CHAPTER 1

Who Are They Now?

Why is our culture so intrigued with the very idea of generations? It stems in part from the rise of mass society—a relatively recent phenomenon—and how easy it is for a group to share common experiences. Baby Boomers bonded over TV culture, rock ’n’ roll, Motown, opposition to the Vietnam War, and the go-go 1980s. Decades later, Millennials bonded over the rise of the Internet, Facebook, and the tumultuous first decade of the twenty-first century—9/11, two wars, and the Great Recession.

Generational divides also stem from the natural rivalry that exists between those who are older and those who are younger. The generation gap has been fueled for decades by stories starting with the phrase “Back in my day,” followed ...

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