Never Give Up

A Prairie Family's Story

By: Tom Brokaw

Narrated by: Lincoln Hoppe

In this moving story, the New York Times bestselling author of The Greatest Generation chronicles the values and lessons he absorbed from his parents and other people who worked hard to build lives on the prairie during the first half of the twentieth century.

“A spare, elegant masterpiece.”—Ken Burns

Tom’s father, Red, left school in the second grade to work in the family hotel—the Brokaw House, established in Bristol, South Dakota, by R. P. Brokaw in 1883. Eventually, through work on construction jobs, Red developed an exceptional talent for machines. Tom’s mother, Jean, was the daughter of a farmer who lost everything during the Great Depression. They met after a high school play, when Jean played the lead and Red fell in love with her from the audience. Although they didn’t have much money early in their marriage, especially once they had three boys at home, Red’s philosophy of “Never give up” served them well. His big break came after World War II, when he went to work for the Army Corps of Engineers building great dams across the Missouri River, magnificent structures like the Fort Randall and the Gavins Point dams. Late in life, Red surprised his family by recording his memories of the hard times of his early life, reflections that inspired this book.

Tom Brokaw is known as one of the most successful people in broadcast journalism. Throughout his legendary career, Brokaw has always asked what we can learn from world events and from our history. Within Never Give Up is one answer, a portrait of the resilience and respect for others at the heart of one American family’s story.

©2023 Tom Brokaw (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Sometimes, when the evening is winding down, when the dishes are done and the little ones asleep, memory guides the conversation, gently pushing away the cares of the moment. As a portal to past times, that memory retrieves the missing among us and brings them and their values and examples to the fore. Brokaw’s spare, elegant masterpiece is just this kind of time machine, resurrecting one family’s prairie experience and, like all good alchemy, transforming it into pure gold usable for anyone who knows they always have and always will stand on the shoulders of giants.”—Ken Burns

“The prairie values of his parents that Tom Brokaw celebrates in this heartwarming memoir are the girders of the American Dream. In our fractured times, this inspiring book reminds us how we can rise to meet our current challenges by honoring the fortitude of the generations before us.”—Walter Isaacson, author of The Code Breaker and Leonardo da Vinci

“Tom Brokaw tells the story of his parents’ beginnings and the foundation they built for his own big American life. In his easy, conversational tone, he weaves a narrative full of rugged individualists who worked hard without complaint, made countless sacrifices for their families, and united in common cause for the country they loved. Brokaw honors their lifelong commitment to the greater good and rightfully nudges us to embrace this tradition as our own.”—Connie Schultz

Beautiful story!

Tom Brokaw has a beautiful way with descriptions, journalism and excellent masterpiece storytelling!! This book is a must read!

A great American story

A great American story, More affirmation of our parents considered The Greatest Generation. Thank you

Churned up my own memories

Great story! It is always good to be reminded that what we think of today as ‘hard times’ can certainly be considered ‘small potatoes’ by some that have gone before us! The lives of your parents were tough to be sure, but yet they showed us the endurance needed to forge ahead.
My own dad arrived in America after leaving the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in the 1930s and the hardships that you talked about for your folks, were shared to some extent by my dad and mom too.
Thanks for the memories and more reasons that we all need to be more grateful today!
All the best to you and your family, Mr. Brokaw. Thanks for your writing. Ron Zupko

Never Give Up

This is a great story that my mother’s generation lived through, although in Idaho.
I wish it could have been read by Tom Brokaw. The narrator just didn’t have Tom’s gift of communication. I think I would have enjoyed reading the book and imagining Tom’s voice.

Beautiful recollection

Enjoyable and heartwarming story. I would recommend it to all readers. it gives the reader an appreciation of what it took to build America.

A beautiful story

This is a story by someone my age — I could relate totally. I share his sentiments and his experiences, albeit at a different level. I would enjoy more glimpses into his life and would have loved to hear him read the book in that oh-so familiar voice. It was a little like listening to Paul Harvey when his son filled in from time to time . . . Still good, but . . .

An excellent American saga

A touching and informative insight into the Brokaw family, the American dream, and what really made America great
Thanks so much and God bless you, Mr Brokaw

Perfect Fourth of July book

Reader fantastic. Subject matter wonderful endearing. Author such an inspiration and institution. Which it had been longer

Made me picture the experience very clearly.

Great story of blue collar upbringing and the tough life in South Dakota. Historical experiences were very descriptive.

Bristol High School class 1984

My wife Kristi (Espeland) and I grew up in Bristol and enjoyed this book and others he has written.