Bliss Was It In That Dawn

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially;

As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, he remembers being a child in 1950s New York, when the city truly was the centre of the world: artistically, financially and diplomatically.

Michael Goldfarb recalls being a child in 1950s New York.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

As people get deep into middle age it's normal to look back at your childhood through a golden haze of nostalgia. But what if things really were better in the past? What if, by chance, you were born and grew up in a time and place of unprecedented economic growth and stability?

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially;

As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, he remembers being a child in 1950s New York, when the city truly was the centre of the world: artistically, financially and diplomatically.

Michael Goldfarb recalls being a child in 1950s New York.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme he explains how, in the 1950s, America's great migration to the suburbs led to mixed blessings: open space and isolation.

Michael Goldfarb discusses the migration in the 1950s of many Americans to the suburbs.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

As people get deep into middle age it's normal to look back at your childhood through a golden haze of nostalgia. But what if things really were better in the past? What if, by chance, you were born and grew up in a time and place of unprecedented economic growth and stability?

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme he explains how, in the 1950s, America's great migration to the suburbs led to mixed blessings: open space and isolation.

Michael Goldfarb discusses the migration in the 1950s of many Americans to the suburbs.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, he recalls growing up in an era of full-employment, the 1950s and 60s.

Michael Goldfarb recalls growing up in 1950s and 60s America, in an era of full employment

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

As people get deep into middle age it's normal to look back at your childhood through a golden haze of nostalgia. But what if things really were better in the past? What if, by chance, you were born and grew up in a time and place of unprecedented economic growth and stability?

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, he recalls growing up in an era of full-employment, the 1950s and 60s.

Michael Goldfarb recalls growing up in 1950s and 60s America, in an era of full employment

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, Michael looks at the books and films that turned the children of victory born after the Second World War into the rebels of 1968.

The books and films that inspired a generation of American rebels of the late 1960s.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

As people get deep into middle age it's normal to look back at your childhood through a golden haze of nostalgia. But what if things really were better in the past? What if, by chance, you were born and grew up in a time and place of unprecedented economic growth and stability?

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with growing inequality and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, Michael looks at the books and films that turned the children of victory born after the Second World War into the rebels of 1968.

The books and films that inspired a generation of American rebels of the late 1960s.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with social disintegration and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, he remembers the politics of 1960s America as anarchic violence tempered by youthful hope.

Michael Goldfarb recalls the politics of 1960s America.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

As people get deep into middle age it's normal to look back at your childhood through a golden haze of nostalgia. But what if things really were better in the past? What if, by chance, you were born and grew up in a time and place of unprecedented economic growth and stability?

In this series of five talks for The Essay, Michael Goldfarb, born in the middle of the American Century, looks back at growing up in a US where things really were better: economically and socially. As the US struggles with social disintegration and political gridlock, Goldfarb remembers being born in the afterglow of World War 2, and how the 'children of victory' were certain that the future would always be bright.

In this programme, he remembers the politics of 1960s America as anarchic violence tempered by youthful hope.

Michael Goldfarb recalls the politics of 1960s America.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.