Do You Believe in Magic?: Bringing the Sixties Back Home

I expected this book to be fun, I did not expect it to be so poignant and yes, painful. It's a roller coaster ride of memories of where the Baby Boom came from, how it manifested, where it went, and how it dissipated - the most painful chapters of all. It is a well-written eye-opener for those who weren't there, and a nostalgic journey for those who were. It would be too easy to forget - things have changed so much, and not in the idealistic ways hoped for. It's easy to see why. All our major leaders/heroes were assassinated, all our best and brightest were distracted by sex, drugs, rock and roll and the master manipulation of TV. Still, we had vision and we had hope - and Annie Gottlieb captures the basics of what might have been. She even implies it may not be too late. If only that were true.

I read this fabulous book as we went to war with Iraq. The pages came to life and the tears flowed as I was in the midst of the Vietman peace movement, war, politics and social changes leaping off the pages in vibrant, uncensored candor as I sat in my living room listening to the news of yet another war-- the absurdity, the peace protests--greater than ever befor and WORLD WIDE-- the deception of politics and the reverberation of divine righteousness from the far right fundalmentalists. It seemed the force for change made in the 60-70's had been annulled and we fell into the old addage "History repeats itself."As a late baby boomer riding on the tail of the comet of change, I was delighted and remorse over reading this wonderfully crafted, personal history of the experience of "my" generation and the reflection of the outcome of all the craziness of those "first wavers" as they matured into the middle age stage of life. Now they are entering the golden age and there is an enormouse amount of work yet to be done, the purpose is still the same but the maturity of experience and reflection can help the Boomers negotiate the course with greater finess and certitude.I am a gerontologist, received my degree in Gerontology from San Diego State University in 1996 at the age of 38. I now have a greater view on the emense power the Baby Boom Generation had in their youth and what I felt as they co-opted in the 1980 into the establishment of wealth and power. It has been my hope that this "sleeping Dragon" will wake up and arise to the task they were set out to accomplish -- preservation of the earth and humanity from the destructive forces of greed, power, religion and their ultimate "glory" in the destruction of life through war and oppression.If you are a "Boomer" and want to get reconnected, READ THIS BOOK!! The choice still remains before us-- The Bomb or US.

Ms. Gottleib's retrospective of the Sixties is approached in a manner that makes the reader feel as though they are an intimate part of the research stage of the book. Interview after interview with household names of the time, as well as with those of lesser notoriety, provide honest insight into a time of turmoil on almost every level of existence in the US.If you were there and don't remember, READ IT! If you weren't there and wish you had been, READ IT! If you're just looking for an intelligent, insightful, well-researched book, READ IT! I would LOVE to have lunch with the author. . .

Ms Gottlieb has an objective but sympathetic view of Boomers and the period known as "the 60s". She presents Boomers warts and all, but still is able to make us feel good about ourselves and our youth.