Growing Up
Sep 2011 · Rosetta Books
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7 reviews
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288
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About this ebook
The Pulitzer Prize–winning memoir about coming of age in America between the world wars: "So warm, so likable and so disarmingly funny" ( The New York Times).
One of the New York Times' "50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years"
Ranging from the backwoods of Virginia to a New Jersey commuter town to the city of Baltimore, this remarkable memoir recounts Russell Baker's experience of growing up in pre–World War II America, before he went on to a celebrated career in journalism.
With poignant, humorous tales of powerful love, awkward sex, and courage in the face of adversity, Baker reveals how he helped his mother and family through the Great Depression by delivering papers and hustling subscriptions to the Saturday Evening Post—a job which introduced him to bullies, mentors, and heroes who endured this national disaster with hard work and good cheer.
Called "a treasure" by Anne Tyler and "a blessing" by Time magazine, this autobiography is a modern-day classic—"a wondrous book [with scenes] as funny and touching as Mark Twain's" ( Los Angeles Times Book Review).
"In lovely, haunting prose, he has told a story that is deeply in the American grain." — The Washington Post Book World
"A terrific book." — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
One of the New York Times' "50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years"
Ranging from the backwoods of Virginia to a New Jersey commuter town to the city of Baltimore, this remarkable memoir recounts Russell Baker's experience of growing up in pre–World War II America, before he went on to a celebrated career in journalism.
With poignant, humorous tales of powerful love, awkward sex, and courage in the face of adversity, Baker reveals how he helped his mother and family through the Great Depression by delivering papers and hustling subscriptions to the Saturday Evening Post—a job which introduced him to bullies, mentors, and heroes who endured this national disaster with hard work and good cheer.
Called "a treasure" by Anne Tyler and "a blessing" by Time magazine, this autobiography is a modern-day classic—"a wondrous book [with scenes] as funny and touching as Mark Twain's" ( Los Angeles Times Book Review).
"In lovely, haunting prose, he has told a story that is deeply in the American grain." — The Washington Post Book World
"A terrific book." — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Pulitzer Prize–winning memoir about coming of age in America between the world wars: "So warm, so likable and so disarmingly funny" ( The New York Times).
One of the New York Times' "50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years"
Ranging from the backwoods of Virginia to a New Jersey commuter town...
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Ratings and reviews
7 reviews
nancy roark
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June 8, 2025
awesome when I finish this book I went searching for more books by this author he just tells it plane and down to earth he is a good storyteller
Binny Thomas
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April 10, 2026
I love this book, read it when I was in 6th grade .... I'm 34 years old now .. and always remembered this book and the author.
A Google user
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December 8, 2014
Loved it
About the author
Russell Baker won the 1979 George Polk Award for Commentary, the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary, and the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Biography for his book Growing Up (1982). He served as a long-time columnist for the New York Times, writing the syndicated column "Observer" and hosted the PBS show Masterpiece Theatre. He also wrote a sequel to Growing Up called The Good Times (1989).
Baker's career began in 1947 at the Baltimore Sun, going on to join the Washington Bureau of the New York Times in 1954, covering national politics, in particular Congress and the White House. "Observer" began in 1962 and covered everything from national controversies to personal experiences. Baker retired from column writing in 1998, after more than three decades of well-loved and well-read writing.
Baker's career began in 1947 at the Baltimore Sun, going on to join the Washington Bureau of the New York Times in 1954, covering national politics, in particular Congress and the White House. "Observer" began in 1962 and covered everything from national controversies to personal experiences. Baker retired from column writing in 1998, after more than three decades of well-loved and well-read writing.
Russell Baker won the 1979 George Polk Award for Commentary, the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary, and the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Biography for his book Growing Up (1982). He served as a long-time columnist for the New York Times, writing the syndicated column "Observer" and host...
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