2023 Book Review #37: Never Give Up: A Prairie Family's Story

 

Tom Brokaw was one of my favorite Television journalists/news broadcasters during my 20s and 30s. I used to watch him faithfully and knew he had written a few books.  This book is his latest and the first one I've read.  It's excellent.  It is non-fiction based on his parents' lives and the lessons they left their 3 sons....and all of us!

SUMMARY

Red Brokaw, Tom's father, left school when he was just in 2nd grade.  He worked in the family hotel, known as the Brokaw House.  It was established in Bristol, South Dakota, by R. B. Brokaw in the late 1800s. Red developed exceptional talent for working with big machine through his work on construction jobs. 

Jean, Tom's mother, was the daughter of a farmer.  They had lost everything during the Great Depression.  It was during a play in high school, that Jean met Red....he fell in love  with her from the audience!

They did not have much in the way of finances or material goods when they were first married, especially once the three boys came along but Red's philosophy of "Never Give Up" served the family well. After World War II, Red got the big break he needed: he was  hired by the Army Corps of Engineers to help build large dams across the Missouri River.......amazing structures like the Fort Randall Dam and the Gavins Point dam. Red surprised his family, when later in life, he recorded his memories of those days and the hard times of his early life.  Those writings were what inspired Tom to write this book. 

Many valuable lessons are learned from Red and Jean and their three children. They all worked hard to build their lives on the prairie in the beginning of the 20th century. 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a wonderful, reflective look at Tom Brokaw's parents and their lives growing up, then coming together in marriage.  There are triumphs and trials.  Tears and laughter.  And lots of good old fashioned hard work.  

There were many parts that reminded me of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her memories known best as The Little House on the Prairie books.  In fact, she grew up only about 80 miles from Jean and Red! And Tom mentions her and her book in this book. 

This is a good look at where America used to be.....and how far we have come.......and not always for the better. Especially recently in the last 8 years of this 21st century.  We would do well to live by some of the values this family has instilled in their children and  grandchildren. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.