America Observed: From the 1940s to the 1980s

by Alistair Cooke, Ronald A. Wells

Offers more than fifty selections of the journalist's best work drawn from his twenty-six yera career as chief correspondent to the British newspaper "The Manchester Guardian"

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Books of British-American journalist and broadcaster Alfred Alistair Cooke include Around the World in 50 Years (1966) and Alistair Cooke's America (1973).

After the University of Cambridge graduated him, the British Broadcasting Corporation hired him. This legendary television host rose to prominence for his reports on London Letter on radio of National Broadcasting Corporation during the 1930s. Cooke immigrated to the United States in 1937. In 1946, he began his radio appearances on Letter from America on the British Broadcasting Corporation; this tradition that lasted nearly six decades.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistai...

Reviews

[Reenie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of newspaper treats, and now am only left wondering why it sat on my bookshelf, unread, for two years before I finally got to it. And also where I can find more of Alistair Cooke. He's by turns thoughtful, thought-provoking, highly amusing (one of the best ones here was an account of a Harvard/Yale cricket match), and occasionally even a little off, by current standards (what's up with the hate on hippies?). Mostly thoughtful and amusing, though, and as a commenter on America, I love the fact that he jumps around from covering people standing up to McCarthyism to beauty pageants to the civil rights movement to performance evangelists. It's chaos, which is part of [the fun of:] America, and it's also beautifully written chaos.

[Paul Madarasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Cooke's "Letter from America" on the BBC, and this book is a lot like that. He is perceptive in his views of America, and has an easy, conversational style -- which made the book a pretty quick read. That's the downside of his writing; the book is over before you know it, and it leaves you wanting more.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading 12/26. Cooke was a talented writer, but not pro-American.

[Chris Ziesler · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of Cooke's reportage for The Guardian over four decades.

[Paul Antes · Rating 5 out of 5]

always a joy to watch and listen and the read is fascinating