Boomers

The unexpected surge in the birthrate between 1946 and 1964 transformed American society. A nation that had projected a population peaking at 150 million, and feared a renewal of the Great Depression in the wake of World War II, found itself dealing with a booming economy and 70 million children straining the capacity of everything from schools to new suburban housing. In Boomers, Victor Brooks chronicles the peaceful children's "invasion" of America that occurred from Dr. Spock to Woodstock. He identifies the challenge of parenthood in an era of large families and overcrowded homes, and explores the home life, leisure activities, and school environment of children who grew up during the cold war years. A major theme of Boomers is the influence on children of a newly energized American popular culture, including television, film, popular music, and toys.

An intriguing survey, this is recommended for . . . popular history and social issues., [Boomers] is packed with historical, demographic and cultural insights about the 'largest generation,' if not 'The Greatest.', For many older readers, the book offers a highly evocative stroll through memory lane, with captivating references to fads, movies, music, television shows, and toys. Boomers identifies several distinctive features of a postwar childhood, such as the importance of neighborhood-based peer groups; the significance of negotiation and bargaining in large families; the Cold War tensions that colored childhood; and the sense of a common generational identity fostered in schools and by television, movies, and music. . . . Brooks's book is one of a number of new or forthcoming books which will help us move beyond myth, caricature, nostalgic memories, and gross overgeneralization and better understand the lasting imprint of an age cohorts' upbringing and formative experiences.

Victor D. Brooks teaches at Villanova University. He is the author of ten books, including The Fredericksburg Campaign, nominated for the Virginia Literary Prize, and Hell Is Upon Us: D-Day in the Pacific (a feature selection of the History Book Club). A baby boomer himself, he has three sons and lives in Norristown, Pennsylvania.