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On Growing Up Tough: An Irreverent Memoir Kindle Edition

by Taylor Caldwell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 81 ratings
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The #1 New York Times–bestselling author shares her rough journey to adulthood in a book that “should be read by every American” (Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette).

Born in Manchester, England, in 1900, growing up wasn’t easy for Janet Taylor Caldwell. Her Scottish parents warned her that if she ever misbehaved at school, she’d be “thoroughly thrashed.” Weekends at home were filled with church and chores.
 
When her family immigrated to America in 1907, life only got tougher. Her father died soon after their arrival in upstate New York, and the family struggled financially. But her mother, Anna, was a firm believer in Women’s Liberation and insisted that Janet could do a man’s job. With a first-class education, fierce self-reliance, and strong work ethic, Janet embarked on her writing career at the age of eight. Eventually, she was discovered by legendary editor Maxwell Perkins and began publishing under the name Taylor Caldwell. Her books sold millions of copies around the world and touched the lives of countless readers.
 
Here is a witty and sharply observed account of the early struggles that gave Taylor Caldwell her strong convictions and made her one of the most distinctive voices in American literature. “You’re not likely to put this one down until the last line is devoured and digested” (Charleston Sunday News & Courier).
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  1. Print length
    185 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Open Road Media
  5. Publication date
    September 4, 2018
  6. File size
    18673 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A blunt and penetrating comparison of her own childhood and that of the rebellious younger generation . . . You may applaud, you may curse, but you won’t escape one nagging question: What if she’s right?” —San Diego Union Tribune
 
“On Growing Up Tough should be read by every American, young or old, in the same spirit in which it is written: Humorous, critical, objective but with a deep understanding of human nature.” —Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette
 
“‘Must’ reading for the weakly loafers and cry-babies who moan about America and how tough it is to make the grade.” —Union Leader
 

About the Author

Taylor Caldwell (1900–1985) was one of the most prolific and widely read authors of the twentieth century. Born Janet Miriam Holland Taylor Caldwell in Manchester, England, she moved with her family to Buffalo, New York, in 1907. She started writing stories when she was eight years old and completed her first novel when she was twelve. Married at age eighteen, Caldwell worked as a stenographer and court reporter to help support her family and took college courses at night, earning a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Buffalo in 1931. She adopted the pen name Taylor Caldwell because legendary editor Maxwell Perkins thought her debut novel, Dynasty of Death (1938), would be better received if readers assumed it were written by a man. In a career that spanned five decades, Caldwell published forty novels, many of which were New York Times bestsellers. Her best-known works include the historical sagas The Sound of Thunder (1957), Testimony of Two Men (1968), Captains and the Kings (1972), and Ceremony of the Innocent (1976), and the spiritually themed novels The Listener (1960) and No One Hears But Him (1966). Dear and Glorious Physician (1958), a portrayal of the life of St. Luke, and Great Lion of God (1970), about the life of St. Paul, are among the bestselling religious novels of all time. Caldwell’s last novel, Answer as a Man (1981), hit the New York Times bestseller list before its official publication date. She died at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1985.
 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07F24C172
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (September 4, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 18673 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 185 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

About the author

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Taylor Caldwell

Taylor Caldwell

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Janet Miriam Holland Taylor Caldwell (September 7, 1900 – August 30, 1985) was an Anglo-American novelist and prolific author of popular fiction, also known by the pen names Marcus Holland and Max Reiner, and by her married name of J. Miriam Reback.

In her fiction, she often used real historical events or persons. Taylor Caldwell's best-known works include Dynasty of Death, Dear and Glorious Physician (about Saint Luke), Ceremony of the Innocent, Pillar of Iron, The Earth is the Lord's (about Genghis Khan) and Captains and the Kings. Her last major novel, Answer As a Man, appeared in 1980.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by James Seneca at English Wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6 out of 5
81 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Venessa Darnell
5.0 out of 5 stars On Growing up Tough Great Autobiography!
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023
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Love Taylor Caldwell
2 people found this helpful
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Sherri
3.0 out of 5 stars If only...
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2004
I would have really enjoyed this book if it had really been about her growing up, but sadly it was more about her opinions. I'm not big on reading political opinions; Talor definitely bored me with hers. I did enjoy the parts of the book that had to do with her growing up; it's a wake up call alright. If only she hadn't gone into political/social rants...
20 people found this helpful
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William E. Mims
4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Cronological Accounting
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2014
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I was surprised when I finally sat down to read this little ditty; Autobiographical, funny and insightful. It focuses on the hypocrisy that allows of so many petty and mediocre people to come to understand that they truly know better than you, how to run your life.
This is one tough woman. Enjoy her spirit and truth.
12 people found this helpful
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D. Barnes
1.0 out of 5 stars Heavy Handed
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2023
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Unfortunately, I found myself offended by Taylor Caldwell's puritanical beliefs. "Spare the rod, spoil the child" type thinking. I kept waiting for her to lighten up but she didn't. I gave up a little over a quarter of the way through the book. Also unfortunately, this book was non-refundable. In the future I will pay more attention to the reviews.
4 people found this helpful
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JaB27
5.0 out of 5 stars Prescient
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
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For a book written over fifty years ago, it is prescient.
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Jessie
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2021
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i like how quickly the book got here, it was a book for my aunt and she loves the book!
One person found this helpful
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P. Venable
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2014
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Excellent! Amazing life, Fantastic woman.
3 people found this helpful
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James
1.0 out of 5 stars Miss Caldwell was a Terrible Conservative
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2004
A true conservative values logical, independent thought; Miss Caldwell relies upon ranting and cliches to get her points across. A true conservative values freedom; Miss Caldwell values authoritarianism. A true conservative scorns self-pity; Miss Caldwell wallows in it.

These pieces are among the most poorly-written, self-pitying, illogical political/autobiographical essays I have ever read.

Avoid this book at all costs.
23 people found this helpful
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