A Perfect Childhood - by Gary D'Amato (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Acclaimed sportswriter Gary D'Amato provides a hilarious look at what it was like growing up as a boy in middle class middle America in the 1960s.A three-time Wisconsin sportswriter of the year and member of the Wisconsin State Golf Hall of Fame, D'Amato's ninth book takes us to his roots in suburban Milwaukee as he provides insight into several of his childhood triumphs and traumas, many of which we all can relate to.D'Amato's adventures include such events as: -The time he met a real, live member of The Beatles.-Playing an awkward game of "Spin the Bottle" at his birthday party.-His pet gerbil, Frisky, taking a ride in a homemade rocket.-The most embarrassing moment of his life, which occurred during eighth-grade gym class.-His one and only deer hunting experience.-The guilt and shame of being a fifth-grade thief.-A death-defying scooter ride with his "motorcycle gang."Whatever topic he's writing about, D'Amato employs an easy-to-digest style that he honed through more than 40 years as a sports journalist that informs and entertains as readers gobble up the nostalgic look back to a time before smart phones, VCRs, and cable television.D'Amato has authored or co-authored eight other books, including Mudbaths and Bloodbaths: The Inside Story of the Bears-Packers Rivalry with Cliff Cristl, Alive and Kicking: My Journey Through Football, Addiction and Life with Chester Marcol, and two books on golf.A Perfect Childhood is a series of superbly told coming-of-age stories that will entertain fans of not only the 1960s and nostalgia, but also anyone interested in all the typical experiences of childhood (i.e., trying to fit in, learning to accept responsibility, trying to make our parents proud). Gary D'Amato is an expert in all these topics, and he also is an expert in making his personal experiences of them relatable to readers. You'll cheer his successes and mourn his failures, while recalling your own in a similar light.

Review Quotes

"As most good humorists do, D'Amato often makes himself the butt of the joke. He's the boy who might have prevented his sister from meeting one of the Beatles, who forgot to put his shorts on before walking into gym class, who launched his gerbil into the troposphere."

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel