Boomers: The Cold-War Generation Grows Up

The unexpected surge in the birthrate between 1946 and 1964 transformed American society. A nation that had projected a population peaking at 150 million, and feared a renewal of the Great Depression in the wake of World War II, found itself dealing with a booming economy and 70 million children straining the capacity of everything from schools to new suburban housing. In Boomers, Victor Brooks chronicles the peaceful children's "invasion" of America that occurred from Dr. Spock to Woodstock. He identifies the challenge of parenthood in an era of large families and overcrowded homes, and explores the home life, leisure activities, and school environment of children who grew up during the cold war years. A major theme of Boomers is the influence on children of a newly energized American popular culture, including television, film, popular music, and toys.

Victor D. Brooks teaches at Villanova University. He is the author of ten books, including The Fredericksburg Campaign, nominated for the Virginia Literary Prize, and Hell Is Upon Us: D-Day in the Pacific (a feature selection of the History Book Club). A baby boomer himself, he has three sons and lives in Norristown, Pennsylvania.