The Baby Boom Audiobook By P. J. O'Rourke cover art

The Baby Boom

How It Got That Way, and It Wasn’t My Fault, and I’ll Never Do It Again

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The Baby Boom

By: P. J. O'Rourke
Narrated by: Dick Hill
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P.J. O’Rourke began writing funny things in 1960s underground newspapers, became editor-in-chief of National Lampoon, then spent 20 years reporting for Rolling Stone and The Atlantic Monthly as the world’s only trouble spot humorist, going to wars, riots, rebellions, and other "Holidays in Hell” in more than 40 countries.

Now O’Rourke, born at the peak of the Baby Boom, turns his keen eye on himself and his 75 million accomplices in making America what it is today. With laughter as an analytical tool, he uses his own very average, if sometimes uproarious experiences as a key to his exceptional age cohort. He writes about the way the post-war generation somehow came of age by never quite growing up and created a better society by turning society upside down.

The Baby Boom: How it Got That Way And It Wasn’t My Fault And I’ll Never Do It Again is at once a social history, a group memoir of collectively impaired memory, a hilarious attempt to understand his generation’s messy hilarity, and a celebration of the mess the Baby Boom has made.

©2014 P. J. O’Rourke. Recorded by arrangement with Grove/Atlantic, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc. Americas Democracy Ideologies & Doctrines Literature & Fiction Politics & Government Satire United States Funny Witty

Critic reviews

"Dick Hill's deep and crackling voice fits perfectly with O'Rourke's sardonic prose as he explores the birth, rise, and retirement of Boomers over the last half-century. As Hill captures O'Rourke's self-mocking portrait of the self-righteous and self-centered Boomers, it's clear his performance trumps reading the book in print. His tone and emphasis nail every punch line. At the same time, Hill's timbre, with its hints of age, fits perfectly with the content. Listeners will find themselves laughing at line after line." (AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant  
This is why you authors can't allow the publisher to pick the reader. This guy thought he was auditioning for Othello, not reading satire. PJ, next time pick one of your fans to read the audiobook. Maybe they would do your material some justice.

Performer: know you material

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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe the print version... Love PJ O'Rourke's work, He really should be the narrator...

Would you be willing to try another one of Dick Hill’s performances?

Love Dick Hill! Just not this book...

"Meh"

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This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone you wants to read an autobiography of PJ O'Rourke

What do you think your next listen will be?

Utopia

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

None

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Sadness, I love PJ O'Rourke's work and this just wasn't very good.

Any additional comments?

This is an autobiographical work of PJ ORourke life as a child and college student, that is all. Yes it is funny at times, but it is many something some aging babyboomer writes in his diary. I was very disappointed, since Mr. ORourke may write goofy stuff but it is funny, this is mostly his remembrance of his early life. Sorry PJ but this is just not anywhere up to your usual stuff, I wasted one of my audible credits on this and several hours waiting to get to the good part, that never came, even if your college life was a lot more interesting than mine.

This is not about the baby boom

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Self-indulgent, sappy, confusing. It sounded like it was written by an old man remembering his past in an emotional and confusing way. I'm only four years younger than the author and I barely made it halfway through the book. Very disappointing
for O'Rourke.

Do not bother

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PJ O'Rourke has always wobbled the line in between wry, Will Rogers witticisms and smug, fatuous, self-indulgence. This book is very little of the former and a whole lot of the latter.
...
This is a very Boomer book. The narcissism, the total abandonment of responsibility, the entitlement, and a complete lack of self-awareness about any of the above.
In terms of American histories, this book is the shrug and giggle of an inebriated, middle-aged wine-mom after she crashed the minivan and killed three people.

A fatuous, entitled story

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