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Decades of Childhood
A 1960s Childhood: From Thunderbirds to Beatlemania
Do you remember Beatlemania? Radio Caroline? Mods and Rockers? The very first miniskirts? Then the chances are you were born in the or around 1960. To the young people of today, the 1960s seems like another age. But for those who grew up in this decade, school life, 'mod' fashions and sixties pop music are still fresh in their minds. From James Bond to Sindy dolls and playing hopscotch in the street, life was very different to how it is now. After the tough and frugal years of the fifties, the sixties was a boom period, a time of changed attitudes and improved lifestyles. With chapters on home and school life, games and hobbies, music and fashion, alongside a selection of charming illustrations, this delightful compendium of memories will appeal to all who grew up in this lively era. Take a nostalgic look at what it was like to grow up during the sixties and recapture all aspects of life back then.
PAUL FEENEY is a writer and part-time business consultant. He has also written a local history of Highgate and A 1950s from Tin Baths to Bread and Dripping. He lives in Surrey.
"If you grew up in the Swinging Sixties, you’ll love Paul Feeney’s A 1960s Childhood." - Reviewed in Yours Magazine, 23rd Feb ’10.
"The author captures the atmosphere and 'furniture' of the Sixties to perfection, even recreating a typical family Christmas of the time. Whether you were a child or an adult in that most eventful decade, this excellent book, with charming black and white illustrations, will throw up lots of talking points." - Reviewed in This England, Summer 2010 edition
PAUL FEENEY is a writer and part-time business consultant. He has also written a local history of Highgate and A 1950s from Tin Baths to Bread and Dripping. He lives in Surrey.
"If you grew up in the Swinging Sixties, you’ll love Paul Feeney’s A 1960s Childhood." - Reviewed in Yours Magazine, 23rd Feb ’10.
"The author captures the atmosphere and 'furniture' of the Sixties to perfection, even recreating a typical family Christmas of the time. Whether you were a child or an adult in that most eventful decade, this excellent book, with charming black and white illustrations, will throw up lots of talking points." - Reviewed in This England, Summer 2010 edition
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First published November 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 28, 2021
Not really for people born in the 60s (which is probably my fault for misinterpreting the title) - it is aimed mostly at people born in the mid-50s, so although it was interesting (if rather heavy on lists), it wasn’t what I was hoping for.
May 5, 2021
Większość z nas doskonale zna rzeczywistość amerykańskich "cudownych lat 60-tych" z tego, co w naszej świadomości i pamięci zaszczepiły amerykańskie seriale, filmy i literatura, których twórcy osadzili akcję i umieścili swoich bohaterów w tym okresie. Nie mówiąc już o tym, że z dużą nostalgią podchodzi się dzisiaj - co wykorzystują obecnie pisarze i publicyści - do epoki, może nie aż tak odległej, jak opisywana w niniejszej książce dekada, ale dla wielu z polskich czytelników równie sentymentalnej - do czasów dzieciństwa i dorastania w okresie PRL - czyli, lat 70-tych, 80-tych - a obecnie do zakresu czasów, z których większość z nas wyniosła wyjątkowo miłe i wzruszające wspomnienia dolicza się również lata 90-te minionego wieku.
Te "rzeczywistości" są nam dość dobrze znane, z przeżyć zapisanych w naszej własnej pamięci, lub z utworów popkultury, które w jakiś sposób zaszczepiły nam "wspomnienia" o nich. Paul Feeney w swojej książce zabiera nas jednak do zupełnie innego "świata dzieciństwa", rzeczywistości która ma sobie urok tej dziecięcej beztroski i radości, którą czerpały dzieciaki i nastolatki dorastający w "swingujących latach 60-tych". Do czasów, kiedy rozwój elektroniki użytkowej stanowił jeszcze odległą pieśń przyszłości a codziennej rozrywki dostarczały - drobiazgowo opisane w książce - zabawy na świeżym powietrzu, kina brane w niedzielne przedpołudnia szturmem przez rzesze nastolatków i audycje radiowe z "najnowszymi" przebojami, dziś uznanych kultowymi grup, nadawane przez rebelianckich dyskdżokejów z pirackich rozgłośni z przybrzeżnych wód.
"A 1960s Childhood..." to rzeczywiście wycieczka do nieco innego świata. Lata 60-te na całym świecie mieściły w sobie wydarzenia piękne i tragiczne. Ten czas w Wielkiej Brytanii, jawi się tu jako okres wyjątkowego, wzrastającego dobrobytu, znaczącej poprawy warunków życia a dorastanie wydaje się pozbawione wszystkich cieni. Brutalna rzeczywistość i dramatyczne wydarzenia docierały do młodych ludzi raczej jako niepokojące echo a skupienie na przeżywaniu radości i cieszenia się dzieciństwem w zasadzie nieskalanym tym, czego doświadczała chociażby amerykańska młodzież i społeczeństwo (wojna we Wietnamie, zabójstwo Kennedy'ego, niepokoje na tle rasowym), pozwalały szybko o nich zapomnieć i przejść do porządku dziennego.
Ile w tym nostalgii autora? Trudno orzec. Jednak naprawdę nie można nie docenić tego, jak Paul Feeney pięknie i w sposób poruszający wyobraźnię opisuje zapamiętaną przez siebie rzeczywistość tej epoki w Wielkiej Brytanii, nie pomijając chyba żadnego elementu życia codziennego. Dowiadujemy się, jakie mody i trendy dominowały w tych czasach, czego słuchali, co oglądali w kinach oraz zdobywającej coraz większą popularność telewizji, gdzie bywali i jak spędzali niemal każdą chwilę dnia nastolatkowie, dzieci i ich rodzice. Dokładnie opisane są tu listy przebojów i programy radiowe, telewizyjne oraz repertuary kin, które cieszyły się wtedy największą popularnością. Dowiadujemy się co jadano i z jakie marki produktów były najbardziej popularne - część z nich przetrwała do dziś, o innych pamiętają już tylko konsumenci pokroju autora. Dowiecie się też jakie magazyny i literaturę czytano.
O wszystkim - przeplatając swą gawędę ilustracjami, fotografiami prywatnymi i zdjęciami z magazynów czy ulotek - Feeney opowiada niezwykle ciekawie i przejmująco. Kiedy zabiera nas na główną ulicę jednego z angielskich miasteczek, niemal słyszymy nawołujących sprzedawców (którzy również i dziś, choć sporadycznie i niemal jak relikty tej właśnie epoki, pojawiają się na miejskich jarmarkach) czy odgłosy skuterów na których przemierzali je trzymający fason nastolatkowie...
To książka naprawdę wyborna, napisana z nutą nostalgii, ale też niezwykle drobiazgowo i rzeczowo opisująca rzeczywistość lat 60-tych, którą polecam każdemu, pragnącego poznać czasy i miejsce nieczęsto eksplorowane w popkulturze.
Te "rzeczywistości" są nam dość dobrze znane, z przeżyć zapisanych w naszej własnej pamięci, lub z utworów popkultury, które w jakiś sposób zaszczepiły nam "wspomnienia" o nich. Paul Feeney w swojej książce zabiera nas jednak do zupełnie innego "świata dzieciństwa", rzeczywistości która ma sobie urok tej dziecięcej beztroski i radości, którą czerpały dzieciaki i nastolatki dorastający w "swingujących latach 60-tych". Do czasów, kiedy rozwój elektroniki użytkowej stanowił jeszcze odległą pieśń przyszłości a codziennej rozrywki dostarczały - drobiazgowo opisane w książce - zabawy na świeżym powietrzu, kina brane w niedzielne przedpołudnia szturmem przez rzesze nastolatków i audycje radiowe z "najnowszymi" przebojami, dziś uznanych kultowymi grup, nadawane przez rebelianckich dyskdżokejów z pirackich rozgłośni z przybrzeżnych wód.
"A 1960s Childhood..." to rzeczywiście wycieczka do nieco innego świata. Lata 60-te na całym świecie mieściły w sobie wydarzenia piękne i tragiczne. Ten czas w Wielkiej Brytanii, jawi się tu jako okres wyjątkowego, wzrastającego dobrobytu, znaczącej poprawy warunków życia a dorastanie wydaje się pozbawione wszystkich cieni. Brutalna rzeczywistość i dramatyczne wydarzenia docierały do młodych ludzi raczej jako niepokojące echo a skupienie na przeżywaniu radości i cieszenia się dzieciństwem w zasadzie nieskalanym tym, czego doświadczała chociażby amerykańska młodzież i społeczeństwo (wojna we Wietnamie, zabójstwo Kennedy'ego, niepokoje na tle rasowym), pozwalały szybko o nich zapomnieć i przejść do porządku dziennego.
Ile w tym nostalgii autora? Trudno orzec. Jednak naprawdę nie można nie docenić tego, jak Paul Feeney pięknie i w sposób poruszający wyobraźnię opisuje zapamiętaną przez siebie rzeczywistość tej epoki w Wielkiej Brytanii, nie pomijając chyba żadnego elementu życia codziennego. Dowiadujemy się, jakie mody i trendy dominowały w tych czasach, czego słuchali, co oglądali w kinach oraz zdobywającej coraz większą popularność telewizji, gdzie bywali i jak spędzali niemal każdą chwilę dnia nastolatkowie, dzieci i ich rodzice. Dokładnie opisane są tu listy przebojów i programy radiowe, telewizyjne oraz repertuary kin, które cieszyły się wtedy największą popularnością. Dowiadujemy się co jadano i z jakie marki produktów były najbardziej popularne - część z nich przetrwała do dziś, o innych pamiętają już tylko konsumenci pokroju autora. Dowiecie się też jakie magazyny i literaturę czytano.
O wszystkim - przeplatając swą gawędę ilustracjami, fotografiami prywatnymi i zdjęciami z magazynów czy ulotek - Feeney opowiada niezwykle ciekawie i przejmująco. Kiedy zabiera nas na główną ulicę jednego z angielskich miasteczek, niemal słyszymy nawołujących sprzedawców (którzy również i dziś, choć sporadycznie i niemal jak relikty tej właśnie epoki, pojawiają się na miejskich jarmarkach) czy odgłosy skuterów na których przemierzali je trzymający fason nastolatkowie...
To książka naprawdę wyborna, napisana z nutą nostalgii, ale też niezwykle drobiazgowo i rzeczowo opisująca rzeczywistość lat 60-tych, którą polecam każdemu, pragnącego poznać czasy i miejsce nieczęsto eksplorowane w popkulturze.
March 10, 2024
I received this book as a birthday present from my wife, and it was such a nice surprise!
It's a prosaic but very comprehensive nostalgia trip back to the 60s, and into everything the ordinary child would have encountered.
While much of this was a journey down memory lane for me (and anyone else of a certain age), it does make for a valuable time-capsule of times gone by, when maybe life was a bit simpler. I think the book would be fascinating for a younger person to read who is maybe unfamiliar with what life was like back in the 60s, and would be a real eye-opener for them!
The book does list many familiar sights and sounds of the times, but also explores how things such as increased car ownership effected the way children played on the local streets, and also how the opening of the first supermarkets signaled the start of the slow decline of the traditional High Street.
It's a very thorough and painstakingly put-together book, and a valuable reminder of what life was like back in those days when life went from monochrome to technicolor.
It's a prosaic but very comprehensive nostalgia trip back to the 60s, and into everything the ordinary child would have encountered.
While much of this was a journey down memory lane for me (and anyone else of a certain age), it does make for a valuable time-capsule of times gone by, when maybe life was a bit simpler. I think the book would be fascinating for a younger person to read who is maybe unfamiliar with what life was like back in the 60s, and would be a real eye-opener for them!
The book does list many familiar sights and sounds of the times, but also explores how things such as increased car ownership effected the way children played on the local streets, and also how the opening of the first supermarkets signaled the start of the slow decline of the traditional High Street.
It's a very thorough and painstakingly put-together book, and a valuable reminder of what life was like back in those days when life went from monochrome to technicolor.
June 20, 2023
This was ok but a bit trivial. Basically fairly random lists of items and experiences from a UK childhood in the sixties that have since disappeared so nostalgia results. No real analysis of the times or conclusions. It was also written from the point of view of an urban childhood so not universal. It was easy enough to read and quite a short book but if you want to learn more of the period I would look elsewhere. I quite liked Dominic Sandbrooks's book " White Heat" which although more a social history than an autobiographical account I felt brought the period back to mind more effectively. I can lend it to you Beth if you like.
June 27, 2022
Sheer nostalgia! I was a teenager in the 60s but much of this book was still so relevant. I remembered every pop song mentioned, every confectionery, every fashion. I remembered "hiding" under the blankets on a Sunday night to listen to Radio Luxembourg's hour of top twenty hits from 11pm to midnight - wonder how many pupils were a bit bleary-eyed and foggy-brained in school on a Monday morning?
This is a very short book but, if you grew up in 1960s Britain, it's thoroughly enjoyable.
This is a very short book but, if you grew up in 1960s Britain, it's thoroughly enjoyable.
April 8, 2021
This was a great trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up during 1960s Britain! The book was divided into different sections covering home life, school, hobbies, TV, Radio etc. I liked the way it was written with the author starting some of the chapters describing a particular day (i.e. Christmas Day 1965) recalling the feel of the cold bri-nylon carpet under his bare feet and the sight of the condensation cascading down the window before going on to describe Christmas lunch, his presents and the TV programmes he watched. It was great to relive those days when children got so much pleasure from simple things like playing outside or watching their favourite TV programme with a choice of only three channels. Or listening to Radio Luxembourg under the covers in bed at night! I got a bit bogged down in some of the chapters that contained a lot of information in the form of lists of for example games played outside or TV programmes. I think I would rather have just read about a few that the author particularly enjoyed. However all in all it was a very good summary of a decade of great change - and a great time to grow up in.
August 31, 2015
interesting
January 10, 2023
A really interesting book about life in the 1960's. It brought back lots of memories although for much of it I was too young. I am a kind of half sixties/half seventies girl. Worth a read if this is your era.
**********************
Do you remember Beatlemania? Radio Caroline? Mods and Rockers? The very first miniskirts? Then the chances are you were born in the or around 1960. To the young people of today, the 1960s seems like another age. But for those who grew up in this decade, school life, 'mod' fashions and sixties pop music are still fresh in their minds. From James Bond to Sindy dolls and playing hopscotch in the street, life was very different to how it is now. After the tough and frugal years of the fifties, the sixties was a boom period, a time of changed attitudes and improved lifestyles. With chapters on home and school life, games and hobbies, music and fashion, alongside a selection of charming illustrations, this delightful compendium of memories will appeal to all who grew up in this lively era. Take a nostalgic look at what it was like to grow up during the sixties and recapture all aspects of life back then.
**********************
Do you remember Beatlemania? Radio Caroline? Mods and Rockers? The very first miniskirts? Then the chances are you were born in the or around 1960. To the young people of today, the 1960s seems like another age. But for those who grew up in this decade, school life, 'mod' fashions and sixties pop music are still fresh in their minds. From James Bond to Sindy dolls and playing hopscotch in the street, life was very different to how it is now. After the tough and frugal years of the fifties, the sixties was a boom period, a time of changed attitudes and improved lifestyles. With chapters on home and school life, games and hobbies, music and fashion, alongside a selection of charming illustrations, this delightful compendium of memories will appeal to all who grew up in this lively era. Take a nostalgic look at what it was like to grow up during the sixties and recapture all aspects of life back then.
May 7, 2024
[Jul 2020] This is a very interesting, well researched and readable book, which takes you through various aspects of the 1960s and brings back to life what it was like in this decade. From what you would have had at home, to the games you played, the TV you watched and the events that occurred it all sets out a very enjoyable evocative read. Some have commented on the repetition of material from books on the other decades, but this seems understandable as there was much over-lap and of course, people would specifically be interested in only one decade.
It is written in an easy, chatty style and was enjoyable and highly evocative of the times. If you were a child of the 1960s there is much material here that you might have forgotten and the rest will create an evocative account of your childhood. If you want to know what growing up in the 1960s was like - as a piece of social history - this book is a very good primer. Well worth reading.
It is written in an easy, chatty style and was enjoyable and highly evocative of the times. If you were a child of the 1960s there is much material here that you might have forgotten and the rest will create an evocative account of your childhood. If you want to know what growing up in the 1960s was like - as a piece of social history - this book is a very good primer. Well worth reading.
October 11, 2022
Despite evoking memories, the book proved both dull and uninteresting. Instead of being a joy to read, it was about as interesting as a shopping list and was written using that type of format. Desperately boring!
October 26, 2024
Enjoyed the 1950's Childhood book. I thought this would be good too. About 75% of the book is just the 1950's book repeated...copied and pasted I suspect.
If you have not read the 1950's book, this book would be great. If you have read the previous book, there is very little point reading this.
If you have not read the 1950's book, this book would be great. If you have read the previous book, there is very little point reading this.
December 9, 2018
A nice idea and it definitely brought back some memories but the extraneous padding made it a dull read in places.
August 16, 2021
Brilliant book
This book took me right back to being a teenager in the 60’s. An accurate record of the time and very enjoyable
This book took me right back to being a teenager in the 60’s. An accurate record of the time and very enjoyable
December 15, 2021
Nostalgia is what it is cracked up to be, brought back many happy and funny memories, a must read for anyone born in the mid to late 50s, so many things I had forgotten, a great read.
January 9, 2022
Delightful to read as it did bring back a lot of memories, plus what happened next to some of the celebrities.
October 5, 2022
A book full of nostalgia for people like me whose childhood was in the 1960s. Some repetition in the text and quite a few lists, but they helped to bring back memories.
December 12, 2022
a great review of the 60s
If you were a 60s person then read this and remember those fantastic years
Fab swinging groovy exciting &out of this world
If you were a 60s person then read this and remember those fantastic years
Fab swinging groovy exciting &out of this world
April 9, 2023
Nostalgia
April 18, 2023
It was ok but way too many lists.
March 4, 2024
Fun 60s flashback, would have preferred less lists and a bit more narrative, but still worth a read
April 14, 2024
Good memories
Such a nice read bought back lots of memories. Now, I'm going to read the 1970s book. Many thanks for all the facts etc
Such a nice read bought back lots of memories. Now, I'm going to read the 1970s book. Many thanks for all the facts etc
April 22, 2025
This was such a fun book to dip into and it made me laugh, reliving those times when I was a small child. The author's recall of the period was astonishing.
June 5, 2011
It is a collection of memoires by the author
Spoiled by the fact there is no story as such to follow. The author just dips into various memories at random a writes a bit about each.
I was a 60s child so thought I would enjoy it but sadly it is painfully boring and so badly written .
I gave it 2 stars for letting me relive a few old memories.
But in terms of a book it is just devoid of a story and it is clear he was a bit of a radio anorak .
Would not recommend this or any other by him, I regret buying the book and feel it was a total waste .
Spoiled by the fact there is no story as such to follow. The author just dips into various memories at random a writes a bit about each.
I was a 60s child so thought I would enjoy it but sadly it is painfully boring and so badly written .
I gave it 2 stars for letting me relive a few old memories.
But in terms of a book it is just devoid of a story and it is clear he was a bit of a radio anorak .
Would not recommend this or any other by him, I regret buying the book and feel it was a total waste .
July 1, 2011
Excellent piece of nostalgia describing what it was like to grow up in Britain in the 1960s. It covers the whole decade and not just the swinging sixties period. I was a teenager in England in the 1960s and this book provided me with hundreds of reminders of my life back then. It also turned up lots of things I had forgotten. I was given the paperback as a present and enjoyed it so much I bought the Kindle edition to dip into whenever I feel nostalgic. A well written collection of memories.
March 29, 2012
Started this book this afternoon about 4pm. and have read about half at 6pm.
Fascinating all the memories this brings back from childhood in Britain in the 60's.
I'd recommend it to anyone who remembers, or would like to be reminded, of all the typical l960's things, fashion, music, food, games, etc.etc.
Finished this book in about 4 hours, but really enjoyed reading it, I kept going 'God, I remember that'!! Quite a few illustrations as well.
Fascinating all the memories this brings back from childhood in Britain in the 60's.
I'd recommend it to anyone who remembers, or would like to be reminded, of all the typical l960's things, fashion, music, food, games, etc.etc.
Finished this book in about 4 hours, but really enjoyed reading it, I kept going 'God, I remember that'!! Quite a few illustrations as well.
July 1, 2011
A wonderful piece of 1960s' British nostalgia with so many reminders of how life was in England back in the 60s. A well written bundle of memories. Great.
November 26, 2011
My era and I found it very interesting.
May 28, 2012
Really good trip down memory lane. Great book.
February 20, 2013
Interesting, but probably much more so if you're a Brit.
April 15, 2013
Disappointing! Too similar to his previous book 'A 1950s Childhood!'
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews