Growing UpGrowing Up
Score Classic
What it's about
Russell Baker, the New York Times columnist, tells the story of his childhood during the Depression: his father's death when he was five, his family moving to New Jersey and Baltimore with almost nothing, and his tough, determined mother, who insisted that he make something of himself, selling magazines door to door, until he found his way to writing.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize. It's a funny, sad and loving memoir.
You'll love it if you liked
Angela's Ashes
This Boy's Life: A Memoir
A Tree Grows in BrooklynGood to know
It's gentle, with poverty and a mother's hard love at its center.
By the numbers
- Readers64 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it doesn't have enough readers yet for us to rank it alongside the Must-Read 50 pool. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Moving
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Quick answers
Is Growing Up worth reading?
It won the Pulitzer Prize. Its Must-Read Score is 75.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Growing Up about?
Russell Baker, the New York Times columnist, tells the story of his childhood during the Depression: his father's death when he was five, his family moving to New Jersey and Baltimore with almost nothing, and his tough, determined mother, who insisted that he make something of himself, selling magazines door to door, until he found his way to writing.
How long does it take to read Growing Up?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Growing Up won?
Pulitzer Prize (Biography) winner (1983).
What should I read after Growing Up?
If you liked it, try Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.