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The Greater Generation: In Defense of the Baby Boom Legacy
"Lenny Steinhorn presents compelling evidence that Boomers significantly shaped―and improved―their times. This is a counterintuitive examination of a generation that is far more complex and far more influential than is commonly believed."
―Frank Senso, former CNN Washington bureau chief
While the Greatest Generation deserves our praise for surviving the Depression and fighting in World War II, the Baby Boomers, this book argues, are in many ways as great a generation―if not greater―for how they have advanced equality and freedom at home. It's fashionable to mock Boomers as self-involved and materialistic. But what really is the true legacy of the Boomers?
To understand how Boomers have changed America, think back to the 1950s―but without the nostalgia. Women were kept at home, minorities were denied their dignity, homosexuality was a crime, and anyone who marched to a different drummer was labeled un-American and viewed as a threat.
Today we live in a far more open, inclusive, tolerant, and equal America than at any other time in our history. And that's because Baby Boomers, from the Sixties onward, have fought a great cultural war to free America from its prejudices, inequalities, and fears. The Greater Generation tells the story of this generation's accomplishments―and finally gives Boomers their due.
" The Greater Generation reminds us that today's legacy of social justice, diversity, and individual freedom didn't just fall from the sky; it's a consequence of a hard-fought progressive struggle fought on the home front by a morally engaged American generation."
―Marty Kaplan, Air America radio host and director of the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern Califormnia Annenberg School for Communication
―Frank Senso, former CNN Washington bureau chief
While the Greatest Generation deserves our praise for surviving the Depression and fighting in World War II, the Baby Boomers, this book argues, are in many ways as great a generation―if not greater―for how they have advanced equality and freedom at home. It's fashionable to mock Boomers as self-involved and materialistic. But what really is the true legacy of the Boomers?
To understand how Boomers have changed America, think back to the 1950s―but without the nostalgia. Women were kept at home, minorities were denied their dignity, homosexuality was a crime, and anyone who marched to a different drummer was labeled un-American and viewed as a threat.
Today we live in a far more open, inclusive, tolerant, and equal America than at any other time in our history. And that's because Baby Boomers, from the Sixties onward, have fought a great cultural war to free America from its prejudices, inequalities, and fears. The Greater Generation tells the story of this generation's accomplishments―and finally gives Boomers their due.
" The Greater Generation reminds us that today's legacy of social justice, diversity, and individual freedom didn't just fall from the sky; it's a consequence of a hard-fought progressive struggle fought on the home front by a morally engaged American generation."
―Marty Kaplan, Air America radio host and director of the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern Califormnia Annenberg School for Communication
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 29, 2014
Steinhorn has important things to say about how America has changed and who changed it. Tom Brokaw who coined the "greatest generation", is not a boomer. He is a pre-boomer, and upon graduating from college, the world was his oyster in the way it never was for any boomer, despite boomer mythology. Brokaw is the archetypical beneficiary of the "greatest generation" world view. A by-product of Brokaw's book is that it fed the the media's simplistic line about boomers ... a line that has never been challenged.
Steinhorn speculates that WWII, the cornerstone of the adulation of the greatest generation, would have been equally well fought by the boomers. He cites evidence of their bravery in a war that had little meaning, and the bravery it took to oppose it.
As Steinhorn says, the boomers challenged the racism, sexism and general social constraints of the "greatest generation" and made a revolution was not the stuff of headlines. If the term "cultural revolution" didn't have such a negative pall, we might be able to apply it, because that is what it was.
It was micro and local. In schools it took the form of challenging dress codes, band music and why girls couldn't play soccer. In families it took the form of choosing friends, hairstyles, privacy and dating. Slowly, slowly more freedom of choice, and freedom of being the self set in. While there may be some nostalgia associated with the times, anyone who grew up in the 50s would never go back to the those "Leave to Beaver" days.
Steinhorn sees the new opportunities for women, minorities, the end legal constraints on gays and the more open society we have today as as a direct result of the many small, unsung actions of boomers.
This book has had little attention because it does not fit the media narrative about the boomers. There is data to support the thesis as well as personal stories showing examples.
Steinhorn speculates that WWII, the cornerstone of the adulation of the greatest generation, would have been equally well fought by the boomers. He cites evidence of their bravery in a war that had little meaning, and the bravery it took to oppose it.
As Steinhorn says, the boomers challenged the racism, sexism and general social constraints of the "greatest generation" and made a revolution was not the stuff of headlines. If the term "cultural revolution" didn't have such a negative pall, we might be able to apply it, because that is what it was.
It was micro and local. In schools it took the form of challenging dress codes, band music and why girls couldn't play soccer. In families it took the form of choosing friends, hairstyles, privacy and dating. Slowly, slowly more freedom of choice, and freedom of being the self set in. While there may be some nostalgia associated with the times, anyone who grew up in the 50s would never go back to the those "Leave to Beaver" days.
Steinhorn sees the new opportunities for women, minorities, the end legal constraints on gays and the more open society we have today as as a direct result of the many small, unsung actions of boomers.
This book has had little attention because it does not fit the media narrative about the boomers. There is data to support the thesis as well as personal stories showing examples.
March 28, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this prof's analyses of the boomer generation's contributions to the western world. I had read David Brooks theory of the formerly bohemian having turned bourgeois and I see that I gave it a five star rating. In the back of my mind I knew I was not in total agreement with Brooks. Now having read The Greater Generation I understand the conflict I had with some of the ideas in Bobos in Paradise.
May 14, 2014
This is an interesting book that puts the successes of baby boomer generation into good context. Many of the good changes to the US today are due to the credit of the youth of the 1960s and their activism. It is repetitive in some areas but overall it is a great read. Very informative.
June 30, 2017
The Greater Generation is an articulate defense of the Baby Boom generation, and it is a trenchant offense aimed at the generation's many critics. It's about Boomers, and it's for Boomers. This provocative journey into a generation's soul is tightly-crafted pattern recognition, consensus validation, memory restoration, and achievement exaltation. It is defiantly uplifting while cautionary, interleaving historical insights with perceptive, sometimes stinging commentary. Reading this book will give every Boomer a clearer, more generous, and better substantiated generational self-image.
For too many years, Boomers have been attacked by countless naysayers and domineering factions committed to perpetuating demeaning generational myths. Boomers have been ridiculed for their lack of patriotism, for undermining traditional American values, for inculcating cultural and moral degradation. Ironically, this nation's wealthiest and most economically influential generation has been accused of self-absorption and solipsism, a narcissistic cohort bereft of concern for consequences and noted for self-indulgence over self-sacrifice. In contrast to their parent's idealized standing as the "greatest generation," Boomers have been gamely diminished as the "worst generation." And this book shouts enough.
Author Leonard Steinhorn deftly debunks divisive myths. With clear and resonate analysis, buttressed by substantial research evidence, he unravels the thread-bare fabrication of the generation's alleged misdeeds. Challenging conservative hegemony and countless vituperative critics, this communications professor at American University filets the hypocrisies and fear-mongering that dominated post-World War II America. While paying due respect to the courage and sacrifices of the GI Generation, he also holds Boomers' parents accountable once again for their treatment of minorities, women, and the environment, for xenophobia and institutionalized paranoia. He reminds readers of the precipitating dissonance between America's founding ideals and the everyday facts of life that edged young Boomers toward democratic mobilization and cultural revolution.
The author posits how, contrary to popular perceptions, Boomers triumphantly re-established the nation's founding values in contemporary value consensus: privacy, choice, pluralism, tolerance, self-expression, environmental awareness, and egalitarian institutions. Simply, America is a better country today because of the transformational nature of this idealistic and committed generation. Boomers have not been charlatans, but change agents. Steinhorn also reminds younger readers that egalitarian workplace and housing practices taken for granted today were earned first in the battlefield of thought and then the intractable institutions of media and government.
Boomer readers will discover their formative zeitgeist springing from every chapter - a narrative validation of their unique culture, arts, defining moments, and social movements. All readers will gain insights about how and why Boomers' past struggles for social justice are being demeaned today, long after these conflicts have corrected so many wrongs - from racial segregation to sexual stereotyping. Further, readers will understand why "cultural Luddites" continue to marginalize others in their vain attempts to roll society back to a time when everyone knew their place, and social mobility was almost impossible.
Finally, Professor Steinhorn stresses that Boomers are not yet finished in the battle for a better America. The agenda of the generation remains incomplete, with pressing needs today for environmental activism, increasing diversity, women's rights, and civic engagement. Reflecting the song title of one of this generation's favorite bards, Steinhorn's book insists that Boomers Carry On.
For too many years, Boomers have been attacked by countless naysayers and domineering factions committed to perpetuating demeaning generational myths. Boomers have been ridiculed for their lack of patriotism, for undermining traditional American values, for inculcating cultural and moral degradation. Ironically, this nation's wealthiest and most economically influential generation has been accused of self-absorption and solipsism, a narcissistic cohort bereft of concern for consequences and noted for self-indulgence over self-sacrifice. In contrast to their parent's idealized standing as the "greatest generation," Boomers have been gamely diminished as the "worst generation." And this book shouts enough.
Author Leonard Steinhorn deftly debunks divisive myths. With clear and resonate analysis, buttressed by substantial research evidence, he unravels the thread-bare fabrication of the generation's alleged misdeeds. Challenging conservative hegemony and countless vituperative critics, this communications professor at American University filets the hypocrisies and fear-mongering that dominated post-World War II America. While paying due respect to the courage and sacrifices of the GI Generation, he also holds Boomers' parents accountable once again for their treatment of minorities, women, and the environment, for xenophobia and institutionalized paranoia. He reminds readers of the precipitating dissonance between America's founding ideals and the everyday facts of life that edged young Boomers toward democratic mobilization and cultural revolution.
The author posits how, contrary to popular perceptions, Boomers triumphantly re-established the nation's founding values in contemporary value consensus: privacy, choice, pluralism, tolerance, self-expression, environmental awareness, and egalitarian institutions. Simply, America is a better country today because of the transformational nature of this idealistic and committed generation. Boomers have not been charlatans, but change agents. Steinhorn also reminds younger readers that egalitarian workplace and housing practices taken for granted today were earned first in the battlefield of thought and then the intractable institutions of media and government.
Boomer readers will discover their formative zeitgeist springing from every chapter - a narrative validation of their unique culture, arts, defining moments, and social movements. All readers will gain insights about how and why Boomers' past struggles for social justice are being demeaned today, long after these conflicts have corrected so many wrongs - from racial segregation to sexual stereotyping. Further, readers will understand why "cultural Luddites" continue to marginalize others in their vain attempts to roll society back to a time when everyone knew their place, and social mobility was almost impossible.
Finally, Professor Steinhorn stresses that Boomers are not yet finished in the battle for a better America. The agenda of the generation remains incomplete, with pressing needs today for environmental activism, increasing diversity, women's rights, and civic engagement. Reflecting the song title of one of this generation's favorite bards, Steinhorn's book insists that Boomers Carry On.
March 21, 2017
Steinhorn wrote this to counter the "conventional wisdom", at least what one sees published in various media, about the contributions and weaknesses of the baby boomers as compared to their predecessors labeled the greatest generation. His overall argument I find correct and (mostly) well supported with references. In the sense of importance in understanding modern US social history this is a 5 star contribution.
However, I find the book flawed in two ways. Steinhorn overstates his case. The progress on social issues is very real and the boomers deserve the bulk of the credit. Many scholars and politicians have noted the public leads on these issues and the politicians follow. It is in power politics, economics, war, and journalism that Steinhorn misses the big picture. The boomers may have led the way in ending large colonial wars in SE Asia, although Steinhorn fails to mention that their greatest contribution may have been dying in sufficient numbers for the US public to take notice. However, the boomers played a huge role in executing the transition from a long term Cold War permanent military to a long term neocolonial hot war permanent military. This imposed a tremendous cost on the target nations. The cost to USA was much lesser but still very significant, and is a leading excuse to cut social welfare spending, and negating some of the social gains and civil liberties of the prior decades. In terms of corporate control of government, the boomer generation joined the mainstream acquiescence by almost completely refusing to support any leftist party. While this is more obvious now with the political disaster of the 2016 election cycle, it was also clear when this book was published in 2006.
Steinhorn is correct when he cites the rise in alternative media. He fails to note the pull to the right of the mainstream media, partially driven by the lack of an opposition party with sufficient power to demand attention from the MSM. William Greider in his 1992 Who Will Tell the People presented an alternate view, one I find far more believable. While journalism exists here and there, most reporters just report what the In parties and corporate shills say, and almost always write as if they know almost none of the history of what they are writing about.
The second flaw is that this book is overly repetitious, which is not a major flaw but is annoying.
However, I find the book flawed in two ways. Steinhorn overstates his case. The progress on social issues is very real and the boomers deserve the bulk of the credit. Many scholars and politicians have noted the public leads on these issues and the politicians follow. It is in power politics, economics, war, and journalism that Steinhorn misses the big picture. The boomers may have led the way in ending large colonial wars in SE Asia, although Steinhorn fails to mention that their greatest contribution may have been dying in sufficient numbers for the US public to take notice. However, the boomers played a huge role in executing the transition from a long term Cold War permanent military to a long term neocolonial hot war permanent military. This imposed a tremendous cost on the target nations. The cost to USA was much lesser but still very significant, and is a leading excuse to cut social welfare spending, and negating some of the social gains and civil liberties of the prior decades. In terms of corporate control of government, the boomer generation joined the mainstream acquiescence by almost completely refusing to support any leftist party. While this is more obvious now with the political disaster of the 2016 election cycle, it was also clear when this book was published in 2006.
Steinhorn is correct when he cites the rise in alternative media. He fails to note the pull to the right of the mainstream media, partially driven by the lack of an opposition party with sufficient power to demand attention from the MSM. William Greider in his 1992 Who Will Tell the People presented an alternate view, one I find far more believable. While journalism exists here and there, most reporters just report what the In parties and corporate shills say, and almost always write as if they know almost none of the history of what they are writing about.
The second flaw is that this book is overly repetitious, which is not a major flaw but is annoying.
November 11, 2019
Extremely relevant and fact-filled
The only flaw that I can pick on is that this book was published in 2006 and a new edition is desperately needed to address certain issues. First, what about the conservative boomers who helped put Trump into the White House? Where did they come from? Second, what role has been played by boomers in the intensification of conservative thought in this country? Has there been a grandfathering effect that enabled Greatest Generation ideas to leapfrog over boomer ideas and land in the brains of post-boomer generations? Except for needing an update, this well-written book by Leonard Steinhorn is a must-read. It provides exceedingly well-documented historical background.
The only flaw that I can pick on is that this book was published in 2006 and a new edition is desperately needed to address certain issues. First, what about the conservative boomers who helped put Trump into the White House? Where did they come from? Second, what role has been played by boomers in the intensification of conservative thought in this country? Has there been a grandfathering effect that enabled Greatest Generation ideas to leapfrog over boomer ideas and land in the brains of post-boomer generations? Except for needing an update, this well-written book by Leonard Steinhorn is a must-read. It provides exceedingly well-documented historical background.
February 23, 2021
From my uncle. Full throated defense of all the chaos that the Baby Boom generation has caused for America, written in the soaring prose of a former political speechwriter. The author generalizes and stereotypes so completely that the detail that would provide understanding is lost in a conglomerate whole. (see above, "former political speechwriter") Very one-sided and very defensive.
January 10, 2017
The problem with this book is that, while most people define the "Baby Boomers" as those born between 1943 and 1960-ish. Leonard Steinhorn defines the "Baby Boomers" as those people who agree with him.
Thus, he takes credit for those not part of the "baby boom" cohorts, while denying those who are part of those cohorts who happen to be Republican.
I believe that Anthony Flew called this the No True Scotsman fallacy.
Thus, he takes credit for those not part of the "baby boom" cohorts, while denying those who are part of those cohorts who happen to be Republican.
I believe that Anthony Flew called this the No True Scotsman fallacy.
September 21, 2012
How the Boomers discarded sexism and racism
March 24, 2016
It took awhile to finish this book as it's not the most current-current-current thing you could be reading....but it is an excellent look at how we Boomers have changed America for the better.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews