I received this book for free from the publishers and NetGalley for reviewing purposes. I was truly wowed by
"The Book of Charlie." As both a history and book lover, "The Book of Charlie" has everything. Von Drehle's writing was vivid and made me feel like Charlie was my neighbor too. I really enjoyed the little side moments that discussed the history and helped to contextualize Charlie's story. It really gives the "Forest Gump" feels. "The Book of Charlie" has mass appeal because it has so much heart. Von Drehle exquisitely captured how an "ordinary" like, is never really ordinary.

This book was well-written and is an incredible read journeying the remarkable life of Dr. Charles White. Throughout his long life, Dr. White encounters moments of triumph and defeat. It is in the moments of defeat that the author expands upon with life lessons, touching on themes of courage and resilience, and tying it all to Stoic philosophy. Highly recommend.

Received the book from Net Galley agreeing to review. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book wasn’t only about 100 plus years of Charlie but included 100 years plus of history seamlessly combined. With both we journeyed through the evolution of roads, autos, trains and medicine to name a few. We go on road trips, stop at grocery stores for gas, hitch rides on freight trains and listen to music—Nighthawk Blues with Coon Sanders Nighthawks (YouTube).. We experience the evolution of change, IID iterative and incremental development (read the book) which shows that change doesn’t happen all at once but slowly over time.. This book is wonderful on many levels, a biography of a man who enjoyed life to the fullest, a history of the evolution of change, plus the history of a fascinating city Kansas City, Kansas.

Reading about brave people who have come through the fires of life is always inspiring! Charlie is one of these. He's done amazing things, and rarely mentioned them, or put them in the way of others to either help or hinder their paths. He simply made sure he was present, helpful and ready to take action when it was needed.

It was one of those providential coincidences that a world-known journalist itchy to write another book would move into the house across the street from this self-possessed elderly man. Curiosity was roused, questions were asked and mostly answered. Because of friendship engaged and material mined, this book has resulted in a read that moves from Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama in the White House; from planes in the air not longer than 39 minutes to "planes" in outer space over years. Starting from a time before our ears were filled with sound waves delivered by mechanical means to an era in which spoken words are turned into mobile phone texts millions of times a day without fingers, the measure of Charlie's life is simply remarkable: 109 years.

Not just a matter of time, Charlie's experiences and his responses to those experiences make this book even more enjoyable.

A read well worth your time - attending to the 109 years lived by Charlie will lighten your load, and inspire you on your own journey.

A Sincere Thank You to David Von Drehle, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley. #TheBookofCharlie #NetGalley Pub Date: 23 May 2023

"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."

Hmm this wasn’t quite the book I was expecting, and maybe that’s on me. I was hoping to hear about 100 years of a man’s life who impacted those around him but was disappointed to read page after page of World History. Don’t get me wrong, that has it’s time in place, but is not really my jam. I thoroughly enjoyed Charlie’s relationship with Mildred which I felt shed light on the times, especially in relationship to MH and addiction. I loved Charlie’s love for animals and his resilient approach to life. There are some nuggets of wisdom but they aren’t much different than what you’d find on a Pinterest board.

Definitely pick it up if you're into nonfiction, US History, and biographies. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and the author, David von Drehle for providing me with this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Life Well Lived. David von Drehle met Charlie when he moved to Kansas City and saw Charlie washing his girlfriend's car at age 102. David started visiting Charlie and listening to his stories. At his age Charlie lived history from the Model T, the Spanish Flu epidemic. World Wars, and became a successful doctor before penicillin. Charlie's life was not perfect and there were things that went wrong. He chose to focus on the positives and kept moving forward. So many of us get stuck when life deals us a blow. We can all learn lessons from Charlie on how to live a full life.
This is a great little book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to #netgalley, #DavidVonDrehle and #Simon&Schuster for a copy of this book.
#TheBookofCharlie

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Book of Charlie" and all opinions expressed are my own. Overall a good book. This is not just about Charlie's life but also includes American history, events from the span of Charlie's lifetime. Interesting read about history and how Charlie had to adapt to all the changes during his 109 years.

This book was different than I expected...but really good. It drew me in quickly & was an easy read, hard to put down.

I enjoyed hearing about Charlie's fascinating life - from serving in the War, to flying around the world on an adventure, just because he could; serving as a highly sought out anesthesiologist & working with & for political world leaders.

The author did a good job of explaining some different facts about what was going on in different time periods - for example, how the roads were when Charlie & 2 friends drove across the US....just to come back home (which is another funny story of hitchhiking on the Railway to get home...)

(I was able to preview this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster. This book is set to be published 5/22/23)

I highly appreciated all of the knowledge von Drehle shared in these 155 pages. It’s obvious that he is a prodigious writer of history. I just received his book “Triangle: The Fire That Changed America” from my library, which is about the fire in a shirtwaist factory in downtown Manhattan in 1911. 146 workers, mostly women, perished in this factory fire, the worst workplace fire prior to 9/11.

In “The Book of Charlie,” von Drehle’s 109-year-old neighbor, Charlie, shares his life story, and Von Drehle fills in so much incredible additional historical information. In one part, Charlie talks about his decision to join the army after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He is one of a few doctors in Kansas City and naturally wonders if he will have a practice to return to after the war if he makes it out alive. He also wonders if he will have his wife, Mildred, waiting for him after the war. However, he mostly talks about how the war propelled the country ahead in technology, engineering, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, communication, and medicine. Von Drehle explains that the discovery of penicillin occurred accidentally in 1928 by Englishman Alexander Fleming. He was working on an experiment to study bacteria and was annoyed one day to see a mold was growing in one of his petri dishes. Upon a second glance, he noticed that there was no bacteria where the mold was growing. He put two and two together and voilà: the discovery of penicillin. But this was in 1928. It wasn’t until the beginning of WWII when penicillin was mass produced to try to help soldiers with infections from staph to pneumonia to blood poisoning.

Another area of medicine which advanced rapidly in 1942 for doctors at war-based hospitals was the field of anesthesiology. Charlie carried ether and a can to administer it in his black doctor bag to give stitches, take out tonsils, deliver a baby, or reset some bones — basically all of the things possible for any doctor to do in the 1930’s.

But during the war, Charles Lundy of the Mayo Clinic, father of IV anesthesiology, taught Charlie, who was the Chief Doctor at his base, the new ways of anesthesiology. The doctors figured out how to use sodium thiopental through an IV to put people under for surgery. They also learned how to use endothracheal tubes to open airways, support breathing, and to administer the sodium thiopental. All of this paved the way for Charlie to be the first doctor of anesthesiology in Kansas City, and one of the first few in the country, in 1946 upon his return from the army.

This is the point that most clearly shows that Charlie’s resilience and opportunities were self-made. Even though he entered the army with much trepidation, he remained both realistic and optimistic, so he could return from the army and be the head of anesthesiology at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kansas City.

Charlie has wonderful tales to tell from his very early years as well, one of which being when he and two friends drive a Model T from Kansas City all the way to Los Angeles in two weeks. There are barely any roads, no maps, and obviously no GPS, so most of the ride is planned on the go. They get directions every now and then such as, “drive 10 miles on this dirt road until you hit the big oak tree, then about 7 miles on this dirt road until you turn right onto a paved road for the next 5 miles”. It is a very adventurous and interesting tale. Despite being used to paved roads and maps, they set off with barely anything but their determination to guide them all the way west. The return home really tests Charlie and seals his resilience for life. He and one friend make it back in about 4 weeks by hopping railroad cars and picking up odd jobs to get a little money and a place to lay their head and fill their bellies.

“The Book of Charlie” continues with Charlie open to learning and ready for all opportunities as they present themselves. He realizes his formal education at the University of Missouri and his medical school training at Northwestern are just the beginning of a lifetime of learning. This is truly the heart of Charlie’s stories and this book. Because he realizes this, he has many more opportunities throughout his life.

Charlie said, “Work hard. Spread joy. Take a chance. Enjoy wonder.” These basic takeaways of a long life well-lived are at the top of Dr. Charlie White’s stories. He has hundreds of stories that prove how he fully lives every single moment of his life for 109 years. He has three wives, outliving all of them, and two daughters; as well as a step-son and step-daughter who fill in more information about Charlie for von Drehle’s book. Charlie also made it to 109 years with barely any serious hospital stays, or illness. Von Drehle’s story of “The Book of Charlie,” blends easily with all of the historical moments he lived through from the Depression to being able to use a cel phone. In this span, his life does read almost like a miracle.

I enjoyed this book immensely, and it touched me deeply. It helped me to realize all I have been blessed with and how I can move forward and be ready with my eyes wide open to witness the next miracle; to try to emulate Charlie.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and the author, David von Drehle for providing me with this advanced reader’s copy of this wonderful tale. I highly recommend this book and give it five stars.

An interesting book about 'Charlie" who lived to be over 100 years old and was the author's neighbor. I like how the story unfolds about Charlie's remarkable life and especially the context of what was happening historically at the time. There was one point that made me cringe about a childhood experience that was kind of glossed over (I don't want to give away spoilers) but otherwise this book was about an interesting man who had a very interesting life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Charlie White lived a full life. From the invention of the radio, to the implementation of a smart phone, and everything in between, Charlie saw it all. David Von Drehle sets out to tell the story of Charlie's resilience and adventure. After all, living to 109 years ought to give you something.

Have you ever met someone and thought, "wow, they are absolutely fascinating and have done so many things!" Charlie White was one of those people. He was one to always say yes and pursue the adventure, figuring he'd somehow swing it. That's how he ended up in LA. Other times this attitude led him to learn to play saxophone, or over Victoria Falls, and more. He was an innovative doctor and many of the things we would consider "normal" today were pioneered by Charlie and his peers. There were so many instances I was flabbergasted at his tenacity. I wish I had known him. Charlie White didn't believe you could be too old for anything, and I hope some of his spirit can live on in me. I can picture him saying, "Life is an adventure - live it!"

I absolutely devoured this book and loved it. As with other books on those who have lived a long life we expect to hear the reasons for their longevity when it comes to diet, exercise etc. This book took me by surprise! You fall in love with Charlie and his zest for life, his positivity and his acceptance of change through the decades. He had lived a full and exciting life and I was fascinated with how the world was for him during the turn of the century and onward. Even with so many changes there are so many things that remain the same. The book is well written, and the author's admiration is evident. This is sure to be winner. Thank you for the opportunity to read this heart warming book.

For anyone who liked "Tuesdays with Morrie", you will most certainly enjoy this gem! The Book of Charlie is an intriquing novel about the author's new neighbor, Charlie, who is 102 years old, when the author first meets him. The author quickly learns that his new neighbor is not your typical neighbor and has over a century of captivating memories in American history that he has lived through, and is willing to share. One example from the book, is that most people reading this book today cannot imagine a time when antibiotics weren't available - since they weren't discovered yet. But Charlie could, and the author did a phenomenal job bringing Charlie's stories of those times, to life in this book. Highly recommend this well written and enjoyable book to everyone!



Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my ARC of this book.

My main complaint about this book is that I wanted more of it. At the end I felt as thought I had only begun to learn about Charlie, that I had received a long-form essay when I wanted an encyclopedia. This is, however, in and of itself a tribute to both the author and his subject. It is interesting and inspirational without being trite. I recommend it!

It takes a “prize-winning” author to recognize an exemplary story. This book follows the life of his 102-year-old new neighbor, Charlie.

He had just moved with his wife and four children in 2007 to escape the brutal traffic jams in DC for a more calm, friendly environment. While unpacking boxes, he spotted an older gentleman washing a Chrysler PT Cruiser. What a sight this must have been in Kansas City as it’s rare to see anyone doing this in the District.

David Von Drehle was now able to work from this midwestern area with decent internet service. I could just picture a journalist with his pad and paper taking good notes for a recording of his neighbor’s past. People at the end of their lives tend to look back upon their memories like a review of good things and bad just before the send-off into the afterlife and the author was taking it all in.

Dr. Charlie White had a career as a general practitioner and anesthesiologist. His life profile included huge changes over 100 years with technology and medicine which influenced our society. There was the discovery of antibiotics and pain killing techniques benefitting all of us. The vast amount of information was like a condensed 22-volume set of encyclopedias documented into a rather short book. It’s filled with gems of knowledge from years of living through good times and challenges during WWII. In the end, Charlie left behind great wisdom with his work and relationships for others to follow.

In the beginning, David Von Drehle said he wanted his four children to have this keepsake with words of inspiration when they may need it. His neighbor, Charlie, will be remembered and many people will save this book as a reminder of how our country has evolved and the good that continues.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 23, 2023.

Great cover. Enjoyable book.
From the very first chapter I was endeared... "I decided to write a book for my children that would unlock the secrets of life inside the storm. And once I understood this was my task as their father, I would have gone to the ends of the Earth to find such a tale. But that proved unnecessary, because one blazing August morning I looked up from my driveway and saw my story standing there, just across the street."
The author looks on as his elderly neighbor washes his girlfriend's "grape soda pop" PT Cruiser. What ensues is a charming walk through the life (aided by his golf club cane) of a man who lived through the last century.
This book could be enjoyed by just about anyone in my opinion. It gives us a drive through course across different pieces of defining American history from a Kansas City view. With chunks of wisdom and humanity along the way.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!

I love the cover of this book. A clean cover with a man who has already crossed his middle-age. He walks facing his back towards the readers with the help of a cane. This shows his indifference towards others. Metaphorically, this also tells us that a man can be destroyed but not defeated. A man may stop running, but continues his move. His pursuit of happiness is the milestone that keeps him moving ahead and saves him from being frustrated from the realization of meaninglessness of life and the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of The Book of Charlie.
This book was not totally what I expected, but the best things tend to come from the unexpected and this is true of this book.
To follow Charlie's life, though events that are, for the most part, studies in history for most of us, is incredible. What a life he lived - truly lived to the fullest. David Von Drehle had the honor of knowing this man and his family, up close and personal, and we are grateful for the intimate sharing he was so generous with.
There are alot of spoilers that could go into a review of this book, but I will leave it for the reader to enjoy with each chapter!
You will not be disappointed. Always remember "to keep your daubers up"!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Book of Charlie.

This is the tale of Charlie; son, brother, doctor, husband, father, veteran, neighbor, teacher, amongst his many talents.

The author didn't intend to write a book about Charlie, his neighbor.

His original idea was to write a book for his children (now grown) when they discovered their father wrote for a living.

But, instead of a story about pirates and adventure, swashbuckling maidens and cackling minions, the author finds an unlikely tale and friendship in a centenarian when the author and his family relocated to Kansas City.

Charlie is that rare breed, not just surpassing the typical lifespan of a man, but his character, his resilience and the adventures and troubles he's endured may have contributed to his longevity.

Through the course of their seven year friendship, the author recounts Charlie's life, from his childhood, surviving the sudden death of his father, a renowned pastor, to the freedom and empowerment his mother encouraged in him toward pursuing his life's dreams and the high hopes he had for his future.

The author also includes necessary historical context to explain the world in which Charlie grew up in; where children roamed free, where technology was at its most basic, where mob gangs ruled and radios and flight was the most technological innovations at the time; to war and the discovery of penicillin and how doctors at that time are not the same doctors we have now.

Is Charlie's longevity due to luck? Yes, I believe that.

But his positive and optimistic outlook on life and career is more than that; the right combination of genetics, his upbringing, his unique character and personality contributed to the adventures, loss, and world experiences he would endure, survive, and learn from.

Readers young and old can learn from Charlie and the author's fruitful friendship with this unique man; to learn and evolve with the times, to let things go, to adapt and be flexible with the changing times and to go with the flow, not against it.

I received a copy of "the Book of Charlie" from NetGalley. David Von Drehle. writes of his neighbor, Charlie White. When he moved into his neighborhood Charlie White was one of his neighbors. He found out that Charlie was 102 years old. The author wanted to know more about this man who was 102 when they met and 109 when he died. For the seven years up to Mr. White's death he wanted to know more about Charlie White's life. He soon found out that Charlie White had quite a life in his 109 years. He lost his father to a freak accident when Charlie was only eight years old. Charlie was very smart and skipped two grades. When he graduated from high school he travelled through the USA with a friend. At first in a model T and on his way home hopping trains. In his life he became a physician practicing way into to his older years. He was in the armed forces during WWII. to name a few things in his life. I do not want to give too many spoilers of his life. But was amazed at the many accomplishments he did over his long life. I found this to be a very interesting read.