What do you think?
Rate this book
Reflections on a Generous Generation
Heroes abound throughout the world, from generation to generation. Although unknown to us, they are men and women who have changed our lives.
Reflections on a Generous Generation is a memoir, and a retrospective of the 20th Century. Shared by a generation which was confronted by the Great Depression and World War II, the story tells of the journey, and one man's participation in the events of that time. It also shows the interrelationships of people and events, and how the Generous Generation created the world we live in today. The story shares with you the most important ten decades in world history, the most significant century in America, and the people who embodied "American exceptionalism"-the Generous Generation. The story of Murray Stern is both universal and unique. Born of immigrant parents, growing up in the Depression, serving in the Army in World War II, and returning to build a business, a family, and a community, he was a participant in the events of his life, not a spectator. This is a book for history lovers and for the many baby-boomers and their children who have a curiosity about the people who made life in America what it is now, and the lessons to help us move into the future. It tells of success, of enjoyment and of the happiness of "doing" rather than watching. It is about the role models we can aspire to as we plan our "end game."
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2012
4 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Stern
28 books69 followersMichael R. Stern is the Amazon best selling author of "Reflections on a Generous Generation", and "Storm Portal."
His newest release, Shadow Storm, book 3 of the Quantum Touch series, tells the story of a history teacher, whose classroom door is a portal to the past and a tunnel through the present.
Michael is a history lover. His future writing, both non-fiction and fiction, will offer perspectives on the way the past threads to the present and future, and why our past provides the guidance to understand and plan for the world we inhabit together.
Michael grew up in Garden City, New York, is a graduate of Cornell University, and now lives outside Philadelphia with his family. After a long career in business, he has begun a writing adventure.
His newest release, Shadow Storm, book 3 of the Quantum Touch series, tells the story of a history teacher, whose classroom door is a portal to the past and a tunnel through the present.
Michael is a history lover. His future writing, both non-fiction and fiction, will offer perspectives on the way the past threads to the present and future, and why our past provides the guidance to understand and plan for the world we inhabit together.
Michael grew up in Garden City, New York, is a graduate of Cornell University, and now lives outside Philadelphia with his family. After a long career in business, he has begun a writing adventure.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 24, 2017
“Reflections” is a great summary of U.S. historical events and their effects on society, all woven into a memoir of a remarkable man. Mike Stern lived 98 years, nearly a century, and was involved in the world through his service in the army and then as an inventive business man.
Stern’s father was not a celebrity, but he was connected to famous people through his experiences and careers. He embraced life, eager to learn and help the world. We would do well to heed his values. The focus on compromise and partnership in finding solutions was very inspiring. This is an exceptional book.
Stern’s father was not a celebrity, but he was connected to famous people through his experiences and careers. He embraced life, eager to learn and help the world. We would do well to heed his values. The focus on compromise and partnership in finding solutions was very inspiring. This is an exceptional book.
February 28, 2015
It is probably very fitting that I write this book review on July 20, 2014, the 45th anniversary of the landing on the moon. That is because the author of “Reflections on a Generous Generation” makes his case for why we need to remember the highlights of this era; and I agree wholeheartedly.
Michael R. Stern, author of “Reflections on a Generous Generation” is a history buff, I believe even more so than I myself. Page by page Michael lays out how truly generous his father’s generation was, everything they gave their children, their environments, and their country. Even more so, Stern makes clear, that there was a plan!!! A real plan.
For instance he tells how his father would take the children out for dinner, every week. This was a dress-up event and the children would learn: style and manners, how to eat different foods, how other people behaved, and “how the world works”.
Compare this with today’s families driving through the drive-through of a fast-food restaurant, with the kids watching a DVD on the backseat, and you see what Stern wants to tell us: Because of his parents’ efforts little Mike Stern could crack lobster claws by age five and knew how to take apart the whole lobster and other unusual foods. I could relate to similar efforts from my own father. My father demanded that we children read the map and looked out of the window when we drove anywhere. [Would it surprise anybody to find out that my siblings and I aced every geography test about our home state?
There were also principles. Stern’s dad never considered buying a foreign car, regardless whether it was German or Japanese. He had been a soldier during WWII and he knew who had worked in the factories of VW, BMW, Porsches and Toyota, during WWII.
Stern’s dad also played chess, he loved Dale Carnegie’s book and course, he loved his work and family. Without giving away too much, I was very smitten reading about Stern’s father’s second love story/ marriage (after his 1st wife passed away) . The author quotes his father:
“When I sat down, I noticed a woman doing the NY Times crossword in “ink”. I made some remark that I was lucky if I did it in pencil.”
Right there I started to root for Dad and ‘Ruby’. A woman, who could do the NY Times crossword “in ink” vs “in pencil” had to be “the one”. She was.
“Reflections on a Generous Generation” presents many historic facts; however the information is presented short and sweet. In fact, this author uses a clever trick, which I have never seen used in any book; rather I believe that it is a classical feature for editorials. Editorials should be somewhat humorous too and author Michael Stern succeeds:
[After mentioning historic details of what happened in 1911 the year Michael Stern’s father was born he reflects]
“…Whose names do we still remember? What places still interest us? The New York Public Library now has 89 branches, the Red Sox continue to play at Fenway. Ronald Reagan became President of the United States. Ford and Chevy still compete, and the Titanic became a tragedy, as well as a blockbuster movie….”
Short, sweet, but still complete!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Reflections on a Generous Generation”. I also believe that if every young person, who did not know that today is the 45th anniversary of the landing on the moon, would read this book, some things would change better!
Great work, Michael Stern. Thank-you.
Michael R. Stern, author of “Reflections on a Generous Generation” is a history buff, I believe even more so than I myself. Page by page Michael lays out how truly generous his father’s generation was, everything they gave their children, their environments, and their country. Even more so, Stern makes clear, that there was a plan!!! A real plan.
For instance he tells how his father would take the children out for dinner, every week. This was a dress-up event and the children would learn: style and manners, how to eat different foods, how other people behaved, and “how the world works”.
Compare this with today’s families driving through the drive-through of a fast-food restaurant, with the kids watching a DVD on the backseat, and you see what Stern wants to tell us: Because of his parents’ efforts little Mike Stern could crack lobster claws by age five and knew how to take apart the whole lobster and other unusual foods. I could relate to similar efforts from my own father. My father demanded that we children read the map and looked out of the window when we drove anywhere. [Would it surprise anybody to find out that my siblings and I aced every geography test about our home state?
There were also principles. Stern’s dad never considered buying a foreign car, regardless whether it was German or Japanese. He had been a soldier during WWII and he knew who had worked in the factories of VW, BMW, Porsches and Toyota, during WWII.
Stern’s dad also played chess, he loved Dale Carnegie’s book and course, he loved his work and family. Without giving away too much, I was very smitten reading about Stern’s father’s second love story/ marriage (after his 1st wife passed away) . The author quotes his father:
“When I sat down, I noticed a woman doing the NY Times crossword in “ink”. I made some remark that I was lucky if I did it in pencil.”
Right there I started to root for Dad and ‘Ruby’. A woman, who could do the NY Times crossword “in ink” vs “in pencil” had to be “the one”. She was.
“Reflections on a Generous Generation” presents many historic facts; however the information is presented short and sweet. In fact, this author uses a clever trick, which I have never seen used in any book; rather I believe that it is a classical feature for editorials. Editorials should be somewhat humorous too and author Michael Stern succeeds:
[After mentioning historic details of what happened in 1911 the year Michael Stern’s father was born he reflects]
“…Whose names do we still remember? What places still interest us? The New York Public Library now has 89 branches, the Red Sox continue to play at Fenway. Ronald Reagan became President of the United States. Ford and Chevy still compete, and the Titanic became a tragedy, as well as a blockbuster movie….”
Short, sweet, but still complete!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Reflections on a Generous Generation”. I also believe that if every young person, who did not know that today is the 45th anniversary of the landing on the moon, would read this book, some things would change better!
Great work, Michael Stern. Thank-you.
December 17, 2013
I just finished reading Reflections of a Generous Generation by Mike R Stern.
This was a very original book, I was pleasantly surprised by the way the story was told and the view point taken. In many ways, the book was very matter-of-fact and a history lesson, in other ways we were able to see it through emotional eyes.
At first, I did feel the book took a little too long jumping into the meat of it. We were told a lot of history, a lot, and it lasted (I felt) a chapter too long, because for me I am the type who is more interested in people rather than events. Even though those events create and change people in many ways. Which is what I wanted to see. How did these events in history create and morph the life of the one person this story was told through?
The story is part history lesson, part biography of the author's father. The narrator of the story was the author and son of the main character (not sure character is the right word here). It was endearing to hear the story from this view point, especially being a generation removed.
The goal of this story is to show us, anyone, what history has made for us, and what those people in history did, good and bad. But mostly, when speaking about the men and women of the "generous generation" as the author calls it, we see what good was created from the bad events that surround many lifetimes and how this specific generation was one that people today should use as an example of what we should reach to be as people and as a nation.
I greatly respected the author's father and life the man lead. He had strong beliefs and values that are critical to thriving in the world - not just surviving, but thriving.
At times I wished their were more details and maybe more deep personal moments, because I feel in many ways this story only just touched the surface of this one person who made an impact in so many peoples lives, just by being an everyday man of the nation.
I definitely recommend this book. I think it's a good read and leaves you feeling stronger, and full of potential.
This was a very original book, I was pleasantly surprised by the way the story was told and the view point taken. In many ways, the book was very matter-of-fact and a history lesson, in other ways we were able to see it through emotional eyes.
At first, I did feel the book took a little too long jumping into the meat of it. We were told a lot of history, a lot, and it lasted (I felt) a chapter too long, because for me I am the type who is more interested in people rather than events. Even though those events create and change people in many ways. Which is what I wanted to see. How did these events in history create and morph the life of the one person this story was told through?
The story is part history lesson, part biography of the author's father. The narrator of the story was the author and son of the main character (not sure character is the right word here). It was endearing to hear the story from this view point, especially being a generation removed.
The goal of this story is to show us, anyone, what history has made for us, and what those people in history did, good and bad. But mostly, when speaking about the men and women of the "generous generation" as the author calls it, we see what good was created from the bad events that surround many lifetimes and how this specific generation was one that people today should use as an example of what we should reach to be as people and as a nation.
I greatly respected the author's father and life the man lead. He had strong beliefs and values that are critical to thriving in the world - not just surviving, but thriving.
At times I wished their were more details and maybe more deep personal moments, because I feel in many ways this story only just touched the surface of this one person who made an impact in so many peoples lives, just by being an everyday man of the nation.
I definitely recommend this book. I think it's a good read and leaves you feeling stronger, and full of potential.
June 19, 2016
I really enjoyed this book and the recollections the author gives to us. Not only does he tell his father's story but also the history of us and our lives as we go through the years with the author. So many times you read books that tell history with just facts or biographies that are too personal to matter to individuals. The author has combined personal memories of family with memories we have of history. My father was born in 1918 and served in the World War II, I remember so many things growing up that are in this book and brought a smile to my face or a sadness to my heart as I either remember the time myself or remember similar stories told to me. I hope as we go forward we will learn from the past and the sacrifices made, to try and leave the same types of memories behind and that this generation will also be known someday as one of future thinking people who leave our world better for our having been here. That is my hope and I thank the author for helping us to remember that generation before us that generously gave their all.
January 28, 2021
How to write a review of this wonderful book. This is a synopsis of history, running from 1900 to 2010, roughly. It stars a man named Murray Stern, the father of the author. It exhibits the love the author has for his father, that he had for his mother and step-mother, and the rest of his family. It illustrates the type of man who was raised in the aftermath of the first World War, treated harshly by life in the crucible of the Great Depression, not only lived but participated in the second World War, was successful in life in a myriad of ways. Murray Stern was/is a quintessential example of many American men born in the first period of the 20th Century, but one who also lived beyond the end of that century. Mr. Stern's character was above reproach. His desire for life and learning, his willingness to sacrifice for others, his generosity with all is shown by Michael's treatise. Mr. Stern lived in difficult times, and in robust, wonderful times. He grew beyond the age of working, then kept on doing so by contributing to the benefit of others. I wonder how many of those to whom he gave of the largesse of his life, learned to do the same. I would like to think there were many, but as Michael illustrates in the ending portions of this wonderful book, times have changed drastically. Mr. Stern lived in a world of individualism, but of respect for the lives of others. Today many want the individualism but not the responsibility to respect all others. But Mr. Stern's legacy of life service and striving lives on. There are those whose lives were touched and affected by him, and by others whose lives mirrored much that he believed in and practiced. Thank goodness that is true. His son honors him greatly in this tale. Mr. Stern honored all of us with his life, his contributions to our world, the lessons he provided by his examples for so many. Little should be gainsaid about a man whose life was so well lived.
November 7, 2019
What a wonderful tribute not only to a beloved father but also an entire generation. I loved how much history and context was packed into this record of one man’s lifetime. The stories and pictures add so much depth and humanity. The historical breakdowns of what happened when give a compact sum-up of each chunk of time. And this man’s life is one of the best examples I can think of for the old saying “truth is stranger than fiction.” Great, heartfelt writing. Great, worthwhile read!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews