Balsamic Dreams: A Short But Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation

by Joe Queenan

Book Overview

The author of the bestselling Red Lobster, White Trash, and the Blue Lagoon takes aim at the boomer generation in a hilarious work of social commentary. It's become fashionable to vilify baby boomers. Professional iconoclast and baby boomer Joe Queenan, however, takes a somewhat more benign position: Yes, the baby boomers are venal, self-obsessed egomaniacs blighted by an insalubrious interest in things like the provenance of their neighbors' balsamic...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805067205
• ISBN13: 9780805067200
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 211 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

The Truth Hurts Huh?

I see all of these negative reviews by people who are obviously exactly who and what Queenan is talking about here. I laughed the whole read, sorry you missed the point or took it personally, you masochists.

This guy is smart -- in every sense of the word.

Queenan has written an absolute masterpiece here -- and I admit that since I am a Boomer, I may be overstating. (As Joe says -- and I readily acknowledge -- everything we like is ultimate, cosmic and mega-unforgettable.)But 'Basalmic Dreams' is as funny, and erudite, and sweetly nasty book as I've read since... since... since 'Mark Twain's Speeches.'And Joe and Sam do have a lot in common. Neither is afraid of skewering the sacred cows of his day -- and not only skewering them, but marinating them, grilling them over an open spit and serving them up with plenty of hot 'n' spicy barbecue sauce as well.And who could *possibly* deserve such treatment more than the insufferable, self-congratulatory, navel-gazing Boomers, of whom, as I say, I freely admit I am one.Which brings me to the reviewers hereabouts who *didn't* like this book. Methinks they don't like the feel of a hot shishkabob fork piercing their burgeoning patoots. Truth hurts, doesn't it people.Buy this book, and laugh yourself silly.

Joe Queenan At His Icon-Toppling Best

Joe Queenan has that rare gift: the ability to be both a social critic and a very funny writer. Here he puts his enormous talent to work in criticizing the Baby Boom Generation. His observations are spot on -- and they will make you laugh out loud.Ironically, one his most telling observation of the Baby Boomers is that they take themselves way too seriously, a fact that can be aptly seen by the number of negative reviews posted here. I'm sure many of these reviewers are descendants of the people who thought Jonathan Swift actually advocated the eating of Irish children.Ignore the self-righteous reviewers and buy this book!

An excellent jab at baby boomers

I have a confession to make. I was born in 1973, and ever since I was a kid all I've heard is how the baby boomers have done everything. No matter what was being discussed, it had been done before by some boomer. It seems that somehow every concievable thing was done in the 60's and 70's. We could be talking about music, politics, beer, ANYTHING. So here I am a genration X'er who detests boomers and I see this book. I read it in a day and I loved it. It does not have the stinging insults like George Carlin, rather it consists of well thought out, well-written attacks on the boomers as a whole. Queenan picks on music, SUV's, the whole greatest generation bit, how great the 60's were, boomers facination with options, and over-stimulated kids with moronic names like Dakota. I loved it, he does this well without name calling (I would have liked some name calling). He does point out some of dumb stuff about my generation, like our obsession with coffee shops (I buy my coffee at gas stations) and extreme sports. The book is a worthwile read and you'll think about it whenever you are gettting a lecture about how your music is just a rip-off of Alice Cooper, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, pick a boomer band (When a 24 year-old tells me that he thinks the Led Zeppelin is the greatest ban ever, I usually want to throw up). I you hate boomers you'll love the book (not all boomers are bad, but as a whole they stink). If you are a boomer, read the book and change your ways or else it is a nursing home for you when you get old.

A Fun-House Mirror of a Book

What Queenan does is hold up a mirror so that we Boomers can see ourselves, and yes, what he shows us is ugly, but it's hilarious to see ourselves through his distorted lens. You will recognize yourself, your friends, and your relatives. And if you appreciate mean humor, you will have a big grin on your face most of the time you read this. This is a book you will want to share. I want all of my friends and fellow Boomers to read it, because it's such fun. I want my father to read it, so that he can see his offspring put into proper perspective. And I really hope that the individuals that Queenan uses to illustrate particularly vile aspects of our smug self-importance read the book and recognize themselves. But it's about all of us Boomers, and all of us will enjoy a good squirm when we read this. The man is funny. This book will bring you pleasure. If it doesn't, you are seriously humor-impaired, and should pass it along to a less handicapped friend, who will then owe you a big favor. Buy this book.