WHEN THE GOING WAS GOOD

A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025 IN THE INDEPENDENT GQ NEW STATESMAN FINANCIAL TIMES AND BBC CULTURE When the Going Was Good is Graydon Carter s lively recounting of how he made his mark as one of society s most talented editors and shapers of culture Carter arrived in New York from Canada with little more than a suitcase a failed literary magazine in his past and a keen sense of ambition He landed a job at Time went on to work at Life co founded Spy magazine and edited The New York Observer before catching the eye of Condé Nast chairman Si Newhouse who tapped him to run Vanity Fair With his inimitable voice and raconteur s quip Carter brings readers inside the drawing rooms of the great and not always good of America Britain and Europe He assembled one of the best ever stables of writers and photographers under one roof and here he re creates in real time the steps he took to ensure that Vanity Fair during his 25 year run cemented its place as the epicentre of art culture business and politics Charming candid and brimming with humour When the Going Was Good perfectly captures the last golden age of print magazines from the inside out