Albums of a Life: A Memoir - Stanley Kauffmann

The best thing that Stanley Kauffmann does is make the right literary choices to make his memoir, Albums of a Life, an excellent portrait. Kauffmann doesn't concern himself with accolades or personal achievements in which to measure his biography against others, but focuses on personal moments with others and how they were most meaningful to him. The book is based on episodes of different interactions with people through out his life. Some are lighthearted and funny while others are poignant. Kauffmann doesn't focus on making each episode more than what it is. He writes with a strict concern for the facts of the situation and has little personal commentary, but this matter of fact approach works. The episodes don't lead to major changes in his life. They are written to linger on in the memory of the reader. Kauffman's concern of the scenarios and situations and the value of his observations and life lived makes the structure of his memoir all the better. It's interesting that a film critic had nothing to say about his film criticism. That avenue of writing is another form of auto-biograhy. Kauffmann understands the differences with excellence.