The renowned economist provides a uniquely personal study of history during the last two thirds of the twentieth century, from 1934, when he joined Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal, through his relationship with many world leaders, to the present day. 35,000 first printing.
Amazon.com Review
In this collection of anecdotes of the "famous people I have known" variety, John Kenneth Galbraith lets his hair down--well, as much as a Harvard economist in his 90s might be expected to, anyway. Despite the informality, Galbraith's prose is suffused throughout with dignified precision, even at its most profane (as in his recollection of his extemporaneous evaluation of incomplete returns from the 1948 presidential election: "I think Thomas E. Dewey may well be shitting in his blue serge pants"). For the most part, Name-Dropping concerns itself with the major American statesmen from the Democratic party of the mid-20th century--Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson--but Galbraith also shares his reminiscences of working on Adlai Stevenson's two failed campaigns against Eisenhower ("no modern politician," he writes of the experience, "had a more faithful coterie of supporters") and of Eleanor Roosevelt, "who, but for the accident of history and the prevailing constraints of gender, could have been President in her own right." On the international front, there's a brief encounter with Albert Speer, Hitler's architect and economic director, and more extended contact with Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister (Galbraith served as ambassador to India in the Kennedy administration). Name-Dropping is a slim connection of anecdotes, held together by little more than Galbraith's presence, but that is more than enough to make its behind-the-scenes history cohesive and, in its way, quietly entertaining. --Ron Hogan
From Publishers Weekly
Galbraiths thin, impressionistic sojourn through his astounding career provides glimpses of some of the centurys most remarkable personalitiesincluding his own. In a series of chapters devoted to powerful, compelling individuals (FDR, JFK, LBJ, Nehru, to name a few), Galbraith rehashes much that is already known about these figures while offering his own perspective on their personalities and motivations. An astute observer of personalities, Galbraith, professor emeritus of economics at Harvard, expresses admiration for Nehru, Adlai Stevenson, Eleanor Roosevelt and John and Jackie Kennedy, scorn for Albert Speer and aversion to LBJ for his Vietnam entanglements. Galbraith claims he was ignorant of JFKs philandering, expresses his belief that Nazi leaders he interrogated after WWII were an incredible collection of often deranged incompetents and relates the rebukes he received from FDR concerning price control and rationing decisions. Though Galbraith treads on familiar ground with his defenses of Keynesian economics and occasional forays into liberal, Affluent Society territory, the book never congeals into a coherent whole. It is, instead an anecdotal mlange of first-hand impressions, autobiography and history. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
It is hard to believe that Galbraith is an economist, for he is such a gifted writer. In his latest book, Galbraith (The Good Society, LJ 4/1/96) reminisces about important figures with whom he has been involved in his long and distinguished life in the public arena. Among the brief portraits are those of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, JFK, LBJ, Nehru, and others. More than the self-effacing title indicates, this book offers important insights into the people and times on which its author reflects. Galbraith writes with a wit, style, and elegance few can match. While composed in an informal and conversational manner, this work delves into weighty matters concerning the key factors (leaders personality traits as well as political circumstances) that shaped an important era in modern history. At its close, Galbraith helps us make sense of the people and forces that shaped the 20th century. For public and academic libraries.Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Readers weary of endless parsing of the events of the past year in Washington can skip the memoirs of chattering twentysomethings and substitute these brief but vivid recollections from a remarkable ninetysomething. For decades, Galbraith was an active participant in politics and government; since the '70s, he has been a thoughtful observer from his economics chair (now emeritus) at Harvard. Two chapters here are devoted to Franklin Roosevelt: one on the New Deal; the other on the war as Galbraith experienced it in Washington as head of the Office of Price Administration. He writes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Adlai Stevenson, John and Jackie Kennedy and the Kennedy inner circle, and Lyndon Johnson. Less obvious subjects include Albert Speer, Jawaharlal Nehru, and three of the author's friends--Chester Bowles, George Ball, and Averell Harriman. The old man still writes gracefully and often insightfully about the notable people with whom and for whom he has worked. Mary Carroll
"Writing with great decorum, and even greater intelligence, Galbraith focuses on personality and politics in his fond but balanced portraits of the powerful." -- Review
A lively and breezy set of essays with flashes of penetrating insight. -- The Boston Book Review
No one has been more inside than John Kenneth Galbraith. In Name Dropping , he shares a dozen intimate portraits of the men and women who figured prominently in his life - from Harry Truman to Jacqueline Onassis. -- Town and Country
Wise, brilliant, witty, young in spirit, aged in loyalty and in friendship -- with a love of life -- and Kitty -- all packed into a 6 foot 8 inch giant of wry bemusement. -- Senator Alan K. Simpson
With characteristic wit and unconventional wisdom, Galbraith illuminates several of the century's great, near-great, and not-as-great-as-they-thought-they-were. Name-Dropping is simply a delight. -- Robert B. Reich
With wondrous prose, brilliant wit, and profound insight, John Kenneth Galbraith has re-created his era and made it ours. Name-Dropping is history made both entertaining and memorable. -- William J. vanden Heuvel, President, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
Writing with great decorum, and even greater intelligence, Galbraith focuses on personality and politics in his fond but balanced portraits of the powerful. -- Boston Magazine
About the Author
John Kenneth Galbraith who was born in 1908, is the Paul M. Warburg Professor of Economics Emeritus at Harvard University and a past president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is the distinguished author of thirty-one books spanning three decades, including The Affluent Society, The Good Society, and The Great Crash. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Harvard, Oxford, the University of Paris, and Moscow University, and in 1997 he was inducted into the Order of Canada and received the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2000, at a White House ceremony, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The renowned economist provides a uniquely personal study of history during the last two thirds of the twentieth century, from 1934, when he joined Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal, through his relationship with many world leaders, to the present day. 35,000 first printing.
Amazon.com Review
In this collection of anecdotes of the "famous people I have known" variety, John Kenneth Galbraith lets his hair down--well, as much as a Harvard economist in his 90s might be expected to, anyway. Despite the informality, Galbraith's prose is suffused throughout with dignified precision, even at its most profane (as in his recollection of his extemporaneous evaluation of incomplete returns from the 1948 presidential election: "I think Thomas E. Dewey may well be shitting in his blue serge pants"). For the most part, Name-Dropping concerns itself with the major American statesmen from the Democratic party of the mid-20th century--Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson--but Galbraith also shares his reminiscences of working on Adlai Stevenson's two failed campaigns against Eisenhower ("no modern politician," he writes of the experience, "had a more faithful coterie of supporters") and of Eleanor Roosevelt, "who, but for the accident of history and the prevailing constraints of gender, could have been President in her own right." On the international front, there's a brief encounter with Albert Speer, Hitler's architect and economic director, and more extended contact with Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister (Galbraith served as ambassador to India in the Kennedy administration). Name-Dropping is a slim connection of anecdotes, held together by little more than Galbraith's presence, but that is more than enough to make its behind-the-scenes history cohesive and, in its way, quietly entertaining. --Ron Hogan
From Publishers Weekly
Galbraiths thin, impressionistic sojourn through his astounding career provides glimpses of some of the centurys most remarkable personalitiesincluding his own. In a series of chapters devoted to powerful, compelling individuals (FDR, JFK, LBJ, Nehru, to name a few), Galbraith rehashes much that is already known about these figures while offering his own perspective on their personalities and motivations. An astute observer of personalities, Galbraith, professor emeritus of economics at Harvard, expresses admiration for Nehru, Adlai Stevenson, Eleanor Roosevelt and John and Jackie Kennedy, scorn for Albert Speer and aversion to LBJ for his Vietnam entanglements. Galbraith claims he was ignorant of JFKs philandering, expresses his belief that Nazi leaders he interrogated after WWII were an incredible collection of often deranged incompetents and relates the rebukes he received from FDR concerning price control and rationing decisions. Though Galbraith treads on familiar ground with his defenses of Keynesian economics and occasional forays into liberal, Affluent Society territory, the book never congeals into a coherent whole. It is, instead an anecdotal mlange of first-hand impressions, autobiography and history.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
It is hard to believe that Galbraith is an economist, for he is such a gifted writer. In his latest book, Galbraith (The Good Society, LJ 4/1/96) reminisces about important figures with whom he has been involved in his long and distinguished life in the public arena. Among the brief portraits are those of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, JFK, LBJ, Nehru, and others. More than the self-effacing title indicates, this book offers important insights into the people and times on which its author reflects. Galbraith writes with a wit, style, and elegance few can match. While composed in an informal and conversational manner, this work delves into weighty matters concerning the key factors (leaders personality traits as well as political circumstances) that shaped an important era in modern history. At its close, Galbraith helps us make sense of the people and forces that shaped the 20th century. For public and academic libraries.Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Readers weary of endless parsing of the events of the past year in Washington can skip the memoirs of chattering twentysomethings and substitute these brief but vivid recollections from a remarkable ninetysomething. For decades, Galbraith was an active participant in politics and government; since the '70s, he has been a thoughtful observer from his economics chair (now emeritus) at Harvard. Two chapters here are devoted to Franklin Roosevelt: one on the New Deal; the other on the war as Galbraith experienced it in Washington as head of the Office of Price Administration. He writes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Adlai Stevenson, John and Jackie Kennedy and the Kennedy inner circle, and Lyndon Johnson. Less obvious subjects include Albert Speer, Jawaharlal Nehru, and three of the author's friends--Chester Bowles, George Ball, and Averell Harriman. The old man still writes gracefully and often insightfully about the notable people with whom and for whom he has worked. Mary Carroll
From Kirkus Reviews
In his 90th year, Galbraith has produced his 31st book: a slight but enjoyable remembrance of the great, and not-so-great, he has encountered in his adventures in politics. Galbraith first came to Washington, D.C., in 1934 to serve under FDR and the New Deal. He takes us from that time, when his own liberalism and the country's were being forged, to the end of the 1960s, when the liberal consensus, but not his own belief, had begun to fade. While betraying a certain nostalgia for that era, when much seemed possible and indeed much was accomplished, this is not a political tome. He focuses instead on the people he met and admired along the way. First and foremost in his memory is FDR, the greatest political personality of the century. Some he speaks of remain well known (Truman, JFK). Others have perhaps faded somewhat from memory (Adlai Stevenson, Averell Harriman). Only one true villain makes an appearance, Albert Speer, whose semi-rehabilitation still troubles Galbraith, and only two women are profiled, Eleanor Roosevelt and Jacqueline Kennedy. Galbraith brings them all to life, Speer excepted, by focusing on their humanity, foibles, and above all humor. Galbraith is a witty man and enjoys others who are so inclined, often at his own expense.Ken,'' wrote Stevenson during his 1956 presidential campaign, I want you to write the speeches against Nixon. You have no tendency to be fair.'' LBJ commented on a speech on economics Galbraith wrote:Making a speech on ee-conomics is a lot like pissin' down your leg. It seems hot to you, but it never does to anyone else.'' Speaking to antiwar protesters outside the 1968 Democratic Convention Galbraith says, ``I don't want you fighting with these National Guardsmen Remember, they're draft dodgers just like you.'' ' And so it goes. There's some criticism here, there could be more. Theres little to no mention of politicians after LBJ. But perhaps these will be part of Galbraith' s 32nd book. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Review
"Writing with great decorum, and even greater intelligence, Galbraith focuses on personality and politics in his fond but balanced portraits of the powerful." -- Review
A lively and breezy set of essays with flashes of penetrating insight. -- The Boston Book Review
No one has been more inside than John Kenneth Galbraith. In Name Dropping , he shares a dozen intimate portraits of the men and women who figured prominently in his life - from Harry Truman to Jacqueline Onassis. -- Town and Country
Wise, brilliant, witty, young in spirit, aged in loyalty and in friendship -- with a love of life -- and Kitty -- all packed into a 6 foot 8 inch giant of wry bemusement. -- Senator Alan K. Simpson
With characteristic wit and unconventional wisdom, Galbraith illuminates several of the century's great, near-great, and not-as-great-as-they-thought-they-were. Name-Dropping is simply a delight. -- Robert B. Reich
With wondrous prose, brilliant wit, and profound insight, John Kenneth Galbraith has re-created his era and made it ours. Name-Dropping is history made both entertaining and memorable. -- William J. vanden Heuvel, President, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
Writing with great decorum, and even greater intelligence, Galbraith focuses on personality and politics in his fond but balanced portraits of the powerful. -- Boston Magazine
About the Author
John Kenneth Galbraith who was born in 1908, is the Paul M. Warburg Professor of Economics Emeritus at Harvard University and a past president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is the distinguished author of thirty-one books spanning three decades, including The Affluent Society, The Good Society, and The Great Crash. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Harvard, Oxford, the University of Paris, and Moscow University, and in 1997 he was inducted into the Order of Canada and received the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2000, at a White House ceremony, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.