Ben and Quinn Bradlee Wrote a Book About Fathers and Sons. Naturally, Sally Quinn Got Her Two Cents In

Journalists Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn, along with their son Quinn Bradlee (try to follow), visited with Imus today to talk about Ben and Quinn’s book, A Life’s Work: Fathers and Sons (With Observations by Sally Quinn).

Except that when Imus introduced the segment, he left out that last part, which did not go unnoticed by the loquacious Ms. Quinn. “You said I was here because I can’t keep my mouth shut,” she said to Imus.

Actually, Sally, he said you were here because you can’t shut up. But, you know, tomato-tomahto.

The genesis for Ben and Quinn’s book actually came from Ben’s own childhood, when he and his father lived and worked together on 20 acres of land outside of Boston. “It got me interested in the woods, and I’ve always liked it, and I’ve always been outdoors all my life,” said Ben, who is 88 years old.

When Ben was a child and suffering from polio, has father nursed him back to health and helped him regain strength by working together in the woods. At least, according to Sally.

“That dramatizes it a little,” Ben said, laughing.

He and Sally bought a place in the country, south of Washington, DC, and it holds similar meaning for Ben and Quinn. “My true education was working out in the woods, and learning out in the woods,” said Quinn, who has suffered from learning disabilities his whole life.

At the risk of sounding metaphorical or poetic, Quinn said soberly, “That’s where I learned about the stars, and the universe, and how the world works. I got much more education working out in the woods with my father than in school, by far.”

Quinn is keenly aware that not every father and son has the luxury of working together on a farm, and in A Life’s Work he and Ben recommend other activities to do together, no matter the location. “There’s always something you can do with your child,” said the soon-to-be-wed Quinn.

Noticing it had been a while since she’d spoken, Sally butted in to make a pretty salient point. “So many people today will talk about quality time with their kids, and they forget that quantity time is important too,” she said, and her family would know: growing up with health problems and learning disabilities, Sally and Ben were often Quinn’s only and closest friends.

“Watching them together was a wonderful thing for me,” Sally said of her husband and son, whose bond was formed and solidified in the woods. She has noticed, despite their closeness, that Ben and Quinn don’t talk very much.

“Oh really, Sally?” said Imus. “You’re kidding!”

-Julie Kanfer