Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s Audiobook

" A very engaging history of the twenties written from the perspective of one who had just lived it. I was surprised by the number of parallels between the 1920s and the last decade. "

" I would have liked some more specifics about specific people and events, but the book did broaden my exposure to life in the 20s. Well worth a read. "

" Another great reference for understanding the rapid societal changes after WWI up to the depression. AS a boatbuilder/restorer, it also helped me to understand the rise of affluence and the accompanying popularity of pleasure boating. "

" This is one of my all time favorite books. I've re read it probably 5 or 6 times. This book gives you a real understanding of how many changes happened in the 1920's. Not just from a large "history" type feel, but also from the common man side. The first chapter in this book always grabs me. It starts at Armistice Day 1919 and gives the setting for a common family's day. It lets you know what they are doing and what we all take for granted today didn't even exist yet. "

" Reminded me of why I was a history major in the first place. "

" Fredrick Allen undertook this informal history of the twenties in 1930 to aide him in grieving the loss of his wife and daughter. This shows in how compassionately and understandingly he writes of a confusing and confounding time. His story begins with a look at how Mr and Mrs Smith lived in 1919 and reflects on what they do not know (radio, prize-fighting, Al Capone, normalcy for starters). Each successive chapter focuses on how one aspect of life changed dramatically. After finishing this book I felt intimately acquainted with Woodrow Wilson, the Labor Movement, Warren G. Harding and his scandals, Lindbergh, Coral Gables, and all that jazz of the twenties. "

" Written in the early 30's, this retrospective of the 20's is an incredibly enjoyable book that has aged well and gives you a real feeling for the era. The chapters on the Red Scare and on prohibition are particularly vivid. "

" Great first hand overview of the 1920s from a day to day perspective. "

" Not worthy of the hype. "

" I love history, but this book was really boring. "

" I confess I didn't finish this. It was just too boring. If the 1920s had been as yawn-inducing as this book, I would have been throwing myself off a window ledge well before the stock market crash in '29. "

" Written in the 30s, this short history is a vivid picture of life in the preceding decade. Who knew that there'd been a Red Scare before the 50s, that labor unrest was at an all-time high and Sedition acts could get American citizens deported for crossing the wrong party lines? "

" A contemporary history of the 1920s - the presidential campaigns, the styles, and of the course, the stock market. Published in the 1930s, it's very engaging and written in a modern style. "

" Dated prose. I understood that this was a short history, but I got to where I felt as though I was reading Cliff Notes. Too truncated with insufficient context. Not my cup of tea and I LOVE history. "

" I only have to read 5 chapters of this book and then write what I learned about the 20s from it. I'll most likely read all of it though. "

" I'm not very far in but am excited to read about an era of American history that I've only nominally been interested in. "

" Eerily resembles today's financial mess. "

" Interesting account of the "roaring twenties" from the speakeasy's to the big crash. The author wrote the book in the early '30's, thus, the evidence of firsthand experience to lend credence to the book. "

" Written in the early 30's, this retrospective of the 20's is an incredibly enjoyable book that has aged well and gives you a real feeling for the era. The chapters on the Red Scare and on prohibition are particularly vivid. "

" An very readable history of the 1920s; something of a classic. It would be interesting to read against newer histories. "

" Another great reference for understanding the rapid societal changes after WWI up to the depression. AS a boatbuilder/restorer, it also helped me to understand the rise of affluence and the accompanying popularity of pleasure boating. "

" Writing my review way after first reading it because I'm reading it again. The best thing about this book is it is historical without being dry. Also, it was written by a contemporary, so you are hearing from someone who lived through all of it. "

" I read this originally in high school. But I did re-read it a number of times over the years. It is very readable. It also has a lot of statistics. So it kinds of puts everything into context. "