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

“Parents want to give their children the tools they need to succeed in life. But our kids are launching into a world so strange and unpredictable that a parent can’t help but worry whether today’s toolkit might become tomorrow’s burden […]. As I’ve watched the growing magnitude of the digital revolution, I’ve come to fear that I don’t know enough to be of help to my kids.”

In this passage, Von Drehle reflects on how societal change makes it difficult for parents to relate to their children and mentor them about how to cope with changing conditions. His thoughts about parenting set the scene for introducing his neighbor Charlie as a valuable role model to his children. Charlie has a unique insight into life and the last century of change.

“Children of the early 1900s who lived to a great age saw their lives and their communities, their places of work and worship, their families and mores shaken, inverted, blown up, and remade […]. What did it take to thrive and find happiness while experiencing so much disruption?”

Von Drehle alludes to the successive events, inventions, and conflicts that made the 20th century one of constant social, environmental, and technological change. He connects the rapid pace of change in the last century to the continued cultural shifts happening today, implying that he and his children will also live through such “disruptions.” In this way, he encourages the reader to learn from the personal stories of elders.

“Charlie made an art of living. He understood, as great artists do, that every life is a mixture of comedy and tragedy, joy and sorrow, daring and fear. We choose the tenor of our lives from those clashing notes.”

Von Drehle praises White’s ability to find humor and beauty in everyday life, even in difficult situations. In this passage, Von Drehle emphasizes people’s agency in how they experience life, pointing to White’s ability to focus on the positive.