Customer Reviews

Boomers, X-ers, and Other Strangers: Understanding/Generational Differences/Divide Us

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book did a wonderful job of comparing the differences from generation to generation, and decade to decade. It was very interesting to find out the events in the various decades and how they affected people's lives. I didn't realize that the Great Depression was so bad until I read this book.

This book helped me to better understand why my grandparents, my parents, and why I and people my age are the way they are. Events of our time really shape who we are. My grandparents lived through the Great Depression and were concerned about money. They were extremely patriotic as both of my grandfathers fought in WWII. My parents grew up in the baby boomer generation, and I'm "Generation-X". I even understand why my husband and I have some differences (we're 8 yrs apart--he's a boomer, I'm a buster).

The only reason I didn't give this book a 5 star rating is because I felt that the authors were too hard on working mothers. I remember reading that the X-ers were resentful from having parents who emotionally weren't there for them and gave working mothers as an example. I'm a working mother for several reasons, and I'm emotionally there for my baby. It was unfair for the authors to be so negative towards working mothers. I know that the intent was to show how different events effect different people, yet, I felt that the authors were giving working mothers a guilt trip.

All in all, this is a great book. It will help you to learn more about yourself and others.

A well crafted and researched book, Boomers, Xers and Other Strangers helps us understand how those of "that other generation", whether they be older or younger than we, look at the world. Even more fun is reading about your own generation and saying, "Yes, yes, that's Me!"

A clever combination of narrative, listing of facts pertinent to different decades, and strightford information all combine to communicates information you can remember and use. Very valuable for those in management, teaching, ministry...for just about anyone who deals with people from multiple generations.

This book has a few pieces of useful information ... but overall there are many much better books out there about generations and how they differ (e.g., Generation Me, When Generations Collide, Generations). The authors take a spattering of information from other sources (they are not researchers or policy makers themselves), tell a few narratives, and that's about it. You are much better off buying another book on generations.

Also, notice the publisher: Focus on the Family. Thus the book is written from an explictly stated Christian perspective. For some readers this might be a bonus; others might be put off by this in a book that is not about religion.

It was very helpful to explain generational differences using a decade analysis approach. Stories and conversations used to illustrate the socio-economic and technological changes for each decade were also helpful in giving the reader a better understanding of how much impact each decade has on our values and perspectives. Although the authors base their assumptions that character and personality are determined around age 10, his theoretical model is quite accurate in helping assess each decade.If I don't give it a 5 it is because in my opinion the book does not reveal any new facts not explored before that talk about generational differences. The differences between Baby Boomers and other generations have been a long-discussed topic. Nevertheless, the fact that they bothered discussing each decade and its impact on values in America is engaging and invites for further discussion on this issue.

The authors bring out a few interesting points, but this book seems to be aimed towards reconciliation between builders (pre WW2 generation) and the rest of us. It paints a picture of each generation that could at best be called cartoonish. At worst, the picture painted is stereotypical generalizations drawn from a world where everyone is white and generations are easily classified. The chief problem with this book is its age. It fails to paint an accurate picture of today's generational divides due to its age.

This book does create some interesting thoughts, but would be most useful in an aging church that is trying to change its mission to include younger generations.

I agree with the previous reviewer who wrote of the guilt trip that this book gives to working mothers. I am an Australian who is residing in the USA, and I am shocked and appalled at the American attitude towards working mothers. In Australia it is the norm for women to pursue careers and work in fulltime jobs, whether they are single, married, de facto, mothers, young, old, whatever. Childcare is a policy issue for government, is often subsidised, and considered imperative for the growth of the economy and the wellbeing of the community. What assistance does the American government give to working mothers?! How does the American media portray mothers of Generation X?! The attitude here is so far behind it is laughable. For American authors to claim authority over subjects such as Generation X and its place on the world stage, they will need to update their ideas and look to other societies as well as their own.

Enjoyed the book very much. I can use the information in my daily dealings with people.