Although the time period of this book takes place a few decades before I was born, I have always been drawn to the American 1950s post-WWII era so I was really excited to read this memoir.

I especially liked the pop culture references and the lighthearted tone of the book. It created a pleasantly immersive reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Advantage Media Group for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to four.

Quick and easy read of Ronnie's experience growing up. Ronnie had interesting stories that kept me engaged throughout even when he was telling what would normally be mundane stories I found myself very invested. This isn't normally the type of book I would read but couldn't put it down. Was a great view into how kids used to grow up, the freedoms they were allowed, and the trouble they got into!

This memoir set in the immediate decades after WWII is a portrait of white, working-to-middle-class America from a cultural and social perspective. While Blair touches on some of the political history of this moment, they stop short of delivering an analysis or deep commentary on the upheavals of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. These decades saw the beginnings and rise of social movements that challenged gender norms, race and racism, notions of equity and so on, but this memoir confines itself to a more modest objective: the texture of growing up and coming of age in rural, white America.

Blair’s memoir begins with himself and his community, a small rural town in Kentucky, but expands to cover the whole of white, working class American life across the upper South and Midwest. Chapters take on the subject of roadtrips and church-going, Halloween, the thrill of television, Little League baseball, high school, and living in a small town, among many other things. Interspersed with larger historical moments are Blair’s singular experiences: having an alligator live next door, or a church named after the family, for example. Each chapter is a capsule of the moment and Blair’s own family history and life; his experience serves as the prosopographical platform on which they comment on the cultural past. This is a so-called “boomer” memoir, highlighting a shiny, seemingly golden moment in American history.

This memoir records one aspect of American Identity with well-crafted prose. The tone is humorous in some chapters, yet possesses gravity in others. Like the ebbs and flows of life, some episodes warrant a light approach, others require seriousness. Blair segues from one to another with ease. The result is a smooth and immersive read.

Blair succeeds in delivering a landscape of their experience of the American Past. Its pop culture references and highlighting of (some) common American experiences in public schooling, Judeo-Christian holidays and celebrations, and working-class struggles offer a fleshy sense of how people experienced life in these decades.

A lighthearted romp through the childhood of a boy growing up in the late 50s-mid-60s, possibly the last "innocent" (at least for white boys) time in America, just after WW2 and right before the Vietnam War, Kennedy and King assassinations, hippie era,, and massive social upheaval. While there wasn't much that was "innocent" about author Ronnie Blair's father's time in the Kentucky coal mines, Blair's loving nostalgia for a time when he and his sister were enthrall to black and white television, shows such as Roy Rogers and Space Ghost, to playing outside with no supervision until sundown, and innocent mischief such as convincing his neighbor to lend him a pony make for an entertaining romp through the Eisenhower era. The author writes with much fondness for his unprivileged childhood, a refreshing change from the current trend for devastating and abusive pasts. I kept waiting for the dad to suddenly turn violent or for his mom to suddenly have a breakdown, but nope. They aren't Cleavers but they are caring parents who make do with what they have.

For fans of Growing Up by Russell Baker or A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd. Thank you NetGalley and Ronnie Blair for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I just reviewed Eisenhower Babies by Ronnie Blair; Ronnie Blair; Ronnie Blair. #EisenhowerBabies #NetGalley

With his large bald head, America's 34th president looked a bit like a big old baby himself, but this isn't about him, but a memoir by the author who grew up during his presidency I.e. between 1953 and 1961. Pleasantly nostalgic.

I liked this book and could relate to most of it for being born in the same time period. Though I was from a different part of the country it did bring back memories and a time that was really different. This is a book about the author’s life or memories and not so much as a history lesson from that time. The time though was very different for all of those who grew up during those years for many different reasons. Overall for me, this was a good book and I enjoyed the read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I expected this book to be about people in general from that generation, but it was more about the author's specific experiences growing up. But, I still thought it was interesting.

Disappointing. I thought that this book would be about a generation. In fact, it is the "memoir" of a man, who actually does not have much to tell about his childhood, youth or adult life. I don't quite understand the purpose of the book, and it does not offer any interesting insights to me. But maybe, I am not the target audience.

I was born a year behind the author so this book was very relevant to me (although I am a girl). The pop culture was so great and brought back very many memories for me. He touched on everything - from music, to TV to cultural impacts. The only critique I would have is that it constantly jumped time frames. It would have been more beneficial (at least to me), if the chapters were chronological. This way we could have grown with the author. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I want an interesting name for a book and it really took off From there. Ronnie who grew up during the late fifties and early sixties in a coal mining town in Kentucky. It was interesting how they seemed to be very poor but they seem to have so much joy in life. I found it very interesting when they had cable put in because of the mountain ranges They got to watch TV from New York and It showed them world outside of where they came from. Ronnie also loved comic books and that was his favorite thing to read. It was a perfect happy childhood life in a coal mining town his father worked very hard. His father left wants to be in the military and then came back. He also dealt with the strikes as well and they went to another to Illinois but they came back again. And how he really wanted to be a writer because he wrote letters at the end of this comic stripped. You seem to have a very happy childhood you had a loving mother and father and I like how the chapters were like short stories explaining how he had different parts of his life.

Eisenhower babies draws a great picture of what it was like growing up in the 50s and 60s when everyone was related to a World War II hero and wanted to belong to the Mickey Mouse club when comic books were all the rage and the girls were still innocent. Although in the book he states it’s not that those times were innocent it’s that we were. I think that couldn’t have been said better by anyone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even though I was raised in the 70s I found the history and the pop-culture so very interesting and I can honestly say that wasn’t a dull moment. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. If you love history pop culture and everything in between then you’ll love Eisenhower babies by Ronnie Blair. It’s a great mix between memoir in history. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I’m leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.