The Aftermath is an excellent exploration of the end of the baby boomer generation, the influence they left behind, and what that means for the future of American society. The book is very well-researched and an interesting look at generational differences. Highly recommend!

This is a thought provoking and entertaining look at how the Boomer generation's influence has changed, where it is now, and where it might be in the future. Lots of charts/graphs with clear explanations are included.

Recommended for those that enjoy reading about generations, social issues, and forecasting the future.


Many thanks to Penguin/Viking and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

OK, Boomers, let's talk about your impact on American society. The massive baby boom generation -- 76 million Americans born from 1946 to 1964 -- upended the previous norms in American society and set the pattern for future generations. As children, the boomers' presence demanded more funding in education; as teenagers, boomers' access to spending money and the new-ish technology of television made them ripe targets for marketing; and as adults, boomers steadily accumulated wealth and power that they continue to hold in their retirement years today.

Bump's book reveals the many facets of how the boomer generation has influenced America's past, present, and even future. Using vast quantities of statistics from the US Census Bureau and other respected surveys, Bump analyzes the data and studies the boomer impact on culture, economics, and especially American politics, showing that though boomer numbers are starting to decline (slowly, thanks to longer life expectancy), this generation's power is at its peak and unlikely to drop much very soon.

Bump also identifies generational reasons behind America's current fractures. The data reveals a strong correlation between non-Hispanic white Americans and those Americans who fall into the baby boom generation, while younger generations are more diverse (with more immediate immigrant ancestry), and this difference (along with the influence of gender, education, and religious affiliation) impacts political views. It's a divide that has been used to persuade voters to fear immigration and racial tensions as a threat to the largely white society they've always known, and while many factors cause that message to find receptive ears, Bump makes the case for the generational gap to be a key factor.

The boomers will, of course, continue to influence the course of American society. Their trailblazing in their younger years has meant that subsequent generations continue to hold some sway over culture and marketing, and the needs of aging boomers -- increased health care and senior services -- have already prompted greater investment in those areas of the economy. And with boomers dominating political offices even now, they'll be making the decisions for all of us for some time to come.

This book isn't offering suggestions for how to change the boomer impact on America or giving future generations a roadmap to power; it's a detailed set of snapshots of where we are now as a country and how we got here, with questions to consider as we move forward. The extensive use of statistics and charts in the book can get a little overwhelming at times, and a point-by-point summary for each chapter would be helpful. All in all, though, it's an insightful look at one of the most influential generations this country has yet seen.

Thank you, Viking/Penguin Random House and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.