The Americanization of Edward BOK

This Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography charmingly chronicles the life of Edward Bok the longtime editor of The Ladies Home Journal and a noted philanthropist. Bok wrote of his eventful life Every life has some interest and significance; mine perhaps a special one. Here was a little Dutch boy unceremoniously set down in America unable to make himself understood or even to know what persons were saying; his education was extremely limited practically negligible; and yet by curious decree of fate he was destined to write for a period of years to the largest body of readers ever addressed by an American editor. . . . Perhaps Boks success was due to his willingness to champion progressive causes to the wide readership of The Ladies Home Journal. Bok advocated womens suffrage saving the environment public sex education education on prenatal care and childrens health and pacifism. EDWARD BOK (1863-1930) American Pulitzer Prize-winning author was born in Den Helder The Netherlands and came to the United States in 1869. He edited The Ladies Home Journal for 30 years. During that time it became the first magazine to reach one million subscribers. Bok also wrote books such as Successward and America Give Me a Chance. He established a number of civic programs and awards including the American Peace Award the Harvard Advertising Awards and the Philadelphia Commission.