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The Time of Our Lives: Collected Writings

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The 2017 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Commentary and conservative icon Peggy Noonan offers her most insightful work, including her Wall Street Journal columns about the 2016 Election.New York Times bestseller The Time of Our Lives travels the path of Peggy Noonan's remarkable and influential career, beginning with a revealing essay about her motivations as a writer and thinker. It's followed by an address to students at Harvard University on the drafting of President Reagan's speech the day the space shuttle Challenger exploded. Then comes one surprising chapter after the next "People I Miss" -- memorable salutes to the likes of Tim Russert, Joan Rivers, Margaret Thatcher, and others. "Making Trouble" -- Peggy's sharpest, funniest and most critical columns about Democrats and Republicans, the idiocracy of government, and Beltway disconnect. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" -- Peggy's most poignant writing capturing the country's grief and recovery in the wake of 9-11, and clear-eyed foresight on what lay ahead in terms of war and sacrifice. "The Loneliest President Since Nixon" -- tracking hope and change as it became disillusionment and disappointment with President Obama. And other sections where Peggy discerns the mood of the country ("State of the Union"), the melodrama of the historic 2008 election ("My Beautiful Election"), her battles with the Catholic Church ("What I Told the Bishops") and lighter meditations on baseball, a snowy afternoon in Brooklyn, and motherhood ("Having Fun"). Annotated throughout, The Time of Our Lives articulates Peggy's conservative vision, demonstrating why she has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize, journalism's highest honor.

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2015

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About the author

Peggy Noonan

28 books175 followers
Peggy Noonan is an author of seven books on politics, religion and culture, a weekly columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and was a Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan. She is considered a political conservative.

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5 stars
215 (37%)
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216 (37%)
3 stars
107 (18%)
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22 (3%)
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11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Profile Image for Steve Peifer.
522 reviews30 followers
November 15, 2015
Pretentious and condescending are the first words that come to mind in describing this truly awful book, but narcissistic is the word you will walk away with.

From someone who brought a working class perspective and a way with a phrase in her excellent first book, she traded her integrity to preach to the choir. She makes big money doing it; love the essay about the international businessman with his modest room at the Hilton. You can probably guess that her demands for accommodations when she speaks are not in Hilton territory.

The thing is: she doesn't have much to say. She isn't particularly bright or insightful on much of anything. Listen to this title: What I Told the Bishops. Doesn't pretension like that just gag? Her 9/11 doesn't age at all, but to be fair, there isn't much that has from that tragic day.

The only fun to be had is watching her scramble to keep up the changes in the GOP so she can maintain her lifestyle. She hates the tea party but she is afraid of it, and how she tries to please both sides is the only unintentionally hilarious part of this terrible book.
Profile Image for Paul.
78 reviews
March 25, 2016
There are three journalists who I consider true professionals. Peggy Noonan, David Brooks and Maureen Dowd. I have to admit that Maureen has let us down lately by her soft ball handling of Trump. However, Peggy and David continue to exhibit excellence in their insights of our society, the mood of our the country and political process. Noonan, "In the Time of Our Lives" does just that but from an historical perspective. She has captured the best of her columns from 1981 to 2014. The genius of her writings is, I think, the unintended predictions of what is occurring in our country today and subsequent goofballs running for President.
Profile Image for Ken.
47 reviews1 follower
October 21, 2015
I think this book would appeal to anyone interested in politics, current affairs, or just modern life. Insightful, entertaining and completely enjoyable! Thank you, Goodreads -- I won this volume in one of your contests.
Profile Image for Christian Cook.
34 reviews
August 17, 2016
The Time of Our Lives: Collected Writings

I am certain to keep this book nearby, and I expect to return to it many times, because I could not put the writings of Peggy Noonan down. I have read compilations of columnists before and, while interesting, they can sometimes come across as dated. Noonan's observations and perspectives are, in a certain sense, timeless.

I was offered a copy of this book by the publisher, through NetGalley, and from the very introduction I was aware that I would not be able to easily put this book down. I found myself wanting to learn more about the arc of Noonan’s career, which made me want to devour the collection of her articles therein. The manner in which the book is organized, topically by chapter, is nice. If one wants to skip around and read Noonan’s thoughts on the Catholic Church, or War, or Ronald Reagan, the book is organized to allow for that.

While her writings are about events in time and space, I say Noonan’s writings are timeless because she writes of the United States of America that, I dare say, our Founding Fathers would appreciate. Noonan clearly loves her country, her Church, and political leadership – rather, she loves the way they have been and, in some ways, the way they should remain (or become again). Indeed, she writes of events current at the time a particular column. However, Noonan highlights a timelessness between the lines of those current events, and that is why I love her style.

Noonan captures the sense that something has changed in many of the institutions that affect the time of our lives. The something that has changed disturbs her, and should disturb all Americans. She does not, however, raise an alarmist tone that one sometimes finds in the shrill style of books churned out by cable and radio talk show hosts; reading Noonan gives one the sense that, despite changes to the negative, the soul of Old America, where love of country is natural rather than a choice one makes “… after weighing the pros and cons,” still remains.

One would do well to buy this book, read Noonan’s writings through, and let them sink in. Then read it again! I know I will.
Profile Image for Lisa.
Author 5 books36 followers
November 12, 2015
Peggy Noonan is an excellent writer and an apparently good person. This collection of her essays is so good that I stopped reading it on my e-reader and ordered a hardback that I can mark up and treasure on my "books about writing" shelf. That's a high compliment, I assure you. Noonan can come up with the perfect words. You may not agree with all her personal and political views, but if you just want to enjoy some very well-written and well-thought essays (this is a collection of her columns from the Wall Street Journal), run to the nearest bookseller and obtain this book. Have your pen or highlighter ready.
Profile Image for Dave Hoff.
712 reviews25 followers
February 17, 2016
I had always found Peggy Noonan dreamy and spacey on TV. BUT, the articles and snippets of speeches she wrote are pure gold. Book includes a wide range of subjects she wrote for the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, New York Times and other publications. Short story books, I seldom read, I loved this book. Peggy, our country needs you.
151 reviews
December 24, 2024
I enjoy her writing style and as an independent, sometimes agree with what she writes. This book is a collection of essays and let’s just say in 2016 she correctly predicted and explained a few things some of you won’t like.
Profile Image for Justin.
160 reviews34 followers
September 25, 2020
Peggy Noonan's writing represents the best of the American Spirit. I put her and David McCullough on that top shelf. Noonan is insightful, kind, and honest; she writes well and thinks well. This collection of past columns was a joy to read.
Profile Image for Bob Croft.
87 reviews6 followers
October 11, 2016
Thought provoking essays. Her espousal Michael Novak's "The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism" is deserved. Another example, and a quibble:
Some quarter of Jefferson's draft of the Declaration was cut by the Congress, after minor (it is thought) revisions by the Committee of Five. Jefferson, by all accounts, was devastated by the cuts. Noonan suggests, as the unkindest cut, the long penultimate passage holding the British people responsible for the separation, including as evidence the results of the 1774 Parliamentary election, which largely returned the same intransient Members to their seats. It concludes with the famous "We might have been a free and great people together."
I wonder if the author, or at least the inspiration, of that section might have been Franklin. The rest of the Declaration indicts King and Parliament, necessary to justify our resort to arms. No need to antagonize the British people, even if deserved. It sounds bitter, and personal. Franklin was a bit late to come to rebellion; much of his diplomatic career had been in striving to hold the Empire together, to forge a compromise; to become great together. But when Franklin rebelled, he did it with more heart and soul than any of the other major founders. John Adams, no stranger to hate, was startled by Franklin's vehemence. Paine's Common Sense, published anonymously, was suspected to be from Franklin's pen. Franklin was the only founder to have savaged personally, before the Privy Council in the Cockpit; he seems to have taken it as personally as Dan Morgan did his 500 lashes. Refer to Franklin's letters to his many British friends, accusing THEIR navy of burning our ports, and so on. Consider his cutting off his loyalist son, permanently.
Franklin was of the Committee of Five; he was largely absent from the Congress (an attack of the gout) in the several weeks leading up to the submission of the draft, so the assumption is that he was not present to contribute. But, he lived mere blocks away, and could well have been visited; and Jefferson sent him the "Friday morn" note, likely on June 22, asking for assistance, ASAP, on a draft of something - we know not what.
Profile Image for Karen.
418 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2016
"The Time of Our Lives," by Peggy Noonan, was just the book I needed to read during this crazy presidential campaign. The book is a compilation of her favorite Wall Street Journal columns she has written from the mid 1990's through 2015. There are the wise, thoughtful articles of past and recent presidents and how they governed, the partisanship of politics today compared to years ago (really, not much has changed unfortunately), media involvement in the creation of the news we read, moving articles about the Challenger accident, 9/11, the challenges in the Catholic church and religion in general (she's a practicing Catholic) and so much more. The chapters run about 3-5 pages in the book which is a good thing as it gives the reader the opportunity to absorb and think about her comments. Her ability about perspective from both major political parties is interesting to read, especially since she is a conservative but is a common-sense conservative (just like there are some common-sense liberals out there). Ms. Noonan, Dana Perino, and Michael Beschloss are three of the most bipartisan media people I know of and Ms. Noonan's current book just adds credence to that belief. This is one book that I checked out of the library and now I know I want to add it to my personal home library. Very thoughtful reading for all of us.
Profile Image for Soozblooz.
263 reviews3 followers
July 24, 2016
3.5 STARS.

I have always been a fan of Ms. Noonan's, since reading WHAT I SAW AT THE REVOLUTION. If you haven't read that, here is the opening: "I first saw him as a foot, a highly polished brown cordovan wagging merrily on a hassock. I spied it through the door. It was a beautiful foot, sleek, perfectly shaped. Such casual elegance and clean lines! But not a big foot, not formidable, maybe even a little . . . frail." She is describing her very first impression of President Reagan, and who wouldn't be drawn in with those lines?

THE TIME OF OUR LIVES is quite thought-provoking and will compel you to seek out tangential information to round out your understanding of a subject, always a virtue. My only complaint is that most of the essays, culled from her Wall Street Journal editorials, are prior to 2014. And sometimes abrupt/odd sentence structures that forced me to take the sentence from the beginning.

The greatest takeaway is advice Ms. Noonan ever received (can't remember from whom) and passes along is this: An editor should never apologize for the amount of reading she does. And that is the greatest advice I took away too.
Profile Image for Wesley Roth.
220 reviews11 followers
March 5, 2016
"The Time of Our Lives" is a *wonderful* book. Ms. Noonan is a beautiful writer, whose columns and essays truly do express the thoughts of many in our country. I found myself picking up a pen every time I found some time to read her "best of" book, underlining and highlighting passages; call them "Noonanisms" if you will. She is so good at describing life, telling us what makes are country, our people, our relationships and friendships special, unique, interesting. It would be fun to sit down for a lunch with her just to ask her thoughts on a lot of different topics. In the past I would usually read her column in the Wall Street Journal; now I am going to make sure I read her "Declarations" weekly. Highly recommend this book if you feel sad, angry, depressed about the politic in the country today. Read and then "get action" like Teddy Roosevelt loved to say and help it become better.
Profile Image for Phyllis.
1,276 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2016
Quite a variety of topics in Noonan's collection of some of her writings. Noonan talks about religion, sports, family... as well as politics, of course. Interesting comments on Bill Clinton - really scathing. She has a lot of strong political opinions but does have some unexpected comments given that she was a writer for President Reagan. She salutes some famous people including Tim Russert about whom I thought a lot after the hugeness of his funeral - I think the American people really liked him and trusted him and hadn't really had anyone in power they felt good about since Reagan.

The last writing was about Truman and made me think I need to learn more about him. He's a soul mate of mine (my mother - staunch Democrat that she was - delivered me on his BD while he was in office) and I really enjoyed visiting his library in Independence, MO, one 4th of July.
Profile Image for Clint.
823 reviews3 followers
May 29, 2017
Peggy Noonan's "What I Saw At the Revolution" was one of the best best books I ever read. This compilation of her columns in the likes of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and CBS is a little too much Noonan. She is spot on in her comments on Reagan, Hillary Clinton and, sometimes, on the tone in the country over the years, but missed badly on early Obama and the demise of the Republican Party. Instead of 15 CDs of various columns, a "best of" might have been eight or nine. As a New Yorker, she has lots of 9-11 and post 9-11 commentaries ... a lot. I found myself wishing I could hurry through some of them. However, Noonan is a stellar writer, and, as a writer, I find myself wondering how she would write commentary on a particular issue I am pondering. This is a large dollop of her work, though.
Profile Image for Gordon.
642 reviews
June 3, 2016
4.5 stars. I have endeavored to be politically neutral for the past 8 years, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed Peggy Noonan's book - or rather anthology of her (mostly WSJ) editorials over the past thirty years. Her editorials paint her view of history over a period which correlates to much of my own adult life. Making the read all the more interesting to me. Peggy is critical of all administrations (save Reagan's for whom she was a speechwriter...), is staunchly patriotic with a strong ethical current running through her veins, and brings a unique New England, second generation Irish immigrant background to her writings. I like her compassionate writing style and will definitely read more of her works.
Profile Image for Derrick Jeter.
Author 5 books10 followers
December 10, 2017
I have always been a fan of Peggy Noonan. She writes like a friend talks, sometimes tender and sometimes tough. I'm sure, if I ever had the chance to meet her, we'd become fast friends. Reading her collection of essays and columns has been like talking to an old friend I haven't seen in awhile, you seem to pick up right where you left off as if you've never been interrupted.

Some of her best writing in this volume. I don't agree with every conclusion she makes. But then again, I rarely agree with every conclusion my other friends make, and no doubt they would say the same about me. Nevertheless, her writing is interesting and incisive. She is worthy of your attention and I commend her to you.
Profile Image for Jason Stanley.
188 reviews1 follower
March 11, 2018
A former speechwriter for President Ronald Regan, Noonan has been a columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Her book pulls many of her pieces together in one collection. A gifted writer, Noonan is able to share critical observations about current realities without being overly political. But don't let that fool you. She praises Regan as one of the best presidents and is overly critical of the Clintons and Obama. That said, it is important to remember that this is a collection of essays being read out of context. Weekly columns deal with the present. Perhaps the best part of this book is the introduction. Noonan offers a glimpse into her writing process. For any person whose main form of communication is the written word, Noonan provides a primer in writing.
56 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2016
I enjoy Peggy Noonan's style and do read her weekly column. I have to say this collection of her writing is the first book I've ever reviewed that gets 4 stars but that I couldn't finish (at least not so far)! As a collection of short columns, I guess it's not important to get through it all in one read, so I'll savor it over time when the spirit moves me. Ms. Noonan's style and politics will not appeal to all, but I found her thoughtful, profound, direct and entertaining. Writing about a broad range of subjects over the years, She provided an opportunity to revisit events that I did not follow carefully when they happened.
Profile Image for Carol.
41 reviews
February 16, 2016
Peggy Noonan is a writer perhaps most famous for her work as a speech writer for President Reagan and as a columnist at the Wall Street Journal. I always admired her work. This is a lengthy collection of pieces she has written over the course of her life. Many are political in nature, others are social/cultural. Some pieces will, no doubt, speak to you more than others. I particularly enjoyed first piece in the book regarding the Space Shuttle explosion. She famously wrote Reagan's touching speech that day. I don't believe this is not the type of book that is meant to be read cover to cover. I enjoyed it a little at a time over the course of a month. A worthwhile read.
Profile Image for Marcia.
953 reviews4 followers
April 6, 2016
While Peggy Noonan is widely known for her columns in the Wall Street Journal, I think first and foremost of her as speechwriter for Ronald Reagan and most especially for the speech he delivered following the Challenger tragedy in 1986.

This collection of her columns provided the opportunity to read her written work gathered together in an order she wished the columns to be read and introduced by comments that gave even greater meaning to the words she wrote.

If you value good writing (regardless of whether or not you agree with her positions on issues), please take the time to read and appreciate an unequaled wordsmith at work.
Profile Image for Amy.
397 reviews
February 10, 2016
I'm biased in favor of Peggy Noonan. I've adored her voice and perspective for a long time, so this book was like the time of my life to get to read so many of her thoughts all in one place instead of waiting for Saturday's Wall Street Journal to arrive for a single column. She's articulate, wise, and thoughtful. I don't always agree with her, but I always trust that she's earnestly considered the ideas she shares, and she shares them with intelligence as well as heart. I savored the pages of this book.
499 reviews3 followers
August 30, 2016
Peggy Noonan is a sage observer of the American human/political landscape, and this collection of her WSJ columns over many years is wonderful evidence of that. Plus, she is an imaginative, inventive writer, and overall a balanced one. And she is not merely cut and dried. She evokes emotion, particularly for our country. Her pieces on 9/11 are well worth the sticker price of the book and can induce tears in the most stoic of men. Her political orientation is of course Republican, but that does not get in the way. A very enjoyable and, for a liberal an educational, read.
Profile Image for Michael.
38 reviews2 followers
February 27, 2016
What a wonderful collection of articles and columns! Peggy Noonan was a speechwriter for the greatest President of my time and a columnist, who I am embarrassed to say I have never read until now. Boy was I missing a lot. Her post 9/11 essays really got me in the heart and her coverage and thoughts on all the presidents from Reagan to Obama really got me to thinking about things that I never thought about before. I feel much smarter after reading this. I can't wait to read more from her in the future.
Profile Image for Maureen Neylon.
989 reviews4 followers
February 22, 2016
I wasn't familiar with Peggy Noonan, ended up really liking her essays and writing style. Listened to it in the car, nice to be able to skip the essays I wasn't interested in. Many too political for my taste, but I actually learned a lot by listening to a few that I decided to give a try. Loved the essays on patriotism, 9/11, and relatable posts like the ones about the bravery of firefighters. Her voice reminded me of Anna Quindlen despite AQ being super liberal and PN conservative.
Profile Image for Jeri Schille.
68 reviews
September 24, 2016
Though I don't agree with every single one of her views her writing is amazing and her ability to analyze and interpret current events is equally amazing. Every chapter was thought-provoking. And how interesting that some of her columns turned out to be quite accurate predictors of later events. I never knew until I read this book that she was a speech writer for Ronald Reagan. She has wit, intelligence, and sass which was fun to read! Now I want to read other books she has authored!
Profile Image for Nan Doyal.
6 reviews
November 28, 2016
Regardless of your political persuasion - this is a must read book. You can put it down and pick it up as it is organized by articles, essays and speeches that Peggy Noonan has written over the years. Perfect to leave on your bedside table and sample from it every night, or take it on the road with you. This is a creative account of modern American history and what it means to be an American - presented in a hundred different ways. You will never tire reading this.
55 reviews18 followers
November 3, 2017
"  is a humble post-presidency imaginable today? ....  who, years ago, imagined that would come to be remarkable?  "

I appreciate Peggy Noonan's collection of writings, " The Time Of Our Lives ", most, when it conveys historical anecdotes and reflections of real events and the experiences of actual leaders (recent US presidents).  Musings on her own personal philosophy were less attractive to me.  The above quote begins and ends the concluding ' chapter ' recalling President Harry Truman.
Profile Image for Paul.
128 reviews5 followers
August 4, 2018
Such a pleasure to read a beautifully written collection of essays from a true conservative in this era of Trump. Peggy's Pulitzer is well deserved, and I wish voices of an optimistic, Reagan-era conservatism were more common these days. Small government, robust and principled national defense, recognition of immigration's enriching effects, and much more are in short supply these days, but Peggy's wonderful writing is spot on in defense of these--and other traditionally conservative--ideas.
Profile Image for Rosemary.
460 reviews3 followers
December 9, 2015
I was involved 100% all through this book. Perhaps it's because there are so many things about her life that are in a line with my life. Her style is plain spoken and to the root of the matter. A rare truthfulness, honesty and heartfelt runs throughout. I good read that speaks to the American experience. I will read more from Ms. Noonan.
2,475 reviews12 followers
March 17, 2016
I loved this book, finishing it on my Kindle while traveling. The style in which it is written allows the reader to read for several minutes or hours, depending on how long one has available. Loved her insights and her humor. I especially loved her writings of Reagan and Joan Rivers.
4.5 stars! Bravo, Peggy Noonan
Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews

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