The First 80 Years: A Memoir

By Wat Takeshita

The First Eighty Years is a first person account of a Nisei (American citizen born to immigrant Japanese parents), who grew up on the farms of Fresno County (California) during the Great Depression, experienced incarceration in internment camps during World War II, joined the army, then worked as a newspaperman in Marin County for 33 years until retirement. For some, his remembrances of the work and life on a small farm before WWII will bring recollections of a very different period; for others, it will be a learning experience, a social history lesson, about a life they have never known. His description of life in the army after WWII is a story seldom told. As a journalist, Mr. Takeshita’s newspaper writings were followed not only because of the subjects, but for the direct, descriptive style his readers grew to count on and look forward to enjoying daily. It is his style that keeps his tale moving forward with subtle warmth and charm. Included also, are some of the famous and infamous issues he covered "on the job."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565500911
• ISBN13: 9781565500914
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Vision Books International
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 16 years and up

Customer Reviews

Couldn't put it down

As a young person in America, I found this book both historically informational as well as extremely moving in its style of honest storytelling. I think anyone in the first 80 years of their life can take something away from this book.