The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year-Old Man

In an age where technology has overtaken much of personal connections, this tribute to the author’s108-year old neighbor is filled with stories shared person to person. Courage, resilience, self-reliance and pluck were the legacy bequeathed to young Charlie by his widowed mother Laura when she found herself raising 5 young children alone. Charlie found no challenge too daunting, including practicing medicine at a time when it was mostly your confidence and bedside manner that gave hope of healing. A short book that warms your heart and begs to be shared.

Filled with life fulfilling adages, The Book of Charlie fields the“ Who, What, Where, When, and How “ of a positive,productive life well lived. Charlie discovered the c’hi of life. This trip thru 100 years of history wraps around Charlie. Final thought Do the right thing AND don’t let the old man in !

There are few contemporary books that hooked me as this book. The author weaves a tapestry of personal history, national history and stoicism in a most entertaining and thought provoking manner. Once I started reading it, I just could not put it down. Thank you David Von Drexel.

Loved this book, read it in one day! Captivating!Heart warming, inspirational!A gift from a man who lived through hard times and choose to flourish!

just as advertised. My granddaughter loves the sleepy owl design.

Too much philosophy, too many history lessons and too little CharlieReally expected history as lived by CharlieGood premise …could of been a much better book

David von Drehle promised to write his young children a book, but he failed to deliver. Until now, he says, even if it is not the book they expected or asked for. Instead, he writes, it is the book they will need as they face a future filled with change and challenges. In the story of his neighbor Charlie White, von Drehle offers insights on how to not only survive but thrive the storms of life.Charlie was 102 years old when von Drehle met him. Over the next seven years of friendship he listened to the story of Charlie’s life. Charlie was a boy when his father died in a tragic accident. He became the ‘man of the house,’ and worked to help out, and was still a stellar student. He attended a summer camp where teens were sexually abused. He taught himself an instrument to earn money by playing in a band. Charlie and his college friends drove from Kansas City to California, and he hopped freight cars to get home. He had just started his medical career and was newly married when WWII broke out and he went into the service. He lost his first wife to suicide, and his second to divorce. His third wife died.The author saw life lessons in how Charlie thrived in spite of losses. Stick in there. Do the right thing. Stay positive. “Keep your daubers up.” Be self-sufficient. Be patient. In essence, Charlie’s philosophy was Stoicism, the ancient Roman belief that we can only control our own responses to what the world slings at us. Charlie did not let set backs overwhelm him. He let go of what he could not control and persisted to accomplish what he could.The lessons of Charlie’s life offer a blueprint for living. This slender volume is inspirational.Thanks to the publisher for a free book.

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.