David Halberstam was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and a New York Times bestselling author. His works include countless newspaper and magazine articles, and more than twenty books on topics ranging from war and foreign policy to the auto industry and sports. Although he is best known for these nonfiction contributions, Halberstam started his book writing career with a novel. The times in which he wrote were wrought by controversy, and Halberstam’s writings fit the times. A true professional dedicated to skepticism and tireless research, David Halberstam used his critical analysis to convey events as they occurred, as intrinsically valuable, as necessary for the continuation of an informed, civil society.
Life
David Halberstam was born on April 10, 1934 in New York City to parents, Charles and Blanche Halberstam. His father was a United States Army surgeon during World War I and World War II; his mother was an elementary school teacher (4). The Halberstam home was one in which reading was very important. David, and his older brother, Michael, always saw their parents reading: “We heard them talking about books, and we knew that they …show more content…
These authors were able to take their historical accounts and present them in a way that would read more like novels; this style always intrigued Halberstam (2). His style has been classified as novelistic and narrative, and was made possible through dogged research and personal interviews (4). Halberstam had a consistent pattern of alternating heavy-themed books with lighter ones, such that his book on the American media was followed by a book about basketball. His book about the American auto industry’s race with the Japanese was followed by a baseball book. Although he constantly and strenuously exercised his journalistic muscles, the lighter themed books were “his entertainments,” and “his way to take a break,” said his wife