Were the good old days really that good? That’s the question pondered by Andy in The Good Old Days: Surviving Appalachia. In a style both lyrical and colloquial, the author recounts his experiences growing up in the Appalachian area of eastern Kentucky, much of it during the Great Depression and into World War II. Not only does Andy tell of his firsthand experiences, he recalls stories told by his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and other colorful characters. He recalls hardships and struggle, but always through the lens of family and the ties they always have had to to each other. Perhaps that is what makes any time The Good Old Days.