The Education of a Yankee: An American Memoir

by Judson D. Hale Sr.

The author, editor-in-chief of Yankee magazine, recounts his Boston childhood, education, experiences in the Army, and involvement with the family-owned magazine

261 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1987

Reviews

[charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full to the brim with heart and expert story-telling. A memoir written by a middle aged man making some sense out of his tumultuous first 40 years and the strange cast of characters that makes up a Yankee family - and the strange, unconventional life events that got him to where he was when he wrote it. Its about New England. About being a New Englander - especially the wealthy kind... the traditional Yankee who is hard working, traditional, practical and idealistic, prudent and tenacious. The author, as many know, was for years the Managing Editor of Yankee magazine - the man who has helped define to the world what a Yankee is in the first place. But, it's also simply about growing up and finding yourself among the odd events of the first half of your life.

On the surface, the book may be just a series of amusing and tragic anecdotes about himself and his family - but Hale has such an expertise at tying everything together that the whole is so much greater than the parts. I felt such a closeness to the author... his warm honesty, openness and self-deprecation gave me that same feeling one gets when a close friend opens up and shares their most intimate secrets. Its a bond that I will not forget - I believe this book will live with me for years to come.

And my affection for the Hale family has been strengthened ten-fold...

For, yes, I must admit - I am not an unbiased reviewer. I was given this book by the author almost 40 years after he wrote it (i think it was just re-released). He is the father of one close friend and the uncle of another. So my opinion may be completely warped by my personal connections... but i'd like to believe that it is the skill of the author, not my personal connection that influenced my response. It is really a wonderful story. Told by an expert writer.

SPECIAL NOTE to my dear friends from the ECHO cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee who follow me here: the author rented your cottage this summer (2015)! I will leave the book here so you can read it next summer if you like.

[Kamalendu Nath · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this memoir Judson Hale (born in 1933; sister Patsy: 1930 and brother Drake:1926, soon to befell tragedy)) weaves through family history: frugality, tenacity, excesses and tragedies, in elaborating the attributes of a “Yankee”. In keeping with the Yankee definition – ‘symbolizes a hearty character (Ice & Granite)’ – “ain’t leanin’ on nothing” both his grandparents fit the bill. Unfortunately, not his own father, essentially a spoiled brat. Here you may surmise what’s not a “Yankee”. We are introduced to the philosophy of Anthroposophy (Rudolf Steiner, founder) – use of natural means to optimize health and wellbeing, from Austria. How childhood is shaped by his upbringing under this philosophy in Sunrise farm, Vanceboro, Maine, elaborates on some of the practices of Anthroposophy (ridding agricultural diseases; crystallization science for seeds & health etc.) and ‘local’ problems on Austrian visitors. The wrinkle in the family lives of the grandparents (although rich); his own initial life (undisciplined) to finally achieving the editorial position at the Yankee magazine under the tutelage of uncle Robb (mother’s brother), founder of the magazine and also the author of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, makes a very enjoyable read. I did wonder, though, on the visitations (ghost Madonna like figure, for example) and his mother’s ambitions (singing career). The writing is superb and select pictures from the family album is quite revealing. It’s replete with compelling and entertaining descriptions that I enjoyed.

Rewards of self-entertainment under forced circumstances: pg.15 - “The fact that I have never experienced true boredom since my early childhood – even during five-hour airport delays – I credit fully to those ago long-afternoon naps, the hour-long sessions on our little toilet bowls, and Sunday dinner at Grandpop’s.” Adages: on pretentious people: pg. 80 – “If that fellah could sell himself for what he thought he was wuth, he could but himself back at quite a bahgain.” About consequences on one’s actions and inactions: pg.94 – “…I do recall becoming aware that there was more to life than floating along on a river current like a leaf.” Crisis control wisdom: pg.118 – “…the best solution to a bewildering crisis is often to stand by on the outskirts of it, appearing knowledgeable and concerned, while the crisis solves itself!” About battling false rumor: pg. 145 – “It’s not easy to accept the lessons therein: (1) denying a rumor strengthens it; and (2) once a rumor, always a rumor.” The question raised why use ‘yet’ and not ‘and’ in: pg. 214 – “If you know yourself, you can be true to what you are, yet control it.” I may be wrong, but I would guess ‘yet’ includes ‘your faults’ while ‘and’ is indicative of just ‘excesses’.

[Kevin A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir by the editor of Yankee magazine is far more interesting than that sounds. Judson Hale is a superb storyteller, and his Brahmin family provides him with ample material. At the heart of the book is the dozen years his parents spent in the Maine wilderness establishing a farm, school, and laboratory to create an American outpost for the followers of Rudolph Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. (Today it survives mostly in the form of Waldorf schools.) The book succeeds although he might be a taciturn Yankee in real life, he speaks of his life and family with a revealing honesty.

[Laura Boram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so engaging, with an extremely fascinating look at the early Anthroposophical Society in America, the can-do Yankee spirit and the uber rich Bostonian families.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering that I salvaged this book from our town dump's "swap shop" my expectation for a quality read was not high. Was I wrong! Had I known that the author was the editor of Yankee Magazine for 58 years, I wouldn't have been so skeptical. Jud Hale cleverly explains how 14 stereotypical New Englander character traits (think Frugality, Prudence, Tenacity) were seared into his personality as a catalyst for telling his life story. His humor, honesty and a healthy use of suspense made it hard to put the book down, yet also made it a light, entertaining read. I do wonder if this book appeals to me because I live in the same geographical regions inhabited by Hale and feel a certain kinship, which may not be so engaging to readers in other locales.

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this years ago, but picked it up again this summer after kayaking around Vanceboro, Maine, the remote town where Hale's Boston blueblood family decided to built a Waldorf school and semi-utopian farm in the 1940s. (Spoiler: it didn't last.) But I read all the way through, past the Vanceboro years. Hale's no literary star, but his unvarnished portrait of his curious family and the early years of Yankee magazine still make for compelling reading.