First published 2023
David von Drehle chronicles the extraordinary century-long journey of Charlie White, his centenarian neighbor in Kansas. Charlie was born in an era before radio existed and lived to master smartphones. A childhood tragedy taught him survival skills rooted in ancient human wisdom. These tools carried him through adventures that spanned a remarkable lifetime: performing in Jazz Age bandstands, racing ambulances during Depression-era gang violence, pioneering early heart surgery techniques, and cruising the Amazon River as a guest of Peru's president. Von Drehle, an experienced Washington journalist, recognized that Charlie's ability to adapt and grow made him a master of surviving dramatic change. Determined to preserve these insights for his children, the author captures Charlie's secrets for building resilience. The book reveals how one man's grit carried him through a century of American upheaval, offering readers a blueprint for finding meaning and joy in turbulent times.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, adventure, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, master-of-change
Setting: Amazon River, Kansas, Peru
Period: Depression Era, Jazz Age
194 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster