(Reviewed by Jay Gendron)
Me and the Times is the story of Robert Stock’s journey from humble beginnings to the position of NYTimes editor and columnist. It is chronological, for the most part, but takes many detours into seemingly random musings about famous people he met along the way. Stock is a self-effacing storyteller and isn’t afraid to document both his successes as well as the disappointments in his life. His career path is loaded with considerable achievements, but he also is very candid about things that went awry, like the failure of his first marriage and the tragic loss of his daughter. These tales are told without sentiment–as you would expect from an esteemed print journalist–but still have profound effect on the reader.
This is an easy-going read, but at times seems to digress into weird, albeit interesting, stories about experiences encountered during his many travels. He does get serious on one topic: the sad state of journalism right now. At one point he notes that, “providing…information accurately is the traditional responsibility of journalists” but laments that he is angry and fearful that, “today’s so-called journalists…routinely and knowingly deliver lies instead of facts.”
This book is topical, timely, amusing and well worth reading.
