Baby Boom or Bust

Chronicles of Audacity Across Six Decades

By: John Howard

Narrated by: Ric Chetter

Baby Boom or Bust is a mostly chronological, frequently irreverent memoir that crosses six notable decades. Baby boomers were born of the Silent Generation, a large group of prolific breeders between the baby boomer and Greatest Generation eras. Following World War II, America evolved at seemingly exponential rates in critical areas such as technology, transportation, and infrastructure. The entire kingdom was ultimately handed off to baby boomers, whether they were prepared or not.

The Silent Generation is remembered for its strong work ethic and dedication to family, career, and success. Baby boomers were the original slackers, chock full of idealism and rebellion. Almost everything in society changed as they grew up. This story must be told from the twisted perspective of someone who lived through it. This work archives an adventurous, often out-of-the-ordinary childhood in the heartland of America during the 1950s and 1960s, entry into the workforce during the turbulent decade of the 1970s, and ultimately tackles significant (but crudely entertaining) career challenges. Boomers often risked it all, across the globe and into a new century. That broad demographic group is widely known within contexts of what they invented, exploited, or enhanced. It was the generation of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

This audiobook is segregated into those three general categories, emphasizing rock and roll. Along the way are colorful and occasionally famous characters, well-known places, and half a century of tawdry escapades. The story is part Forrest Gump and part Private Parts. Colorful adventures may be unique to the author, but are easily relatable to most boomers who grew up during the same decades. That generation turned out to be more pivotal in societal evolution than anyone imagined, and a concise, irreverent chronicle of the most important parts of the journey is long overdue.

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