The Fifties

The Fifties is a sweeping social, political, economic, and cultural history of the ten years that Halberstam regards as seminal in determining what our nation is today. Halberstam offers portraits of not only the titans of the age: Eisenhower Dulles, Oppenheimer, MacArthur, Hoover, and Nixon, but also of Harley Earl, who put fins on cars; Dick and Mac McDonald and Ray Kroc, who mass-produced the American hamburger; Kemmons Wilson, who placed his Holiday Inns along the nation's roadsides; U-2 pilot Gary Francis Powers; Grace Metalious, who wrote Peyton Place; and "Goody" Pincus, who led the team that invented the Pill.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

One of the best books I've ever read!

I read this book my senior year in high school and loved it! I was thrilled to find it on audible. Prior to reading this book as a kid in the early 90s I thought the 50s were boring and the '60s were the cool decade. While I still think the 60s wete an incredible time period this book will totally open up your eyes to all that was going on in the 50s and illustrate how it was a prelude to the 60s with so many seeds being planted politcally, socially, culturally...
I remember when I finished "The Fifties", close to 30 years ago now, that I couldn't wait for the follow-up. But, it never came. not sure why Habersham never wrote the sixties.
I would encourage anybody who loves history to get this book and get lost in it. I guarantee you will love it!
My only slight criticism is the narrator talks extremely slow. I pumped it up to 1.4 speed and it sounds normal. So, problem solved easily enough.

An Era's History in Short Stories

Loved this book & learned a lot from it. In his distinctive, reporting as literature, style, Halberstam captures the essence of the era. His chapters are a series of well-paced & well-linked short stories unto themselves that taken together tell a larger tale. Much of the history is familiar, of course, but Halberstam always manages to educate with previously unknown nuggets of knowledge & paints pictures of people, places & times that are powerfully real. The effect is not only a series of "Aha!" moments, but a bigger sense of understanding. From the Cold War, to McDonald's & Holiday Inns, to television, to integration, to sports & beyond, the narrative teaches as it entertains. The reading is virtually perfect. The Fifties feature amazing human achievements, horrible human depravity & more -- much more than I realized before listening to this fine work.

relisten

listened to it twice and will probably do so again. it is great. that's it.

Excellent

Very informative regarding the 1950’s and well read. Highly recomment this author, great research.

The fine 50’s

A 1959 baby, this gave me more understanding of the world my parents had & my upbringing. I enjoyed this book. A 5 star recommendation!