Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time by David Goodwillie (2-Jun-2006) Hardcover

by David Goodwillie

Fresh out of college and following a brief and disastrous stint playing minor league baseball, David Goodwillie moves to New York intent on making his mark as a writer. Arriving in Manhattan in the mid-nineties, Goodwillie quickly falls into one implausible job after another. He becomes a private investigator, imagining himself as a gumshoe, a hired gun—only to realize that he's more adept at bungling cases than at solving them. When, in his stint as a freelance journalist, he unveils the Mafia in a magazine exposé, he succeeds only in becoming a target of their wrath. As a copywriter for a sports auction house, he imagines documenting the great histories hidden in priceless artifacts but finds himself forced to write about a lock of Mickey Mantle's hair. Even when he seems to break through, somehow becoming the sports expert at Sotheby's auction house—appearing on major news networks, raking in a hefty salary—he's lured away by the promise of Internet millions...just in time for the dot-com crash. Teeming with the vibrancy of a city in hyperdrive, Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time recounts a dizzying and enthralling search for authenticity in a cynical, superficial—and suddenly dangerous—age. In his heartbreaking and hilarious struggle to become a big-city writer, Goodwillie becomes something an important voice of the lost generation he so elegantly describes.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

Hardcover

First published June 2, 2006

About the author

David Goodwillie is the author of the novels KINGS COUNTY (forthcoming 7/28/20) and AMERICAN SUBVERSIVE, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, along with the memoir SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME. Goodwillie has written about books for The New York Times and The Daily Beast, and his nonfiction has appeared in New York magazine, Newsweek, and Popular Science. He has also been drafted to play professional baseball, worked as a private investigator, and was an expert at Sotheby’s auction house. A graduate of Kenyon College, he lives in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Aharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did read all of it, including many parts aloud. That would seem to make it at least four stars. But what I read aloud included (among oh so many others):
1) The section where he blows $750 in five minutes on cocaine and strippers, and then complains that his girlfriend is too shallow and unserious.
2) The section where he devotes several paragraphs to all the craaaaazy coffee drinks you can get at a cafe when all he wants is a cup o' joke.
3) The section where he explains that 9/11 basically happened so that he could realize that what's most important is that he devote himself to making art--like, you know, this memoir.
You should totally read this book, though. Think of it as Portrait of the Douchebag as a Young Man.

[Allison Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An account of Goodwillie's life, from a childhood in London to how witnessing 9/11 in New York changed the course of his life. He was a minor league baseball player, a private investigator, and copywriter for auction houses, all while struggling to be a writer and take advantage of start-ups when the Internet was just taking off. The book is long, but so well-written and interesting that you'll keep flipping pages. Throughout the book, Goodwillie is on a quest to write fiction, to be an artist and live a good life. It's fascinating to read about his true feelings while he's getting caught up in "real" jobs - something most everyone can identify with. While it's an excellent autobiography, I would be more likely to categorize it as a book about writing - it was inspirational; it made me feel that familiar itch to put a pen to paper. It didn't hurt that he had some excellent quotes:
     - Friend Ken Hamm, talking about trying to be an artist. "You realize you need something more than a career. And that's when you notice the exits snaking off that highway to riches. They don't have signs, only ramps leading into the unknown distance. But if those exits nag at you, then you still have a chance. It's a cold, isolating decision, turning off that highway. Your life becomes defined by one goal … It's just you and your art. But you know what? You're finally living with no regrets."
     - "…but is there a better challenge, a better life, than creating your version of the world in words? The beginning of every story is a blank screen with a faint reflection of the writer."
     - "You find a voice, a style, a plot, and run with it, then cut off the rough edges until you're left with only the essence, the rounded center, wrinkle-free and ready-to-wear. Except I can't do that. I mix metaphors. I copy cliches. I say too much or too little. I show when I should tell, tell when I should just shut up."
     - "There are two parts to being a writer: desire and purpose. Desire I've had for a long time, but purpose is trickier. Purpose is what carries us through. I want to write about a genuine life, about journeys and dreams and all the stuff we learn as kids. Because it's the same when we're older. We make decisions. We gain experience. And at some point, we all have a story to tell. I spent years dreaming of writing, and now, finally, finally, I'll write about those years of dreaming."

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little nervous about this memoir given that in the time between ordering the book on Amazon and its arrival I read the reviews on here, several of which inferred the author is basically a spoiled douchebag. I was prepped for Tucker Max, version two, and was therefore pleasantly surprised. First of all, the writing is superb, well above most every memoir I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a lot!) Second, while it’s true he is from a life of privilege and caught many lucky breaks, never once does the author whine or complain or appear in any way the spoiled brat others have dubbed him. He makes it on his own without help from his parents, which is pretty rare for kids who attend prep schools. It’s pretty rare for kids from my own schools and I went to public! Following his career trajectory from minor league baseball player to investigator to auction house writer to dot-com “executive” was fascinating. Yeah he was “selfish” during much of his twenties, but who wasn’t? I just really enjoyed his humor mixed with the more serious notes. And it’s still ridiculous (yet fun!) to see how hopped up on nothing more than air everyone was during the whole dot-com boom. Overall, it’s a great, fun read. I loved his writing style and will definitely read his novel.

[Andrea Paul Amboyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an excellent choice if you are in your twenties, confused about your career and live in New York (it seems like many books address these topics). I am not going to write a hugely long review except to say that there were two very specific passages the resonated with me in this book and I won't easily forget them (their pages are folded over in my copy - that's right...I'm a page folder!). One involves personal sacrifice for art and comedy on the same two pages; the other paints a beautiful passage about sadness and loss using the demolition of a minor league baseball stadium of all things. I don't like sports that much but this bit of the story was so poignant that I've re-read and re-read it. So that says something for this story's impact....

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn't do much for me - but that may have been a timing thing as much as anything. It was a little tough to read about this fairly insufferable guy getting a series of lucky breaks during the dot com era from the middle of the Great Recession. The resolution also seemed a bit rushed - the "how I learned my lesson and stopped being such a giant tool" section felt underdeveloped. Because Goodwillie is definitely a good writer, I'm just not convinced he's not also a giant tool.

[Ak · Rating 3 out of 5]

the title is the best thing about it. he's smug and seems to take for granted to an offputting degree the enormous advantages he's had at every step of his life.

[Paul Vogelzang · Rating 4 out of 5]

another one to re-read as it's still fresh.

[Shiloh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me, in a way, of On The Road, in that the main character was was not entirely likable, a bit self destructive, but gives some insight to what a bit of a bohemian artist in the 90's 2000's in NYC would look like.

[Angie Dierdorff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love/extreme disliike relationship with this book, but I'm glad I kept reading. I think he has the potential to be a great writer, and there were brief moments when he made me think "shades of Jess Walter," but his style is too inconsistent. I wanted to dislike this guy, but somehow found myself rooting for him in spite of his insane choices and selfish lifestyle. But it takes guts to let the world see all that for what it is.

[Eiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent memoir about the first years out of college and trying to find one's self and voice. Set in NYC in the late '90's when the Internet was just beginning and the economy was booming. Goodwillie struggles, and succeeds, and struggles again to find his way to living an authentic and meaningful life in the great city.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Goodwillie takes us on an adventure through the grimy streets of NYC, in (and kicked out of) whore houses, and on the rollercoaster that was his life. He's a good writer who knows how to tell a compelling story -- this novel is a must-read for any New Yorker or lover of the Big Apple.

[Abbey Elsbernd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book worth reading about becoming an adult. While I'm younger than the material, it sees how the internet has changed our perception of life and business. The message - that history happens only when we're looking back - never changes.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait til this guy writes a novel.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young guy graduates college and tries a whole host of professions - pro baseball player, private investigator and sport auction writer for starters. His first novel - quite good, very entertaining.

[Gypsy Lady]

"In his heartbreaking and hilarious struggle to become a big-city writer, Goodwillie becomes something more: an important voice of the lost generation he so elegantly describes."

[Matt Holberton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, well-done my friend!

[Douglas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually didn't make it all the way through this book. The author seems likable enough, but his short life so far doesn't really have a good novel in it.

[Michael Balser · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chapter of the book features a character based on me - so of course I love this book