SKU: 21394882959

Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built

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Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He BuiltA NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE The "exhilarating" (The Boston Globe) story of the legendary Random House founder, whose seemingly charmed life at the apogee of the American Century afforded him a front row seat to literary and cultural history in the making"[A] big, beautiful biography . . . There's a new Power Broker in town." The New York Times "Feldman depicts a lost world, at times a lost paradise, when New York, Hollywood and the

A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE - The "exhilarating" (The Boston Globe) story of the legendary Random House founder, whose seemingly charmed life at the apogee of the American Century afforded him a front-row seat to literary and cultural history in the making

"[A] big, beautiful biography . . . There's a new Power Broker in town."--The New York Times

"Feldman depicts a lost world, at times a lost paradise, when New York, Hollywood and the literary life were at their most glamorous and privileged."--The Washington Post

At midcentury, everyone knew Bennett Cerf: witty, beloved, middle-aged panelist on What's My Line? whom TV brought into America's homes each week. But they didn't know that the handsome, driven, paradoxical young man of the 1920s had vowed to become a great publisher and, a decade later, was. By then, he'd signed Eugene O'Neill, Gertrude Stein, and William Faulkner, and had fought the landmark censorship case that gave Americans the freedom to read James Joyce's Ulysses.

With his best friend and lifelong business partner Donald Klopfer, and other young Jewish entrepreneurs like the Knopfs and Simon & Schuster, Cerf remade the book business: what was published, and how. In 1925, he and Klopfer bought the Modern Library and turned it into an institution, then founded Random House, which eventually became a home to Truman Capote, Ralph Ellison, Ayn Rand, Dr. Seuss, Toni Morrison, James Michener, and many more.

Even before TV, Cerf was a bestselling author and columnist as well as publisher; the show super-charged his celebrity, bringing fame--but also criticism. A brilliant social networker and major influencer before such terms existed, he connected books to Broadway, TV, Hollywood, and politics. A fervent democratizer, he published "high," "low," and wide, and from the Roaring Twenties to the Swinging Sixties collected an incredible array of friends, from George Gershwin to Frank Sinatra, having a fabulous time along the way.

Using interviews with more than two hundred individuals, deeply researched archival material, and letters from private collections not previously available, this book brings Bennett Cerf to vibrant life, drawing book lovers into his world, finally laying open the page on a quintessential American original.

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SKU: 21394882959

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Natalia Arlashina
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
beautiful and high-quality jewelry box
Amazing jewelry box of good quality. color - exactly as in the photo (mine is olive). High-quality interior decoration. Everything as in the seller's photo. Highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2025
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Katie Roberts
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Functional gift.
Used as an engraving project with our laser printer. Worked well, would make a great gift for bridesmaids etc.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2025
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lyric
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
So cutie
Color: Cloud White, Material Type: Paper, PU
This is a bit large for a travel size jewelry box lol I really thought it was going to be a bit smaller than what it was. I can see why some of the ladies in the comments are saying they’re using it as their main jewelry box since they don’t have much jewelry for a standard sized jewelry box. With that being said, it’s cute and CAN be small enough for travel. It fits a lot and I got this one in particular bc I like that it has a bigger lower compartment for larger pieces. It’s a nice quality travel jewelry box. It’ll fit my needs. But if you have a knack for packing small and you value space. I’d say skip on this one or do due diligence to double check the measurements to see if it’s something you’re okay with packing.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2026
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Deena M
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Good value
Color: Jelly Pink, Material Type: Paper, PU
This is a great jewelry box for travel or to just keep at home. Very stylish and holds more than it looks like it would.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2026
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Chavely
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
CUTE
Color: Cloud White, Material Type: Paper, PU
I absolutely love this jewelry organizer! The 2-layer design gives it plenty of space without being bulky, making it perfect for travel. I was able to neatly store my earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets without anything getting tangled. The interior is soft and protects my jewelry really well, and the compartments are thoughtfully designed to keep everything in place. The compact size fits easily in my suitcase or handbag, which is a huge plus. The cloud white color looks elegant and makes it feel like a great gift option too. Overall, it’s practical, stylish, and very convenient for keeping jewelry organized on the go. Highly
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026

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