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| Category: Autobiography | |
| About the Book | |
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Free Excerpt From The Book (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) The book is a portrayal of American life as it used to be with its countless opportunities and the freedom to make the most of them. People of this generation were very fortunate to grow up in Safer Times without the overhanging peril that today’s youth face from predators, drugs, gangs and everyday violence. They were also very fortunate in growing up in an expanding economy which gave them the security of “the good life”.This is a true story of adventure, accomplishment, romance and a reflection of a young boy’s transition from a mischievous youth, through an amazing variety of experiences, to professional achievement and success. The story advances with a succession of anecdotes that highlight the many aspects of his life from World War II to the present. The book describes the long ago variety and excitement of growing up in a world without television and organized youth activities, where kids generated their own entertainment, carefully skirting the limits of best behavior to enjoy the freedom to explore their world. The author paints clear pictures of a time of frugality taught by Depression years, of a time of strict discipline in school, and of emerging into a new freedom of university life. His progression from his early years to more and greater responsibility is described in broad strokes, and his pictures of distant lands and cultures carry the reader to many adventures. Whether in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the sweating plains of Viet Nam, the fearsome blizzards of Thule Greenland, or the high tension of a Congressional briefing, the author treats the reader to fascinating and humorous incidents. His many adventures assisting State Department posts all over the world are equally entertaining. But the author’s review of love and family is perhaps the greatest depiction of how much the world has changed in the last half century. The “thrill of just holding hands”, the innocence of dating, “going steady”, and raising kids in the austere “Naugahyde Years”, contrasts sharply with today’s casual sex, living together, having children outside of marriage, and the “want it now” mentality of massive credit card debt. The author describes his role in the world with pride in his achievements and accomplishments. It is only near the end of the story that he seems to grasp that his world has changed and that today our well being is threatened on many fronts from terrorist attacks, failing health care systems, loss of jobs, corporate greed and corruption, pollution, endangered water supplies and many other dangers. The author recognizes that on a personal level, he could have been a better father, and that on a macro level, his generation has somehow failed to preserve the “good life” for future generations. The book highlights the author’s many adventures with poignancy and humor from beginning to end. When taken as a whole, it paints a portrait of an average guy doing his best to grow up, raise a family and make the most of his many opportunities.
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| About the Author | |
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Arthur Stellmach was born in Cicero Illinois in the midst of the Great Depression. He earned both bachelors and masters degrees at the University of Illinois and served in the Air Force for twenty two years. His second career with the U.S. State Department took him all over the world. |
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