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197 reviews for:
A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America
Bruce Cannon Gibney
3.35 AVERAGE
197 reviews for:
A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America
Bruce Cannon Gibney
3.35 AVERAGE
informative
I confess, I was attracted by the title, it being pure rage bait for someone so frustrated by the Boomer leadership of the country as late. And I was heartened by Gibney's introduction which seemed to promise an even-handed and academic look at the development of Boomers and their subsequent impact on history. Surely calling them sociopaths was a clever bit of marketing, right? Well, nope. Gibney proceeds to try, very mightily, to proffer a literal diagnosis of sociopathy on an entire generation, engaging in preposterous rhetorical stretches that range from the amusingly novel to sloppily counterfactual. This book could have been a great read if perhaps written by a sociologist and/or economist who could provide more scientific rigor, but as it is it reads solely as a marketing play to angry Millennials. I'm surprised Hachette released it, frankly.
3.5 stars. The title is certainly attention grabbing, which is why I picked this up in the first place. Overall I thought this was an interesting look into historical events and policies that have had a domino effect on American history. I learned quite a bit which I appreciate. What I didn’t think was necessary was the authors continued attempt at categorizing Boomers as sociopaths (it’s in the title of the book so I shouldn’t be surprised at the attempted correlation). From what I’ve gathered, the author is a venture capitalist and while obviously well versed in certain aspects, I don’t think diagnoses intended only for medical professionals to provide was appropriate. I think that commentary could have been removed entirely while keeping the facts and evidence intact and equally as damning.
He makes valid points of how the boomers have had too much power for too long and the ones in charge are selfish and greedy and they know how to manipulate those who want power/money to believe they are the only ones who will get it for them.
I don't believe all boomers are sociopaths, but as a group they vote and are political leaders and have been horrifying to our economy (Reagonomics anyone) and cutting capital gains and inheritances taxes just in time to get them, labor laws and strong unions when the entered the workforce, but gutted them when they owned the business. Climate change, science, and technology are unimportant because it won't affect them until they are dead. Gutting education after getting their mostly free college education (again when they own the student loan companies). Have not touched our infrastructure until bridges started collapsing and subway tunnels as well.
You can tell he us a conservative ad his bias shows in how he glosses over anything he does not agree with as far as some types of government regulations and dwells a lot on Clinton/Obama trying to prove that the Democrats were not as successful as the numbers say and doesn't delve into the Republicans problems with budgets nearly as harshly. And forgets to mention most of the policies the Dems tried to implement were when Gingrich was Speaker of the House, McConnell was leader of the Senate which both guarantees that the Dems were getting almost none of what they wanted while the Repubs got almost all of what they did. Part of that is the Dems need to grow spines and not negotiate with those who don't understand facts or morals.
Unfortunately Gen X on is going to pay the hefty price.
I don't believe all boomers are sociopaths, but as a group they vote and are political leaders and have been horrifying to our economy (Reagonomics anyone) and cutting capital gains and inheritances taxes just in time to get them, labor laws and strong unions when the entered the workforce, but gutted them when they owned the business. Climate change, science, and technology are unimportant because it won't affect them until they are dead. Gutting education after getting their mostly free college education (again when they own the student loan companies). Have not touched our infrastructure until bridges started collapsing and subway tunnels as well.
You can tell he us a conservative ad his bias shows in how he glosses over anything he does not agree with as far as some types of government regulations and dwells a lot on Clinton/Obama trying to prove that the Democrats were not as successful as the numbers say and doesn't delve into the Republicans problems with budgets nearly as harshly. And forgets to mention most of the policies the Dems tried to implement were when Gingrich was Speaker of the House, McConnell was leader of the Senate which both guarantees that the Dems were getting almost none of what they wanted while the Repubs got almost all of what they did. Part of that is the Dems need to grow spines and not negotiate with those who don't understand facts or morals.
Unfortunately Gen X on is going to pay the hefty price.
Research was underdeveloped and oversimplified when discussing education.
I picked this out in what has emerged as an attempt for me this year to help answer the question, how the f*ck did we get here? I made it a little over halfway through this audiobook when it had to be returned. I think I got the major takeaway, though. Baby boomers will continue to suck the rest of us dry until the last of the manipulative and selfish money grubbers have died off. Even then, the damage done by this wreckless generation will continue to haunt politics and the economy for years to come. Interesting arguments made by the author and I'd like to explore a counter opinion on the matter.
Interesting. Obviously not all Boomers are Sociopaths, but as an entire generation, especially law makers, this makes sense. I worry for my kids, Gen Z, and what we leave to them. Some parts were really dense, so I just skimmed, but wanted to see how he wrapped it all up.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
I don't know about this book. The theory is interesting, though unsubstantiated, but the way Gibney completely left out the role of rich people and capitalism on the current reality of America is offensive. Especially as Gibney is, in fact, a venture capitalist.
DNF at foreword. I suppose I should have realized I was signing up for tagline not thesis with a title like that.