Baby Boomers – the most researched generation
A new book (2007) on Baby Boomers titled Generation Ageless is full of interesting information about our generation, including the fact that we are the subject of more research than any other generation in history. The book was written by J. Walter Smith, president of Yankelovich, and Yankelovich senior partner Ann Clurman, and we’re reminded that Daniel Yankelovich actually coined the term “baby boomers” to describe the post-war generation.
The authors attest that the boomer generation was influenced not as much by “sex, drugs and rock and roll” as they were by “The Psychology of Affluence.” In other words, only a very few dropped out, protested, and became hippies (about 1/4 of the college students of the late 60s).
Did we all sell out to the Affluent Society? What do you think?
(I will have more on this book in upcoming posts.)
2 Comments
We’ve been through a major war (Vietnam), started the sexual revolution, introduced drugs and rock and roll to the world. I think it’s not surprising that we would be examined, evaluated and disected to find out what we’re all about. I’m proud to be a boomer. I don’t think we sold out. I think we transitioned from anti-establishment to “now we have to get real and grow up”. Of course, at this stage of our lives, we have so many “issues” to deal with, related to our emotional and physical selves. More info on this can be found at http://www.bummedoutboomer.com
Like any other groups of teens and twenties, boomers experienced their wild moments–albeit more to the extreme in some cases. But most of my boomer friends have calmed down, weathered the boom of the nineties, have done some introspective work, have seen money come and money go, and some are disgruntled because they can no longer drink (too much partying or it interferes with their meds) and they’ve had to make peace with life.
Most are now dealing with their kids and grandkids–and their parents. They’re more than sandwiched, they’re in what I call the “vice grip.” There’s more pressure than two pieces of limp bread.
That’s a lot for one lifetime.
And it “ain’t over yet.”
~Carol D. O’Dell
Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir
available on Amazon
http://www.mothering-mother.com