This book is a social commentary written in the form of a long, disjointed humorous essay, and its focus is based on the idea that Baby Boomers (those of us who were born more or less between 1940-1960)started out with high ideals, accomplished many things, from civil rights, resistance against Vietnam war, concerns for ecology and environment to Rock'n Roll and Woodstock, but sold out at the end in their later years to meet their economic needs. Here, the writer takes not so significant everyday facts of life with great humor and satire, and builds a serious social theory out of them, which in my opinion does not hold water. It is as if the writer has not decided to be serious or funny.

not taking it seriously. As far as I am concerned, it is a book of humor and the writer had the gall to put down a generation of do-gooders to get a few laughs.

the way the thesis was presented. Although not a long book, it is redundant at times, and the ideas in it are not presented in a logical order. It feels as if the writer took notes at odd times without thinking and bunched them together in a hurry.

resentful because in essence, the author has put down a whole generation of well-meaning people who have contributed greatly to society.

Joe Queenan, a satirist who was born in Philadelphia, also wrote "Red Lobster, White Trash and the Blue Lagoon," "The Unkindest Cut," and "If You're Talking to Me, Your Career Must Be in Trouble". He is a writer in GQ, TV Quide, and Movieline. Also his work appears in many periodicals.

it is hilarious but not-to-be-taken-seriously. One really laughs sometimes several times a page. It is a good book for laughing at and sometimes laughing with. I recommend reading it only if you don't take it seriously.

I wanted to read the book after watching the author present it in C-Span2. While reading it, I laughed hard at times, I was bored at times. Am I sorry? Maybe. I could have read something else more worthwhile instead, but then it made me laugh also.

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Created Oct 26, 2003 at 12:51pm • Submit your own review...