Review: The Time of Our Lives

The Time of Our Lives by Peggy Noonan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Time of Our Lives: Collected Writings

I am certain to keep this book nearby, and I expect to return to it many times, because I could not put the writings of Peggy Noonan down. I have read compilations of columnists before and, while interesting, they can sometimes come across as dated. Noonan's observations and perspectives are, in a certain sense, timeless.

I was offered a copy of this book by the publisher, through NetGalley, and from the very introduction I was aware that I would not be able to easily put this book down. I found myself wanting to learn more about the arc of Noonan’s career, which made me want to devour the collection of her articles therein. The manner in which the book is organized, topically by chapter, is nice. If one wants to skip around and read Noonan’s thoughts on the Catholic Church, or War, or Ronald Reagan, the book is organized to allow for that.

While her writings are about events in time and space, I say Noonan’s writings are timeless because she writes of the United States of America that, I dare say, our Founding Fathers would appreciate. Noonan clearly loves her country, her Church, and political leadership – rather, she loves the way they have been and, in some ways, the way they should remain (or become again). Indeed, she writes of events current at the time a particular column. However, Noonan highlights a timelessness between the lines of those current events, and that is why I love her style.

Noonan captures the sense that something has changed in many of the institutions that affect the time of our lives. The something that has changed disturbs her, and should disturb all Americans. She does not, however, raise an alarmist tone that one sometimes finds in the shrill style of books churned out by cable and radio talk show hosts; reading Noonan gives one the sense that, despite changes to the negative, the soul of Old America, where love of country is natural rather than a choice one makes “… after weighing the pros and cons,” still remains.

One would do well to buy this book, read Noonan’s writings through, and let them sink in. Then read it again! I know I will.

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