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Douglas Coupland

Generation X Paperback – March 15, 1991

by Douglas Coupland (Author)

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Generation X is Douglas Coupland's classic novel about the generation born in the late 1950s and 1960s―a generation known until then simply as twenty somethings.

Andy, Claire, and Dag, each in their twenties, have quit pointless jobs in their respective hometowns to find better meaning in life. Adrift in the California desert, the trio develops an ascetic regime of story-telling, boozing, and working McJobs―"low-pay, low-prestige, low-benefit, no-future jobs in the service industry." They create their own modern fables of love and death among the cosmetic surgery parlors and cocktail bars of Palm Springs as well as disturbingly funny tales of nuclear waste, historical overdosing, and mall culture.
A dark snapshot of the trio's highly fortressed inner world quickly emerges―peeling back the layers on their fanatical individualism, pathological ambivalence about the future, and unsatisfied longing for permanence, love, and their own home.

Andy, Dag, and Claire are underemployed, overeducated, intensely private, and unpredictable. They have nowhere to assuage their fears, and no culture to replace their anomie.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Newcomer Coupland sheds light on an often overlooked segment of the population: "Generation X," the post-baby boomers who must endure "legislated nostalgia (to force a body of people to have memories they do not actually own)" and who indulge in "knee-jerk irony (the tendency to make flippant ironic comments as a reflexive matter of course . . . )." These are just two of the many terse, bitterly on-target observations and cartoons that season the margins of the text. The plot frames a loose Decameron -style collection of "bedtime stories" told by three friends, Dag, Andy and Claire, who have fled society for the relative tranquility of Palm Springs. They fantasize about nuclear Armageddon and the mythical but drab Texlahoma, located on an asteroid, where it is forever 1974. The true stories they relate are no less strange: Dag tells a particularly haunting tale about a Japanese businessman whose most prized possession, tragically, is a photo of Marilyn Monroe flashing. These stories, alternatively touching and hilarious, reveal the pain beneath the kitschy veneer of 1940s mementos and taxidermied chickens.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“A groundbreaking novel.” ―The Los Angeles Times

“Captures the listlessness that accompanies growing up in today's info-laden culture.” ―Rolling Stone

“Amusingly explores the more restless and disaffected segment of the under-30 crowd.” ―Cleveland Plain Dealer

“A readable and valid account of a generation that envisions a completely new genuine genre of bohemianism.” ―San Francisco Chronicle

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (March 15, 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031205436X
ISBN-13: 978-0312054366
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.5 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Customer Reviews: 171 customer ratings
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #14138 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- #18090 in Teen & Young Adult Books
- #5001 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction

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5 star		66%
4 star		11%
3 star		16%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

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HCR

What's all the ruckus about ?

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2018

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Sorry but I fail to see what all the praise is about with this book. I am from Generation X but I couldn't relate to anything expect the slacker vibe some of the characters gave off. Otherwise I thought it was a boring read about nothing, just 3 people living in Palm Springs. There were no epic or self defining moments, just one of those movie scripts that go on about nothing then the screen goes black.

6 people found this helpful

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Edward

Great book - It's not Kerouac, but it's still spot on.

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2019

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I'm giving this only 4 stars as there are better books that came first that address glorious disaffection.
I read this when I was about 19 and damn was it great! Re-reading it 30 years later I had to laugh at the story. Not because the thoughts, actions, and ideas of the characters are wrong. They aren't. They are absolutely correct and perfect for that time of life. Everyone should read this book once they hit Jr High, High School, College, etc... A very sweet naivety to it all (bless it for being so). I read a few chapters and just couldn't do it... I gave it to my youngest who's just getting into college. He read it in one sitting and told me "This guy gets it!". hahahahaha. Yes, yes he does. Do yourself a favor (if you haven't) and read Kerouac's "On The Road" first and then this book. Don't read Catcher in the rye though. That book is for phoneys, not slackers.

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Jason R. West

Excellent and fun, with nostagia

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2017

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One of my favorite books ever. If you're generation x and remember Reagan and the looming possibility on nuclear war you might like the background themes, where the main characters are dealing with finding meaning in the modern world and doing it partial by telling each other melancholy but beautiful stories. The chapters are somewhat discrete as separate sub stories. It makes reading feel light and digestible.

6 people found this helpful

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Julia McElroy

It just felt right.

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2019

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It feels like I'm 19 again. Only I'm not and have all the wisdom and a experience... But, yeah, it's a little bit like coming home.

3 people found this helpful

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Anthony Witecki

Not how I remember it

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2017

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I had heard about this book for several years as the defining book of Generation-X, so my expectations were high going into it. I suppose Coupland coined the term and sometimes that's all that matters. For me, I found the characters uninteresting and very difficult to relate to, despite being Gen-X myself. While the angst and apathy that defined our generation exists in these characters, I struggled to find the reason why these characters became what they were. It might've been more interesting to me if the author had provided more background on why the characters were so cynical and unhappy. But maybe that's what Coupland wanted to do, explain a generation to that generation from the perspective of someone outside it. If generation-x interests you, you'll enjoy bits and pieces from the book, at a minimum. Maybe more.

7 people found this helpful

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frumiousb

Charming, despite itself

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2001

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Being a member of said generation, I've always been reluctant to read this book. I've heard it described as brilliant, flawed, pretentious, irritating, moving, and plastic. I think that 'charming' and 'smart' are the two words that best define it for me, even though it's hard not to see its flaws.
A series of stories about a group of young people in Palm Springs, telling each other stories while they work pointless McJobs and glory in cultural wreckage. The book's strength is mostly in its moments-- the definitions and epigrams on the margins of the pages, the stories that the characters tell each other, and the tiny observational zingers about the American nature that are the hallmark of Coupland's writing.
I'm glad I read it.

59 people found this helpful

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doc peterson

Sadly, the book that gave a generation its name

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2001

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Two things struck me when I finished this book. First was how close the experiences of the characters were to my own and those of my friends - even though the book is a work of fiction. The other was how incredibly average and mundane the book was.
Yes, there was the snyde humor Copeland is famous for - I especially liked the definistions found in the margins ("McJob" is a personal favorite.) But the story quickly became stale, and the end of the book really disappointed me. Perhaps Coupland intended it that way as further commentary on contemporary society - or perhaps its the result of a sophomore writer. In the final analysis, the book left me bland.

5 people found this helpful

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Robert Miner

Worth reading

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2008

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Being of the generation that inspired this book, I have always meant to read it and I finally did.

First off, let me say that the book isn't very long and it won't take much of your time to read. Because of that and the fact that this is a famous and often referenced book, it is worth the time to read.

The characters are self-righteous and they pretend to be so deep and caring about the world but they are really just afraid of failure and success. They are very whiney as I am and as are many of the same generation. Reading this made me think that "the world isn't perfect and never will be, but there is no sense in whining about everything".

As I said, it is worth the time to read. It may be a bit pessimistic at times, but that is part of its charm and it is written pretty well.

8 people found this helpful

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Herman Norford

A Flourish of Style With Little Substance

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2012

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Come up with a catchy title, Generation X, and chose a topic that gives a sense of significance, alienation, or to paraphrase the beatnik edict turn on, tune in and drop out; and hey bingo you have a novel that will attract attention and there I say critical praise. That is exactly what Douglas Coupland has done with Generation X. It is a hip, cultish type novel that wears its heart on its sleeve right from the outset, there is a hint in the title, and then for another 200 plus pages hasn't got much else to say apart from a pretence to being a great debut novel.

It is the early 1990s so Coupland presents us with three characters: Andy, Dag and Claire, in their late twenties, all of them want to look back on the 1980s and even before the 80s and distance themselves from the ramification of the entrapment of climbing the capitalist ladder that the 80s engendered. Disillusioned with the way of the world as they experience it they drop out of `mainstream' society to lay about in California. Here they can drink, picnic in the Californian desert with dogs to accompany them, reflect on a spoiled world and tell stories.

Based on the above premise the novel quickly arrives at its conclusion and then thereafter has very little to of significance to tell the reader. The novel is narrated in the main by Dag and his narration holds a number of stories within the main story together. We get short descriptive passages of each of the three main characters past experiences. But these very short descriptions of various experiences do not add up to much. At best the stories reveal slight insights into the odd behaviour of the characters.

Perhaps there are some compensating features of the book and hence the reason why I gave it two stars rather then one. There are some humorous and insightful observations. An example being a reference to the effort some people make to buy their own home all too often clearly beyond their means. The narrator tells us: "When someone tells you they've bought a house, they might as well tell you they no longer have a personality. You can immediately assume so many things: that they're locked into jobs they hate; they're broke ... that they no longer listen to new ideas." Another example in this vein is: "the only reason we all go to work in the morning is because we're not built for free time as a species. We think we are, but we aren't." Although these observations are insightful, I nonetheless could not stomach the cynicism that indeed runs right through the novel.

The novel is littered with footnote definitions, brief advert like blurbs and brief graphic fiction sketches. They don't really add much to the novel. Indeed, the final straw for me was the definition given for "Obscurism". It said: "The practice of peppering daily life with obscure references (forgotten films, dead TV stars, unpopular books, defunct countries, etc.) as a subliminal means of showcasing both one's education and one's wish to disassociate from the world of mass culture." Well I am glad we are not all going out of our way to dumb down.

The novel failed to engage me because from the outset one knows that it is premised on the idea of a generation that has become alienated from modern society. This does not leave much to discover or learn about the human condition. All that is effectively left to glean from the novel is how Coupland tells his story.

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Menzic

A companion for over 20 years..

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2015

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I first read Generation X in the early 90's shortly after leaving University(well Poly but like all at the time, mine changed to a Uni in my final year). I have re-visited in many times since then, with a different perspective as I moved through life.

It resonated most when I was in the first stages of a career, struggling, working for 'the man', getting engaged and buying my first house, moving up the corporate ladder all be it slowly. Each year it was a book I took on holiday with me, leaving it behind in the hotel lending library for others to pick up on a good number of occasions. Then I went back to it after my divorce and was evaluating my life choices, and I took something different from it. Now, 46 delighted it is now available as a Kindle version. So it will be joining me on holiday again, this time with my wife and two young children and I am sure my take on the book will be one of nostalgia for how I felt when I first read it in my early 20s but maybe I will get something new from it.

3 people found this helpful

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F. Goble

Am I too old or just not north American?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2010

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My book group selected this book as it was being covered on one of the Radio Four book programmes. To tell the truth, we were all pretty disappointed. The characters seemed two dimensional and the little phrases and comments at the bottom of lots of the pages - while amusing in some cases - irked after a while. The book's format involves the characters telling stories to each other - but that too became irritating pretty quickly. Most of us are around the same age as the author and left of centre politics wise. So we thought we'd empathize with Coupland's yuppie society drop-outs. But somehow it didn't work for us. Perhaps we're just a bit too 'grumpy old woman' or just didn't get all the cultural references because we're British. I'm not quite sure but I don't think any of us will be reaching for any of his other works.

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C. W. L.

some insightful parts though and some fun but in the end

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2018

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an ok read but i wouldn't give it in the cult status it seems to have gotten over the years. some insightful parts though and some fun but in the end ... whatever... it is the theme of the book after all.

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Get X

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2018

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It’s a good book

One person found this helpful

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claire mason

Stylistic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2013

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Whilst this is not my favorite of his book (I would probs rank it about 4th or 5th) I would still recommend it.
The title itself has become such an important phrase in modern culture and i think that alone means it is worth a read. It introduces lots of new words and phrases which are explained at the bottom of each page which I thought was really cool. The narrative isn't exactly ground breaking but perhaps the style in which it is written is.

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thewritingIMP

Generation X for generation Z

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2013

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This is an essential read for anyone writing contemporary fiction or non-fiction. It is worth it just for the the footnotes, that are in the margins, 'McJob' 'fattening pen' etc. I have stolen a few of the expressions for my own writing, as have many others. I bought this for my son, buy it and you will not be disappointed.

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Philip Costis

Don't waste your time reading this.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2018

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A book which I kept on thinking would have a point to it but it hasn't

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Fantasy Lore

Almost, almost, almost...a masterpiece!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2004

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There's so much about this book worth shouting about and recommending that it's difficult to know where to begin- but for me the characters are the main appeal of gen x. The witty wordplay, insights and stories within the story probably have more to do with the success of the book, but it is the characters (Andy, Claire and Dag)- who are apathetic and idle and complicated- that make the reader feel involved and gripped and who kept me reading.
The book raises many questions and explores a whole range of issues, which probably all boil down to 'what is the meaning of life in these messed-up times?' and even though it doesnt quite live up to its potential, by the convoluted ending you'll find you really don't need it to.
Forget about the characterisation of Coupland's modest book as 'a study of post-modernism in the 2Oth Century'- pick it up and read it because it's a damn good read and you'll very likely take something away from it that's completely different from me or anyone else. That's the beauty of it!

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george ricketts

Pass

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2020

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Poorly written, no story and not worth the reading time. The only good thing about the book is the cover

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Murtaza

Quite pleased

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2019

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Quick delivery and quality as mentioned.

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Mr. M. Ashburn

Generation eXcellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2015

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A funny and very studied look at human behaviour,a great read!

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drkhrse

Trés Hilar.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2016

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Hipsters in the desert. So much better than it sounds!

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Naomi Clark

Get thinking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2003

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Coupland is one of those authors you either "get" or you don't. There's no point picking up this book unless you're prepared for the surreal, cynical style that infuses all of Coupland's work. I've read most of his books and this is the best one, but it's gone over the heads of most of the people I've lent it to. My advice is suspend your disbelief, curl up somewhere quiet and let Mr Coupland get you thinking.

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iago angioni

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2014

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Perfect. Fast delivery

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