Rating: 
Summary: Self-Important, Indeed.
Review: Mundane observations, however artfully rendered, are still mundane observations. And the rendering certainly is artful. But throughout my reading of the book--and I'm not of the generation Queenan criticizes--I was left with the thought, "Hey, guy, as if you're any better." Worse, the book is at times contradictory. For example, contrast page 118 (the single most important American during the period 1900 to 1950 was FDR, born in 1882) with page 119, directly facing it (detailing the worthlessness of the generation born in 1880). If you're looking for a screed laced with interesting and eclectic references, this is for you. (Funny how Queenan rails against Dennis Miller.) But if you're looking for an honest evaluation of the Boomers' place in history, move on: The Boomers are for the most part greedy, self-important, and dull, as Queenan states. But what he fails to recognize is that these traits are constants throughout human history. The Boomers are just like my generation or any other.
Rating: 
Summary: Boomers De-boomed.
Review: You know those irritatingly pompous, naval-gazing twirps that made up the TV show "thirty-something?" Well, welcome to Joe Queenan's world. I am not sure if these people actually exist they way Quennan describes them, but no matter: he picks apart, slams, bleaches and boils them with the eagerness of a bullfighter. Not much of these vacuous gasbags are left after Queenan is finished. This is a funny book - there are places where I laughed out loud, sometimes twice per page, which is rare for me, a taciturn-type. This is also a short book, but, sadly, a little long for this topic. Despite Queenan's energy and humor, I felt parts of it, particularly the last third, was overdrawn and not necessary, and there were times when he gets so worked up that he seems to advocate violence against particular boomer-types. But most of all, this is a history, and in fact, Queenan has done his homework, comparing all of America's generational periods and ranking them in terms of quality. This would be a good book in a sociology or American history class. You laugh, and, if you were born between 1940 and 1960, you'll cry.
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