Customer Reviews

Welcome to the Jungle: The Why Behind "Generation X"

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The causes and influences of the GenX crowd are lucidly laid out in this most excellent book. I found myself constantly thinking, "Yes, I remember that," and "Of course, doesn't everybody feel that way?" The author does make our efforts seem a bit doomed--sometimes merely by the sheer numerical force of the generations that preceed us. He does however succeed in explaining who and what this "us" is and why it exists.

The only really annoying bit is that the author insists on christening this generation yet again--this time as "The Free," an especially corny title that does not roll off the tongue as nicely as "GenX," which he claims GenXers all hate. Is it GenX of me to like the name out of spite??

While Holtz's book presents itself as an eye-catching, attractive possibility to understanding the increasingly complex world of Generation X, its arguments are redudant and shallow, to the point one begins to wonder what personal agenda fuels the book's arguments. It offers some statistics, but only enough to support its current argument, and fails to consider the collective picture. There are some interesting observations that made me say "Yeah, I could buy that with more to go on..." but lack significant follow up or substantiation with the social, cultural, economic, or political developments of the past and present. I read this when it was published in 1995 at the age of 18 and have to admit I was disappointed. The study of the first generation of postmodern America is a burgeoning, but arduous area of study, one Holtz does not treat fairly.

What a grim depressing litany of sorrows this book ensconces. Every possible social problem is extrapolated outwards to encompass an entire generation with its' taint. Could one group of people (referred here tongue and cheek as "The Free," echoing the supposed social freedom from guilt, ect. of this group) possibly be so screwed up? I doubt it. Still if you feel Gen X needs someone to whine in a learned tone about it's woes, this is the book!