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The Book of Charlie  By  cover art

The Book of Charlie

By: David Von Drehle
Narrated by: David Von Drehle
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Publisher's summary

One of our nation’s most prominent writers finds the truth about how to live a long and happy life in the centenarian next door.

When a veteran Washington journalist moved to Kansas, he met a new neighbor who was more than a century old. Little did he know that he was beginning a long friendship—and a profound lesson in the meaning of life. Charlie White was no ordinary neighbor. Born before radio, Charlie lived long enough to use a smartphone. When a shocking tragedy interrupted his idyllic boyhood, Charlie mastered survival strategies that reflect thousands of years of human wisdom. Thus armored, Charlie’s sense of adventure carried him on an epic journey across the continent, and later found him swinging across bandstands of the Jazz Age, racing aboard ambulances through Depression-era gangster wars, improvising techniques for early open-heart surgery, and cruising the Amazon as a guest of Peru’s president.

David Von Drehle came to understand that Charlie’s resilience and willingness to grow made this remarkable neighbor a master in the art of thriving through times of dramatic change. As a gift to his children, he set out to tell Charlie’s secrets. The Book of Charlie is a gospel of grit—the inspiring story of one man’s journey through a century of upheaval. The history that unfolds through Charlie’s story reminds you that the United States has always been a divided nation, a questing nation, an inventive nation—a nation of Charlies in the rollercoaster pursuit of a good and meaningful life.

©2023 David Von Drehle. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Dear Listener,

What inspired me to tell this story?
"When I moved with my family to a new city and met my neighbor, he was washing his girlfriend’s car at age 102. I figured I could learn a few things from him about living with joy through a turbulent century. I had no idea how true that would turn out to be..." - David Von Drehle, writer of The Book of Charlie

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Inspiring

Charlie had a way of approaching life that was inspiring, a take it as it comes and then deal with it.
How interesting to watch a life that lived through the many changes and advances and adventures that were part of his time.

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Inspiring life story

Charlie’s approach to the challenges and opportunities he faced throughout his life was to embrace each one with confidence and optimism. The author does a wonderful job of describing the technological advances and societal changes that created the backdrop for Charlie’s incredible experiences.

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Real History with Charm

The author tells the story of his neighbor and friend, Charlie. A man who lived 109 years. Through the eyes of this journalist we travel through historical times viewing the amazing discoveries, inventions and cultural changes. Our view is with Charlie in focus. This is a story historians will enjoy very much. If you fall in the category of a “senior citizen”, then you will cherish it more having your own years of life to look back on and to which to look forward. This story is not a downer. Though it is full of “real life” sad episodes, you will find the resilience of Charlie a true life account of an everyday hero. I will not forget the story and the legacy of Charlie.

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Wonderful story

The story of Charlie is full of wisdom and humor. Full of simple advice to live by. Well done!

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Fantastic

I liked the book from beginning to end I found it funny, informative, reflective, and made me reflect back on my almost 103 year mother-in-law, the same life as the book of Charlie

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Charlie's attitide, visiting what it was like during the depression years, before penicillin, and before television

Loved the respectful conversational style of the writer and the fact that he read his own book.
Means a lot when they care enough to read their own books.

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A great read, offering a prescription for success

This is a great book which offers one man’s prescription for successful life I highly recommend it

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Loved it

Growing up in Kansas with a wonderful Father born in 1905 - I was connected! With Charlie.

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A fantastic read on so many levels.

Whether you love KC, history, philosophy, medicine, heroism, or just a good personal story, this book delivers. This is a gem I’ll be sharing with my friends and family!

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Wonderful!

This is a wonderful book about an amazing man. I will try to emulate Charlie’s philosophy of life.

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