' despite its length of over 700 pages, and it includes many surprising details about the era.

The Fifties attempts to show that the decade was more complex and transformative than typically portrayed, influencing events that unfolded in the 1960s.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for The Fifties include discussions of racism, sexism, McCarthyism, and other societal tensions that may be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

The Fifties is a sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural history of the ten years that Halberstam regards as seminal in determining what our nation is today. Halberstam offers portraits of not only the titans of the age: Eisenhower Dulles, Oppenheimer, MacArthur, Hoover, and Nixon, but also of Harley Earl, who put fins on cars; Dick and Mac McDonald and Ray Kroc, who mass-produced the American hamburger; Kemmons Wilson, who placed his Holiday Inns along the nation's roadsides; U-2 pilot Gary Francis Powers; Grace Metalious, who wrote Peyton Place; and "Goody" Pincus, who led the team that invented the Pill.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

1993

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872 pages

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About the Author:

David Halberstam was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of numerous books, including The Best and the Brightest, The Powers That Be, The Reckoning, Summer of '49, Playing for Keeps, and War in a Time of Peace. He died in April 2007.

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The Fifties

David Halberstam

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