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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 070.92
EAN: 9780465013555
Edition: First Printing
ISBN: 0465013554
Item Dimensions: 100960109640
Label: Basic Books
Manufacturer: Basic Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 272
Publication Date: June 08, 2009
Publisher: Basic Books
Studio: Basic Books
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Product Description:
Richard Brookhiser wrote his first cover story for National Review at age fourteen, and became the magazineâs youngest senior editor at twenty-three. William F. Buckley Jr. was Brookhiserâs mentor, hero, and admirer; within a year of Brookhiserâs arrival at the magazine, Buckley tapped him as his successor as editor-in-chief. But without warning, the relation ship souredâone day, Brookhiser returned to his desk to find a letter from Buckley unceremoniously informing him âyou will no longer be my successor.â
Brookhiser remained friends and colleagues with Buckley despite the breach, and in Right Time, Right Place he tells the story of that friendship with affection and clarity. At the same time, he provides a delightful account of the intellectual and political ferment of the conservative resurgence that Buckley nurtured and led.
Witty and poignant, Right Time, Right Place tells the story of a young man and a political movement coming of ageâand of the man who inspired them both.
Average Rating: 
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This memoir of politics, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE: COMING OF AGE WITH WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY JR. AND THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT comes from one who wrote his first cover story for the renowned conservative magazine National Review in 1969 when he was fourteen, becoming its youngest senior editor at age 23, and is a fine memoir of his friendship with William F. Buckley Jr, who tapped him as his successor - until he suddenly changed his mind. Their friendship mirrors the progression of America's conservative movement, making for a powerful memoir.
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A highly readable account of life with Bill Buckley from an excessively talented writer. I read Brookhiser and can only think, how lucky I am not to be excessively talented! Excessive talent leads to being early singled out for promise, early rubbing shoulders with one's idols, then an inevitable fizzing of air from the balloon as one does not quite make the cut. That's what happened to the excessively talented Brookhiser - Bill Buckley lifted him up, then let him down. And for eight years, Brookhiser had counted on Buckley's private promise to make Brookhiser his successor, staying at National Review when he had the ability to write for a well paying magazine or newspaper. Much of the account is taken up with Republican politics, less than fascinating to the general non-National Review reader. I once saw Brookhiser at NY's Penn station, waiting for the Acela to Washington. Although I have read most of his books, I did not approach him, would not think of it. This book confirms me in that impression of his character, the air of hauteur, the invisible screen. He has careful words for most of his colleagues wisely enough, though he dubs Peggy Noonan a "white Oprah". Brookhiser is an excellent memoirist, this book was well worth reading and takes its rightful place on my bookshelf. Broohiser's career, by the way, was sustained for many lean years by his loyal wife, Jeanne Safer, who supported them with her psychoanalytic practice. While Brookhiser mentions that, it bears repeating. I will not approach Mr. Brookhiser in Penn Station, but I do plan to reread Founding Father.
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Not nearly as amusing or interesting as "Losing Mum and Pup," but will definitely appeal to those invested in the "classical" conservative movement spawned by Goldwater/Reagan and enhanced by Buckley. Sort of an insider's "behind the scenes" type of autobiography with much of the focus on the operation of, and intrigues behind, the magazine, "National Review."
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I've read and admired a number of Richard Brookhiser's works. In my view, this is the best. His new book certainly presents a insider's view of the conservative movement and one of its historic leaders, William Buckley. That alone should be of interest to anyone interested in modern American history, politics or culture, whether conservative or not. It's also full of insights on a range of issues: changes in American life in the past 40 years (he well captures aspects of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, giving some sense of what those times, very different from today, felt like); father-son relationships; maturity; and, of course, acute observations on various political figures (his concise take on the speaking styles of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush is memorable writing.) Brookhiser's career began at such an early age that he is able to write a compelling memoir at the height of his powers. One looks forward to much more from him. I recommend this book most highly!
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Brookhiser is a very gifted writer who avoids here both petty score-settling and its opposite, idolatry. First encountering William F. Buckley when Buckley's National Review ran a piece (as a cover story!) that the then 14 year old Brookhiser had submitted, the book relates the often difficult relationship that began as proxy child/father and evolved through the years into one of being equals.
Brookhiser walks a real tightrope here, being unsparringly honest, noting Buckley's flaws and weaknesses while not neglecting so much about the man that made him such a singular figure. The end result is a balanced and therefore very accesible account of a very real man. In telling his story about Buckley as he does Broohiser tells us much about himself as well. Deeply bitter about Buckley's having promised him that he'd be Buckley's successor, then reneging on that promise without warning, Brookhiser continued to work for NR (as he does to this day), in a diminished capacity with his approach to Buckley considerably more cautious. But Brookhiser doesn't let his bitterness consume him or let Buckley's crude handling of the matter poison their relationship in perpetuity. Buckley possessed so many admirable qualities - energy, intelligence, an astonishing generosity - and Broohiser doesn't let his lesser qualities overwhelm them. Forgiveness really is an act of grace.
What strikes you about Right Time, Right Place is the degree to which it is permeated with love, an adult and therefore meaningful love that admits that people are flawed but doesn't get devoured by that fact. It is easy to love a perfect person, much less so one whose flaws can bring pain.
In addition to Buckley, Brookhiser touches on many of the very colorful characters who populated NR through the years, names that are very familiar to those of us who have been long-time readers. James Burnham, Bill Rusher, Gary Wills, Joe Sobran and many of the others from NR's past are dealt with in revealing, sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing portraits. Brookhiser also deals with and gives insight into a number of the behind-the-scenes policy controversies that are so important to an opinion journal like NR: the Panama Canal, the Soviets, tax cuts.
The only quibble I have is that Brookhiser never fully resolves the other theme of the book: his lifelong quest for a father figure. The picture he draws of his own father is one of a man perhaps no better but realistically no worse than any of our fathers. He does come to recognize this after his falling out with Buckley but even in his more mature years when he becomes enamoured of the historical George Washington, he is still looking for that perfect father figure. The genesis of that search remains elusive.
Right Time, Right Place is a beautifully written work that should be of interest to anyone curious about the history of the last fifty years, is intrigued by big personalities on big stages or who like to see how love can make us better people.
Highly recommended.
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